Alastair Crooke updates his previous essay, ““Operation Jupiter” and a Revolution in the Making,” with the ongoing fallout from the failed attempt on Donald Trump’s life in his Al-Mayadeen column, “The Slow-Motion Advance to the Edge of the Abyss,” the caption of the article’s header graphic saying, “Trump’s been shot—but not killed—there is a lot of rage,” which IMO greatly understates the rage that would’ve ensued had he been killed.
Make no mistake, Biden was out the moment NYT or CNN found it fit to cover his years of his episodes. The failed Trump assassination is a twist in the sequence that follows from this. Vance's nomination is a second twist too. The young Senator playing the part of the populist is perhaps a bit of a life insurance policy for Trump - in contrast to reported stories of a standard-fare GOP alternative such as Rubio.
As for speculation of Republicans revolting for real against future machinations of the Deep State? I have my doubts about any such revolt. We already saw all of that in the 2017-2020 presidential term.
In any case, the RNC laid down a clear signal. A Trump-Vance executive has a crystal clear agenda:
- Cut taxes, deficit spend, raise tarriffs, and print money like it's the armageddon.
- On China, continue the pattern of chickensh#t provocations around Taiwan, and more sanctions vs European firms (which do squat vs China, but are enough of an excuse to play pretend)
- Focus actual military resources on Iran/Lebanon/Yemen
- Also almost certain bait-and-switch on Ukraine -- except insofar as there will be a real need to conserve resources due to blowback vs US bases in middle east
- Continue the border wall, but likely allow immigration in some other form for business reasons
- Nominate socially conservative judges, but sell it in the time tested way of pushing controversial issues down to the states
- Crush unions with vigor (contrary to any false hopes)
What would Biden's DNC-handpicked successors have to beat this package? Border wall seems like the main one. Claims of 'honesty' and 'saving democracy' are getting pretty darn beat by now. The balance in the judiciary is a battle that's already lost at this point.
On foreign policy, people won't care too much probably, but it's 90% the same. Only with a Dem president, internal criticism is simply shut down, whereas with a Republican president, there is at least MSM recognition of the mistakes and crimes once in a while.
Does this put Trump in office? Yes I think so.
Is that good? Matters little. I don't think there's any serious effort by either party to either save 'the system'. Nor to reform it. It's all about maintaining privilege within what's left of it, for 5 or 10 or 15 years. EU, collectively, is not a player probably for the rest of the decade. BRICS countries I think can recognize that they will have to ride out a period of extreme dysfunction -- but are on the whole well equipped to do so.
The platform is just telling base what they want to hear I think. I'm trying to imagine/account for what a Trump admin would be widely expected to do, which is basically same as last time. But I'd think not as tight a boycott by Washington insiders taking positions in it, as before.
So the points he could actually get done follow those of his first term: (1) tax cuts (2) killing the Obama-Biden administration's Iran deal (3) antagonizing China (4) nominating judges (5) trying to deliver promise to contain immigration and making a mess of it. Everything else I think on autopilot. So this time, substitute the "next thing on Bibi's list" for #2... otherwise same themes. There are signs of political pragmatism by Republicans from RNC reporting, but honestly I don't think it has policy impact
IMO, the Congressional situation will prove critical again as many voters no longer vote the party ticket and seem to prefer a gridlocked government to limit executive power.
Thanks for the article - thought-provoking as always, but there seems to be a very dangerous idea running through this: that Trump will somehow be a 'better' president? Really?
That he will 'appoint better people'?
Wasn't his first term in office enough? A huge array of sanctions against Russia. Open, racist provocation against China - Vance is clearly fully on board with that (perhaps he's an early example of the 'better people' we might expect from Trump 2.0). Destroying arms control agreements. The 'Abraham Accords', recognition of Israeli 'sovereignty' over the Golan, appointment of Pence, Pompeo and Bolton ('draining the swamp', of course).
The Empire is dying - these periods throw up the very worst of the wounded entity - Biden, Trump, Scholtz, Macron, Starmer. These idiots will do anything to maintain their diminishing hegemony...anything!
When the entire system is the problem, it's a little strange to expect anything good to arise out of this increasingly obviously fake 'democracy'.
- '...greatly underestimates the rage that would've ensued had he been killed...' Agreed. But isn't the greatest hope for all of us that the Empire collapses from within?
In his chats with Judge Napolitano, Crooke has indicated he sees Trump as marginally better than Biden. I'd need to take the wayback machine and read what he wrote during the 2016 campaign and his views thereafter to get a better assessment. As for "better people," I think we'd agree that Vance is better than Rubio. But the "party" is still the Duopoly regardless the faction and neither actually has advancing the interests of American citizens as its primary goal. We're closing in on 100 years since advancing those interests have been a political priority.
As for the Empire collapsing from within, that can occur without the mass trauma associated with the blowback from another political assassination. Additionally, today's polarization is based on personality versus political issues as both are criminals guilty of capital crimes. So, morally, both are trash and merit jail, not any position of power. There's an old saw: If God had wanted us to vote, he'd have given us candidates worthy of voting for.
Anger indeed, but not just from Trump supporters. This means about 10%+ of the US adult population actually believe that Trump organised a FF and was prepared to kill one of his supporters for a photo op and a jump in his polling.
I have friends who think this is the case. I try to avoid discussing politics with them. They are too far gone and emotionally invested in their tribe and its narrative. The list of things they actually think are true is quite amazing, and there is no reasoning with them.
I would like to see a poll that shows the number of Americans who think that the assassination attempt was sponsored by the "deep state" or some faction of it. The evidence is damning towards that explanation and it seems that every day that passes becomes more so as new revelations are exposed. The ZH comments certainly express that view very strongly and highlight the ridiculous inconsistencies and co-incidences that surround the shooting.
I just returned from Trump Majority Georgia and Tennessee which are far more for Trump now than before the assassination attempt. And I hate to think what would have erupted had he been killed. The Propaganda System has full control over both sides with few being neutral like myself and trying to maintain objectivity. The evidence against a FF is large and growing, and if Team Biden does nothing disciplinarian-wise, the situation will worsen.
Thanks for this. I've read the Nima/Hudson piece - which is very good - vid also available. I'll get to the others. On Europe, with VDL now back [alas; 10 of 14 Irish MEPs voted against her] and uber-Russophobe Kallas as Foreign Minister expect no change at the mo. Germany is troubling - very troubling. I expect Newbie as Democratic candidate - not the feeble VP - Biden will retire soon - Blinken and Sullivan should be prosecuted for elder-abuse [for a start]. If Trump/Vance can stop crazyness in Ukraine then - hope - personally I can't stand the man. BUT ... power of MIC etc. Difficult to be optimistic. On debt and economics Europe is in deep dudu. Crooke is pessimistic - the objective stance.
Newbie was intentional - it doesn't have to be Newsom - on Jill, agree.
Again, being pessimistic a Trump presidency may see West Bank annexed. Turbulent times ahead whichever way one looks.
ON screen just now - DJT - and milking the dead fireman - what godawful taste. Is this The Resurrection or the Second Coming? Is the RNC taking place in one of those Maga-Churches? Will he ascend to Wall Street Heaven with God [who else?] standing by his side? Is he on Valium? Very serene and more grey around the sides .... Is he stoned? Has he found God? His congregation is stunned into silence in sheer awe ..... this cannot last ... Oops he nearly forgot about Blessed Melania .... that bullet must have grazed his voice-box - but maybe it's the Valium - or is He just purring? Think I'll doze off - if The Lion roars I'll wake up ....
He is rambling all over the place - and immigration on auto-replay - he is boring - soporific - Vance struggling with his poker face - His congregation is nodding off - Now even my TV box wants to go into standby to save energy!
Facts! Forget it. He is performing future miracles in his state of delerium - or maybe delayed shock - or more probably the Valium or more likely - intimations of his recent brush with mortality and a delayed realisation of the fact of the human condition. Conclusion - he is not well. End.
A book "War is a Racket" by the great American general Smedley Butler should have been a required reading beginning from the middle school. Instead, American children have been force-fed by Otto Frank's "diaries" and Elie Wiesel "truths" to maintain AIPAC control over US Congress and the MIC. "All wars are bankers' wars," wrote American patriot Smedley Butler. There is catastrophic deficit of American patriots in the US government; as a result, the country has been hollowed out.
Much to my surprise, the Trump talk is Presidential. The talk is good, the policy will be TBD.
Thiel, et. al. know that the Dems will be trying to push Trump/Vance into a Herbert Hoover follow-on. It will be interesting to watch. It will not change the battering ram, but might mitigate its focus.
Imagine, Trump etc. acting like statesmen? Nearly unbelievable. I would like to see some retribution across a large number of three letter agencies.
‘The key question is, Will Trump be able to win despite even greater election fraud by the Deep State?” You are the second regular/frequent internet commenter supportive of the emergent multipolar world who in recent days has spoken of significant Deep State/Democratic Party election fraud in the 2020 cycle. The other was Scott Ritter in conversation with Nima the other day. Ritter in typical emotional fashion asserted that 2020 was stolen via the adoption of mail-in ballots for the first time in many states, by implication via rigged voting machines. Is that the electoral fraud you reference? ‘Cause I’m not aware that rigged voting machines or any ballot stuffing was proven anywhere, certainly not enough to affect the outcome of any 2020 race. Crooked campaign tricks, fraudulent donations, lies, manipulation by the MSM, sure I see all kinds of shenanigans coming from the D’s. But what did you mean? [BTW, I also will vote for Jill Stein].
Voting machines along with other proven irregularities. Until we return to paper ballots counted by humans and verified by other humans there will be fraud. Here in Oregon, one of the first states to adopt main-in ballots, our elections have proven quite clean. The DNC was capable of defrauding Bernie Sanders via widespread election fraud twice. Indeed, the court ruling said the Duopoly can manipulate the vote however they want at the primary level, so imagine what they both try to do with the final vote! Stalin was right--it's who counts the votes that matters.
This might be a good venue to post this link and ask if anyone has any comment/links regarding it. I had though this was proven false flag but got this in my feed today.
Not Karlof's subject today, I know, but surely related somewhat as in about Russia good or bad?
Curiously, even today Russian and Ukrainian soldiers wear coloured armbands because the combat gear of different armies is essentially the same. So in terms of that decade old photo, other than why did it take so long to be displayed, is other than the printed claim what proof is there that it isn't a snapshot of Ukrainian personnel? If you follow the arrows back to the original poster the rest of the recorded images are innocuous to say the least. It's most useful feature seems to be to allow the crowd to vent its spleen on all things Russian. Somewhat ironic as the evidence, as far as I know, suggests that the 'crime' was actually committed by the Ukrainian military.
It does look a bit that way to me, too. Guy in the reddit comments says no way. there are many comments seem to be convinced it was totally a russian thing. I wish I had authentic proof one way or the other. Doesn't change the overall aspects of the conflict to me, one way or the other. But it would be nice to know. Excuse me using your post to ask but you know... how to find ways to put a question before an audience.. ?
Make no mistake, Biden was out the moment NYT or CNN found it fit to cover his years of his episodes. The failed Trump assassination is a twist in the sequence that follows from this. Vance's nomination is a second twist too. The young Senator playing the part of the populist is perhaps a bit of a life insurance policy for Trump - in contrast to reported stories of a standard-fare GOP alternative such as Rubio.
As for speculation of Republicans revolting for real against future machinations of the Deep State? I have my doubts about any such revolt. We already saw all of that in the 2017-2020 presidential term.
In any case, the RNC laid down a clear signal. A Trump-Vance executive has a crystal clear agenda:
- Cut taxes, deficit spend, raise tarriffs, and print money like it's the armageddon.
- On China, continue the pattern of chickensh#t provocations around Taiwan, and more sanctions vs European firms (which do squat vs China, but are enough of an excuse to play pretend)
- Focus actual military resources on Iran/Lebanon/Yemen
- Also almost certain bait-and-switch on Ukraine -- except insofar as there will be a real need to conserve resources due to blowback vs US bases in middle east
- Continue the border wall, but likely allow immigration in some other form for business reasons
- Nominate socially conservative judges, but sell it in the time tested way of pushing controversial issues down to the states
- Crush unions with vigor (contrary to any false hopes)
What would Biden's DNC-handpicked successors have to beat this package? Border wall seems like the main one. Claims of 'honesty' and 'saving democracy' are getting pretty darn beat by now. The balance in the judiciary is a battle that's already lost at this point.
On foreign policy, people won't care too much probably, but it's 90% the same. Only with a Dem president, internal criticism is simply shut down, whereas with a Republican president, there is at least MSM recognition of the mistakes and crimes once in a while.
Does this put Trump in office? Yes I think so.
Is that good? Matters little. I don't think there's any serious effort by either party to either save 'the system'. Nor to reform it. It's all about maintaining privilege within what's left of it, for 5 or 10 or 15 years. EU, collectively, is not a player probably for the rest of the decade. BRICS countries I think can recognize that they will have to ride out a period of extreme dysfunction -- but are on the whole well equipped to do so.
Good prognostication of Trump's upcoming speech, or were you citing the RNC Platform? Here's the Platform's link, https://www.2024gopplatform.com/
It's one hell-of-a mixed bag trying to provide something for everyone but mostly undoable.
The platform is just telling base what they want to hear I think. I'm trying to imagine/account for what a Trump admin would be widely expected to do, which is basically same as last time. But I'd think not as tight a boycott by Washington insiders taking positions in it, as before.
So the points he could actually get done follow those of his first term: (1) tax cuts (2) killing the Obama-Biden administration's Iran deal (3) antagonizing China (4) nominating judges (5) trying to deliver promise to contain immigration and making a mess of it. Everything else I think on autopilot. So this time, substitute the "next thing on Bibi's list" for #2... otherwise same themes. There are signs of political pragmatism by Republicans from RNC reporting, but honestly I don't think it has policy impact
IMO, the Congressional situation will prove critical again as many voters no longer vote the party ticket and seem to prefer a gridlocked government to limit executive power.
As one poster (forget who) has posted in several places, war enables them to invoke force majeure & walk away from debts.
Thanks for the article - thought-provoking as always, but there seems to be a very dangerous idea running through this: that Trump will somehow be a 'better' president? Really?
That he will 'appoint better people'?
Wasn't his first term in office enough? A huge array of sanctions against Russia. Open, racist provocation against China - Vance is clearly fully on board with that (perhaps he's an early example of the 'better people' we might expect from Trump 2.0). Destroying arms control agreements. The 'Abraham Accords', recognition of Israeli 'sovereignty' over the Golan, appointment of Pence, Pompeo and Bolton ('draining the swamp', of course).
The Empire is dying - these periods throw up the very worst of the wounded entity - Biden, Trump, Scholtz, Macron, Starmer. These idiots will do anything to maintain their diminishing hegemony...anything!
When the entire system is the problem, it's a little strange to expect anything good to arise out of this increasingly obviously fake 'democracy'.
- '...greatly underestimates the rage that would've ensued had he been killed...' Agreed. But isn't the greatest hope for all of us that the Empire collapses from within?
In his chats with Judge Napolitano, Crooke has indicated he sees Trump as marginally better than Biden. I'd need to take the wayback machine and read what he wrote during the 2016 campaign and his views thereafter to get a better assessment. As for "better people," I think we'd agree that Vance is better than Rubio. But the "party" is still the Duopoly regardless the faction and neither actually has advancing the interests of American citizens as its primary goal. We're closing in on 100 years since advancing those interests have been a political priority.
As for the Empire collapsing from within, that can occur without the mass trauma associated with the blowback from another political assassination. Additionally, today's polarization is based on personality versus political issues as both are criminals guilty of capital crimes. So, morally, both are trash and merit jail, not any position of power. There's an old saw: If God had wanted us to vote, he'd have given us candidates worthy of voting for.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/blueanon-watch-one-third-democrats-believe-trump-faked-assassination-attempt-conspiracy
Anger indeed, but not just from Trump supporters. This means about 10%+ of the US adult population actually believe that Trump organised a FF and was prepared to kill one of his supporters for a photo op and a jump in his polling.
I have friends who think this is the case. I try to avoid discussing politics with them. They are too far gone and emotionally invested in their tribe and its narrative. The list of things they actually think are true is quite amazing, and there is no reasoning with them.
I would like to see a poll that shows the number of Americans who think that the assassination attempt was sponsored by the "deep state" or some faction of it. The evidence is damning towards that explanation and it seems that every day that passes becomes more so as new revelations are exposed. The ZH comments certainly express that view very strongly and highlight the ridiculous inconsistencies and co-incidences that surround the shooting.
I just returned from Trump Majority Georgia and Tennessee which are far more for Trump now than before the assassination attempt. And I hate to think what would have erupted had he been killed. The Propaganda System has full control over both sides with few being neutral like myself and trying to maintain objectivity. The evidence against a FF is large and growing, and if Team Biden does nothing disciplinarian-wise, the situation will worsen.
Thanks for this. I've read the Nima/Hudson piece - which is very good - vid also available. I'll get to the others. On Europe, with VDL now back [alas; 10 of 14 Irish MEPs voted against her] and uber-Russophobe Kallas as Foreign Minister expect no change at the mo. Germany is troubling - very troubling. I expect Newbie as Democratic candidate - not the feeble VP - Biden will retire soon - Blinken and Sullivan should be prosecuted for elder-abuse [for a start]. If Trump/Vance can stop crazyness in Ukraine then - hope - personally I can't stand the man. BUT ... power of MIC etc. Difficult to be optimistic. On debt and economics Europe is in deep dudu. Crooke is pessimistic - the objective stance.
Funny your typo--it's Newsom. Jill Biden is the #1 person to be arrested for elder abuse.
Newbie was intentional - it doesn't have to be Newsom - on Jill, agree.
Again, being pessimistic a Trump presidency may see West Bank annexed. Turbulent times ahead whichever way one looks.
ON screen just now - DJT - and milking the dead fireman - what godawful taste. Is this The Resurrection or the Second Coming? Is the RNC taking place in one of those Maga-Churches? Will he ascend to Wall Street Heaven with God [who else?] standing by his side? Is he on Valium? Very serene and more grey around the sides .... Is he stoned? Has he found God? His congregation is stunned into silence in sheer awe ..... this cannot last ... Oops he nearly forgot about Blessed Melania .... that bullet must have grazed his voice-box - but maybe it's the Valium - or is He just purring? Think I'll doze off - if The Lion roars I'll wake up ....
Tacky is what tacky does. Those black velvet Elvis paintings are part of the constituency.
Dolly Parton offers the proper perspective. She said 'People do not know how expensive it is to look so cheap.' Great woman.
Definitely sounded like he thinks he had a religious experience. Who knows, the speech is fact free. Many promises fact free…
He is rambling all over the place - and immigration on auto-replay - he is boring - soporific - Vance struggling with his poker face - His congregation is nodding off - Now even my TV box wants to go into standby to save energy!
Facts! Forget it. He is performing future miracles in his state of delerium - or maybe delayed shock - or more probably the Valium or more likely - intimations of his recent brush with mortality and a delayed realisation of the fact of the human condition. Conclusion - he is not well. End.
I actually did nod off!
Likewise -I struggled to stay to the end.
Thanks for your reports as I have decided to eat my dinner in peace.
Sensible choice.
A book "War is a Racket" by the great American general Smedley Butler should have been a required reading beginning from the middle school. Instead, American children have been force-fed by Otto Frank's "diaries" and Elie Wiesel "truths" to maintain AIPAC control over US Congress and the MIC. "All wars are bankers' wars," wrote American patriot Smedley Butler. There is catastrophic deficit of American patriots in the US government; as a result, the country has been hollowed out.
PS: "The colossal hoax surrounding the Anne Frank diary is so immense, the implications so profound that mankind must find out about it. " https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=55bf95fc07ec67b47d12360c742c52fa92176d1f
Much to my surprise, the Trump talk is Presidential. The talk is good, the policy will be TBD.
Thiel, et. al. know that the Dems will be trying to push Trump/Vance into a Herbert Hoover follow-on. It will be interesting to watch. It will not change the battering ram, but might mitigate its focus.
Imagine, Trump etc. acting like statesmen? Nearly unbelievable. I would like to see some retribution across a large number of three letter agencies.
‘The key question is, Will Trump be able to win despite even greater election fraud by the Deep State?” You are the second regular/frequent internet commenter supportive of the emergent multipolar world who in recent days has spoken of significant Deep State/Democratic Party election fraud in the 2020 cycle. The other was Scott Ritter in conversation with Nima the other day. Ritter in typical emotional fashion asserted that 2020 was stolen via the adoption of mail-in ballots for the first time in many states, by implication via rigged voting machines. Is that the electoral fraud you reference? ‘Cause I’m not aware that rigged voting machines or any ballot stuffing was proven anywhere, certainly not enough to affect the outcome of any 2020 race. Crooked campaign tricks, fraudulent donations, lies, manipulation by the MSM, sure I see all kinds of shenanigans coming from the D’s. But what did you mean? [BTW, I also will vote for Jill Stein].
Voting machines along with other proven irregularities. Until we return to paper ballots counted by humans and verified by other humans there will be fraud. Here in Oregon, one of the first states to adopt main-in ballots, our elections have proven quite clean. The DNC was capable of defrauding Bernie Sanders via widespread election fraud twice. Indeed, the court ruling said the Duopoly can manipulate the vote however they want at the primary level, so imagine what they both try to do with the final vote! Stalin was right--it's who counts the votes that matters.
This might be a good venue to post this link and ask if anyone has any comment/links regarding it. I had though this was proven false flag but got this in my feed today.
Not Karlof's subject today, I know, but surely related somewhat as in about Russia good or bad?
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1e5d4j1/russian_soldiers_are_photographed_near_the_downed/
Curiously, even today Russian and Ukrainian soldiers wear coloured armbands because the combat gear of different armies is essentially the same. So in terms of that decade old photo, other than why did it take so long to be displayed, is other than the printed claim what proof is there that it isn't a snapshot of Ukrainian personnel? If you follow the arrows back to the original poster the rest of the recorded images are innocuous to say the least. It's most useful feature seems to be to allow the crowd to vent its spleen on all things Russian. Somewhat ironic as the evidence, as far as I know, suggests that the 'crime' was actually committed by the Ukrainian military.
That looks photoshopped to me.
It does look a bit that way to me, too. Guy in the reddit comments says no way. there are many comments seem to be convinced it was totally a russian thing. I wish I had authentic proof one way or the other. Doesn't change the overall aspects of the conflict to me, one way or the other. But it would be nice to know. Excuse me using your post to ask but you know... how to find ways to put a question before an audience.. ?
Hire a polling company.