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Ismaele's avatar

I agree with Ed. In my humble opinion, all these negotiations between Russia and US first and now with Ukraine are more theatrics than anything else. Trump keeps changing his mind on this and other matters (e.g. Iran) more often than he changes his underwear... LOL!

Joking aside, I think the news from the frontline are more interesting than this kabuki theatre, including today's phone call between Putin and Trump - see my latest article covering the rise of insubordination and corruption in Ukraine: https://geopolitiq.substack.com/p/insubordination-on-the-rise-in-the?r=25fc37 - How long can the AFU continue like this?

As for the Zionist entity, Israel is not just in "moral meltdown", as suggested by Alastair Crooke, but also in a "psychological meltdown", as I will explain in my next article that I am already preparing for tomorrow. If I intrigued you, please consider subscribing to my substack, so that you do not miss my articles. ;)

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Yu always intrigue me, Ismaele. Yes, agree with psychological meltdown. On the LOC, the Southern Donetsk region IMO is very soft and ripe for a major advance.

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Ismaele's avatar

I hope to intrigue some of your readers as well. :)

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I’m sure you will.

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Ed's avatar

Trump kabuki.

If he wanted peace, stopping the U.S. largesse would be the answer. That could have been done after the swear in. Four months ago. Trump lust for the same as van der Leyen and Starmer.

Trump calling the EU and siting the Pope is theater.

While Zelenski the term expired puppet will demand what is only possible from Trump!

Russia will need to push on militarily.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Yes, as I said Russia and most realist commentators knew what the outcome would be. There appears to be a subtle shift in Trump’s view of arranging a ceasefire—now negotiations come first instead of ceasefire. Of course, he may not know he said it that way and might later reverse himself again.

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dornoch altbinhax's avatar

He's as befuddled as Biden. He latches onto a train of thought, and then turns,and turns again. It's not strategy that some think, it's just panic, not a lot different from the likes of errand boy Macron, or stalling Starmer. And his childish speech and phrasings are insufferable.

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Garry Gerskwotiz's avatar

Trump is the living epitome of the movie Groundhog Day although Trump always reverts back to his initial position. Does Putin think that Trump understands that amerika is the root cause? After all Trump still believes companies and corporations will be paying the tariffs, even after warning Walmart not to raise their prices. Watch the 10 and 30 year treasuries, that’s the real canary in the coal mine, as neither Russia or China want a military war, but an economic one they hardly even have to fight it as amerika suffers from own goal after own goal as the Trump team is the latest in running this kakistocracy into the ground

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Well, of course I don’t know what Putin thinks unless he tells us, and he said that Trump acknowledged the NATO push westward was the root cause, although he’s done nothing to reverse that, although there’s chatter about repositioning 10,000 US troops from Eastern Europe. I refer back to an essay Michael Hudson wrote during Trump’s first term, https://michael-hudson.com/2019/02/trumps-brilliant-strategy-to-dismember-u-s-dollar-hegemony/

Extensive empires take many years to wind-down financially—Rome took centuries and still isn’t completely bankrupt as the Vatican proves. But the Outlaw US Empire lacks a Vatican and instead has Wall Street, and the latter’s disintegration promises to be much quicker. I noted an item that said the UK has displaced China as the #2 holder of US debt. How much longer will Trump be able to keep Jefferies from raising rates? When does the 90-day tariff period end for all but China.

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Garry Gerskwotiz's avatar

That Hudson article is unbelievable. Six years ago and it seems as if nothing has changed. It’s no wonder history isn’t taught in the usa for if it were a revolution would’ve happened long ago, what an evil empire the empire of lies truly is

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Yes, and you can probably understand why I wanted to teach history.

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Garry Gerskwotiz's avatar

Yes and I envy that. I always wanted to teach but never learned enough to be able to. You’d be amazing to have as a teacher

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Thanks. I had good cred over the few years I did. I inspired a few and learned from a few too.

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rakyat kecil's avatar

Still have Karl, a busmans retirement it seems for you and for our benefit to boot.

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Richard Roskell's avatar

I agree: Russia and China don't need to do anything to defeat the USA, other than to avoid the trap of becoming the same thing.

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Richard Roskell's avatar

In reflective moments I consider the possibility that the Collective West, seeing the words writ large on the wall, might have an epiphany about itself. As a westerner I hope for that outcome, but rationally the chances of it seem very low. The entrenched political, economic, social and military forces of the West are collectively certain that they are the pinnacle of civilization, and that there's nothing left to do but watch the paychecks roll in as they drop bombs on those who don't play along.

There may be attempts by some westerners to avert the impending disaster. For example I agree with Alistair Crooke that Trump may be trying for an economic reset, and possibly even social and political reset as well. Unfortunately, who in the West these days has the stature, gravitas and charisma to lead us out of the swamp? Not Trump certainly, he's more akin to a wrecking-ball. But that may be necessary before the rebuilding can begin on the ashes of what's left.

We have allowed ourselves to become corrupt, and lacking shame we brag about it. I remain hopeful for the future of humanity, but not for the West.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I must agree, although I’ll note that more nations make it difficult to bomb them. For example, much Iranian tech advances are from reverse engineering US missiles and drones.

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Richard Roskell's avatar

Even if a nation can't reliably detect and destroy American bombers there are very effective, low cost ways to protect your military assets. You disperse/conceal your forces and bury what you can. This keeps the majority of your assets in service, while the enemy depletes his stock of weapons in an ineffectual campaign. Having been bombed for over a decade now, I'm sure the Houthis know this better than anyone.

This is how Ansar Allah in Yemen was able to withstand the combined might of the US Navy and Air Force this spring, without being significantly degraded. The result: The US declared a conclusive victory and skedaddled for home.

The more technical and expensive your weapons become, the greater the likelihood that someone will find low-cost, asymmetric ways to neutralize them.

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Anna's avatar

Currently, the western “pinnacle “ reveals itself in the form of judeo-banderism

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WTFUD's avatar

Putin's insistence on examining the root causes of the SMO would require deep Western introspection, a place they fear to tread.

Few psychopaths are capable of recognising their condition/limitations and the more time they spend among themselves probably believe their actions are normal even virtuous.

NO, sorry Peaceniks, it's going to take a Kinzhal or two fired deep into the belly of the beast, the heartlands, or, depending on how much uglier things get, Olly Oreshnik & his Kissing Cousins to return sanity to America and its Euro-concubines.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

Did sanity ever reign in those places? Both places have been the playgrounds of various elites for centuries, never any sort of people’s paradise—well, before the Europeans arrived or the elites learned how to change interest or both. Europe is again rotting from within while the Americans are also learning how to do such things to themselves.

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WTFUD's avatar

When your MO has been Murder & Extortion since inception is it even possible to ween yourself off those 'bad habits/traits'?

I expect a psychiatrist would have more success treating those fentanyl zombies on many of America's streets than our heavily compromised degenerate so-called Representation.

At least in general the drug addict is only harming him/her self.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

In Russia, drug addiction including alcoholism is seen as a social disease and treated as such, although possession of the drugs is criminal. I find it interesting about the Vatican’s involvement in Western debauchery over the centuries.

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Loam's avatar

The ball, once again, is in the White House's court. Victory, once again, is in the Kremlin dome. NATO keeps changing balls, but what it lacks is the racket and the tennis player. In this latest appearance, Putin once again executed a precise passing shot.

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uncle tungsten's avatar

Jamarl Thomas and Mark Sleboda are indulging in analysis after they stopped laughing:

https://youtu.be/xFoOBU2Pn1c

Trump is desperate to wipe the shit right off his shoes but all the dried Palestinian blood has stuck it fast. Trump needs to be paraded before the ICJ as soon as possible. These wars are Trump wars and this Genocide is Trump's genocide, follow the weapons supply.

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

That was good except Sleboda needs to get his dates right for Trump’s first term, 2017-2021. Sleboda does scratch the surface of the roots extending to WW2 and actually beyond to WW1 and the interwar period when the poisonous Galician nationalism was born and promoted.

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WTFUD's avatar

Some ungrateful young gay Ukrainian male model has seen fit to commit arson on two housing properties, one current, one former as well as a car that used to be registered in my PM's name.

After all Sir Keir's done for him!

How did he blow himself into the PM's life?

At least nobody found a freshly minted Syrian, er Russian passport at the scene of any of the 3 crimes.

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rakyat kecil's avatar

Thanks once again Karl for your concise summations of the situations at hand along with the attendant links, seems Alisdair Crookes paywall is being lowered or are you giving link over it?

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I was surprised by the length of material that item provided, so I don’t know since the videos have always been at the top. The essay was the weekly delayed publication at SCF. Crooke’s been featured several days weekly by various people besides the Judge, not all of which get posted to his substack.

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Crush Limbraw's avatar

Look out - here come DaNazis - https://donaldjeffries.substack.com/p/the-enduring-power-of-nazi-derangement?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=344941&post_id=163780499&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=y7h5a&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email - but I thought Hitler's dead? Ain't he? But what if it ain't DaNazis? SHHHH - don't ever say that - you'll live to regret it. Or maybe not.

OK - can I use the initials of DaRealCulprits?

Maybe......but I won't read them.....too dangerous for public consumption......besides, they don't exist.

Where did you hear that?

In DSOS!

Now you dun'it!

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

You don’t need a Hitler to have Nazis. Nor does the term need to be historical to define something contemporary. Looks like a lot of energy went into that essay.

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Loam's avatar

True. You don't need Mussolini or Franco to have fascists either. They emerge, fueled by the oligarchy, whenever capitalism enters a crisis.

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Crush Limbraw's avatar

DJ is your fellow substacker - ever read any of his books?

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Karl Sanchez's avatar

I'd very much like the luxury of time to read my many unread books and those I'd like to read again. I've never looked at the thousands of people who are fellow substack writers, although I do know of a handful. Donald Jefferies wasn't one of those despite his having written quite a lot on topics that are close to mine--he's even had books published and substack essays republished not merely restacked. He clearly has a very popular and thus successful substack. I applaud!

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