Puppet MastersS


Footprints

John Helmer: Spy Fight, Spy Flight, Spy Fail - Spy Phooey

John Helmer FBI CIA Phooey

James Bamford is forty years late in discovering that Israel not only spies against the US, but does so constantly and comprehensively, effectively escaping prosecution at the highest levels of government in Washington, and almost always lower down.

Now almost 77 years of age, Bamford is not old enough to understand the reason for this is that the Israelis have managed a state capture in Washington that is longer lasting and more successful than the Ukrainians have pulled off for the Canadian government in Ottawa; or the Gupta brothers who took over the South African government in Pretoria. The last of these state captures was stopped in 2016 after just seven years.

Still, Bamford has convinced the French publisher Hachette to print a news update of the Israeli takeover of the US government.

Rainbow

US foreign policy goes "woke"? Regime change in store for cultural conservatives?

Samantha Power
It is generally observed that imperial powers like the United States frequently interfere in foreign governments in support of economic or hard political reasons. To be sure, Washington has refined the process so it can plausibly deny that it is interfering at all, that the change is spontaneous and comes from the people and institutions in the country that is being targeted for change. One recalls how handing out cookies in Maidan Square in Kiev served as an incentive wrapped around a publicity stunt to bring about regime change in Ukraine in 2014 when Senator John McCain and the State Department's Victoria Nuland were featured performers in a $5 billion investment by the US government to topple the friendly-to-Russia regime of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Of course, change for the sake of a short-term objective might not always be the best way to go and one might suggest that the success in bringing in a new government acceptable to Nuland has not really turned out that well for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, nor for those Americans who understand that the Biden Administration's pledge to arm Ukraine and stay in the fight against Russia "as long as it takes" just might not be very good for the United States either.

Magnify

Lukyanov: Violent protests in Georgia, is a Ukraine-style coup on the cards?

Georgia Protestas
© Captura de pantalla.PHOTO: Protests in Georgia - As another ex-Soviet state is gripped by violent protests, A violent change of power is unlikely, but the current tensions expose the weaknesses in the country's political system
The entire modern history of Georgia, dating back to the late 1980s, is a chronicle of temperamental lurches towards change. These consist of chaotic attempts at implementation, followed by work to stabilize the situation and build a sturdy state structure, before a new cycle begins. Each time there are objective socio-political preconditions for these perturbations, which are overlaid by both domestic and external factors.

At home: Excessive personalization of politics and an obsession with certain leaders at each stage - Zviad Gamsakhurdia (1991-1992), Eduard Shevardnadze (1995-2003), Mikhail Saakashvili (2004-2013), and Bidzina Ivanishvili (de-facto leader for the past decade). Outside influence: A real, or perhaps fictitious, struggle for influence between Russia and the West.

This time it's notionally about the government's attempt to introduce a 'foreign agents' law, which the opposition claims is very close to similar rules imposed in Russia. But the root of the issues goes far deeper.


Comment: The US has its own foreign agents law which it used to suppress Russian media in the country.


Comment: See also: 2nd night of mass protests over foreign agent bill in Georgia, US & EU hypocritically warn against 'Kremlin-inspired law'


Bad Guys

Czech gov't approves deployment of military to Ukraine, Africa - follows appointment of former NATO general Petr Pavel as President

Petr Pavel
© REUTERS/Eva KorinkovaNewly elected Czech President Petr Pavel swears on the Czech Constitution during the inauguration ceremony at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, March 9, 2023.
The Czech government has approved sending its military police officers to Ukraine, whose tasks will include investigating war crimes.

According to the Czech news agency CTK, it is planned to send up to 15 experts of the military police to the territory of Ukraine, who will then be included in the number of specialists of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. It is reported that the number may end up being much higher.

The mandate approved by the Czech Parliament will be valid until the end of 2024. Police experts will also be able to conduct their activities in the Netherlands. Funding for this mission is expected to be 29,6 million crowns (approximately $1,3 million).

Comment: AFP reports on the new President's appointment:
Former NATO general Petr Pavel was on Thursday sworn in as president of the Czech Republic and stressed the importance of unity in supporting war-torn Ukraine.

"Central Europe's single voice will be important if we are to help Ukraine prevail," he said at the ceremony at Prague Castle, vowing to lift his country's reputation abroad "to a new level".


An ominous statement for the people of the Czech Republic.


Pavel said Ukraine can serve as a model as it "has shown us and our partners that unbreakable resolve is more than the advantage and strength of an aggressor".

The 61-year-old was elected in January, having defeated former prime minister Andrej Babis, a billionaire populist, in the run-off.

Pavel will replace divisive, outspoken veteran politician Milos Zeman, whose last five-year term expired on Wednesday.


Zeman was often a voice of reason and truth, and so one can't help but question the appointment an establishment darling like Pavel.


While the role is largely ceremonial, the Czech president names the government, picks the central bank governor and constitutional judges, and serves as commander of the armed forces.


It sounds unlikely that this role will remain 'largely ceremonial'.


In addition to vowing continued support to Ukraine, Pavel has also pledged to foster close ties with the European Union and NATO and boost relations with the United States.

A graduate of a military university and an elite paratrooper, Pavel was decorated as a hero in the Serbo-Croatian war when he helped free French troops from a war zone.

He rose to chief of the Czech general staff and also led NATO's military committee in 2015-2018.

Hundreds of people cheered and waved flags as Pavel arrived at Prague Castle on Thursday and later chanted "long live Pavel".

Also Thursday more than 100 motorcyclists set out on a ride through Prague's historic centre to mark the inauguration with an event called "Highway to Hrad (Castle)", a reference to the ACDC hit "Highway to Hell".


Considering Pavel's pledges, that sounds apt.


Pavel owns a dual-sport BMW motorbike and is a passionate rider.

For his first official visit abroad as president, Pavel is planning two days in Slovakia on March 13.


One wonders what kind of welcome this former NATO general will get from the people of Slovakia: Thousands in Slovakia rally against NATO & military aid to Ukraine


Slovak President Zuzana Caputova for her part arrived in Prague to congratulate him on his election victory on the day of the vote.

The two countries formed Czechoslovakia until their peaceful split in 1993.



Pirates

'Making a deal with the Devil': US Congresswoman warns Argentina not to build Chinese fighter jets

María Elvira Salazar
FILE PHOTO: US Representative María Elvira Salazar. Casa Rosada sources said Salazar's statements were inaccurate and that there were no plans to build JF-17 fighters locally.
US Representative María Elvira Salazar warned last week that Argentina was planning to install a factory of Chinese warplanes in the South American country. The former Spanish-language news anchorwoman of Cuban heritage stressed that President Alberto Fernández and Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) had embarked on a deal with the Devil that they would regret sooner than later.

"I am going to forewarn them that if they decide to build a fighter jet factory of Chinese fighter jets, it's a very bad idea for them," Salazar said in English. But then she switched to Spanish to continue: "I'm going to say it in Spanish so that it is very clear to my Argentine friends: Your presidenta (female for president) and your president (male version) are making a deal with the Devil that may have consequences of Biblical proportions. The United States will not remain with its arms folded because you cannot have an ally who builds and exports Chinese military aircraft and sells them to its neighbors," the Republican Congresswoman from the State of Florida stressed.

Comment: Apparently the US government still thinks it can dictate to nations who they may or may not do business with. Is it any wonder much of the planet world is readily and rapidly pivoting to the mutually beneficial business practices of the East?

See also: Major power outage hits 20 million people in Argentina, gov't blames SABOTAGE fire near nuclear power plant


Bullseye

Russia pounds Kiev and other Ukrainian cities with barrage of missiles 'in retaliation' for recent attack on Bryansk

Ukaine airstrike
© AFPPolice and local residents carry a body following a Russian airstrike in the Ukrainian village of Velyka Vilshanytsia, near the major western city of Lviv, March 9, 2023.
Russia has fired various missiles, including the hypersonic nuclear-capable Kinzhal, pounding the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and other cities.

The Ukrainian air force said Russian forces had fired 81 high-powered missiles of different types in a "massive" pre-dawn attack on Thursday.

"The attack is really large-scale and for the first time using such different types of missiles. We see that this time as many as six Kinzhal were used. This is an attack like I don't remember seeing before," said Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of Ukraine.

Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said all targets had been hit during Russia's "retaliation" missile strike on Ukraine in response to a recent incursion in Russian Bryansk region.

Comment: Alleged footage following the airstrikes:






Robot

The US military plans to use deep fakes and take over appliances for propaganda

U.S. military agent at computer
© Getty Images / Milan_Jovic
Can you create cutting edge "deep fake" videos, spy on people using household appliances, and make massive data dragnets? If so, the Pentagon wants to hear from you so it can amp up its manipulation efforts.

US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM) has issued proposal requests for a whole host of dodgy services, according to new documents obtained by The Intercept.

Specifically, the Pentagon is looking for "next generation capability to'takeover'Internet of Things (IoT) devices in order to collect data and information from local populaces to enable a breakdown of what messaging might be popular and accepted through sifting of data once received."

For what purpose? "This would enable MISO [Military Information Support Operations] to craft and promote messages that may be more readily received by the local populace in relevant peer/near peer environments," according to the document.

Comment: See also: US Special Ops want to weaponize deep fakes - The Intercept


Better Earth

The Valdai meeting: West Asia meets multipolarity

Montage
© The CradleValdai Meeting/ Where West Asia meets multipolarity
At Russia's Valdai Club meeting - the east's answer to Davos - intellectuals and influencers gathered to frame West Asia's current and future developments.

The 12th "Middle East Conference" at the Valdai Club in Moscow offered a more than welcome cornucopia of views on interconnected troubles and tribulations affecting the region.

But first, an important word on terminology - as only one of Valdai's guests took the trouble to stress. This is not the "Middle East" - a reductionist, Orientalist notion devised by old colonials: at The Cradle we emphasize the region must be correctly described as West Asia.

Some of the region's trials and tribulations have been mapped by the official Valdai report, The Middle East and The Future of Polycentric World. But the intellectual and political clout of those in attendance can provide valuable anecdotal insights too. Here are a few of the major strands participants highlighted on regional developments, current and future:

Snakes in Suits

McConnell's 'exhilarating' insurection

McConnellCapitol
© USA Today/Alex Slitz/Asliz@herald-leader.com/KJNRepublican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell • US Capitol January 6
A dirty little secret about January 6 — one of many — is that Democrats and establishment Republicans, not Trump supporters, wanted to shut down the official proceedings of that day.

Just as the first wave of protesters breached the building shortly after 2 p.m., congressional Republicans were poised to present evidence of rampant voting fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Ten incumbent and four newly-elected Republican senators planned to work with their House colleagues to demand the formation of an audit commission to investigate election "irregularities" in the 2020 election. Absent an audit, the group of senators, including Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) pledged to reject the Electoral College results from the disputed states.

The Hail Mary effort was doomed to fail; yet the American people would have heard hours of debate related to provable election fraud over the course of the day.

And no one opposed the effort more than ex-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Bad Guys

How could Western intelligence have got it wrong, again? They didn't. They had other purposes

MI6 building
© Reuters/Toby MelvilleMI6 building in London • August 25, 2010
The West now faces the task of de-fusing the landmine of their own electorate's conviction of a Ukraine 'win', and of Russian humiliation.

Larry Johnson, an ex-CIA analyst, writes "I no longer hold clearances and have not had access to the classified intelligence assessments. However, I have heard that the finished intelligence being supplied to U.S. policymakers continues to declare that Russia is on the ropes - and their economy is crumbling. Also, analysts insist that the Ukrainians are beating the Russians".

Johnson responds that - lacking valid human sources - "western agencies are almost wholly dependent today on 'liaison reporting'" (i.e., from 'friendly' foreign intelligence services), without doing 'due diligence' by cross-checking discrepancies with other reporting.

In practice, this largely means western reporting simply replicates Kiev's PR line. But there does occur a huge problem when marrying Kiev's output (as Johnson says) to UK reports - for 'corroboration'.

The reality is UK reporting itself is also based on what Ukraine is saying. This is known as false collateral - i.e., when that which is used for corroboration and validation actually derives from the same single source. It becomes - deliberately - a propaganda multiplier.

In plain words however, all these points are 'red herrings'. Bluntly, so-called western 'Intelligence' is no longer the sincere attempt to understand a complex reality, but rather, it has become the tool to falsify a nuanced reality in order to attempt to manipulate the Russian psyche towards a collective defeatism (in respect not just to the Ukraine, but to the idea that Russia should remain as a sovereign whole).

And - to the extent that 'lies' are fabricated to accustom the Russian public to inevitable defeat - the obverse edge clearly is intended to train the western public towards the 'groupthink' that victory is inevitable. And that Russia is an 'unreformed evil Empire' which threatens all Europe.

This is no accident. It is highly purposeful. It is behavioural psychology at work. The 'head-spinning' disorientation created throughout the Covid pandemic; the constant rain of 'data-driven' model analysis, the labelling of anything critical of the 'uniform messaging' as anti-social disinformation - enabled western governments to persuade their citizens that 'lockdown' was the only rational answer to the virus. It was not true (as we now know), but the 'pilot' behavioural nudge-psychology trial worked better - better even than its own architects had imagined.