Puppet MastersS


Putin

What Putin Wants

Putin
"I'm convinced that we have reached the decisive moment when we must seriously think about the architecture of global security. And we must proceed by searching for a reasonable balance between the interests of all participants in the international dialogue." Russian President Vladimir Putin, Munich Security Conference, 2007
How much do you know about the crisis in Ukraine? See if you can answer these 7 questions.

Question 1- Does the Biden administration's push to bring Ukraine into NATO violate agreements the US has signed previously?

1-Yes

2-No

The answer is "Yes". In Istanbul (1999) and in Astana (2010), the US and the other 56 countries in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) signed documents "that contained interrelated principles to ensure the indivisibility of security."

What does that mean?

It means that parties to the agreement must refrain from any action that could affect the security interests of the other members. It means that parties cannot put military bases and missile sites in locations that pose a threat to other members. It means that parties must refrain from using their respective territories to carry out or assist armed aggression against other members. It means that parties are prohibited from acting in a manner that runs counter to the principles laid out in the treaty. It means that Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO if its membership poses a threat to Russian security.

Snakes in Suits

Is population control the next conspiracy "theory" to become a reality?

global depopulation
Uttering the phrase "eugenics program" or " depopulation agenda" is a sure-fire way to get yourself cast as an alt-right conspiracy theorist who listens to misinformation from Joe Rogan en route to driving your 18-wheeler as part of a convoy that's clearly protesting to promote white supremacy. Yet, as is typically the case, the caricaturization of those premises into an idea constructed in the form of a straw man that can easily be defeated is done to control the narrative enveloping those subjects so that they aren't examined in good faith.

Time and time again, these supposed "conspiracy theories" end up becoming ostensible realities. The recent deterioration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia illustrates this point in spades. Years, if not weeks or even days ago, anyone forewarning of a "false flag" attack would branded as someone wearing a tinfoil hat who has been watching too much InfoWars. That vapid attempt of character assassination completely rejects any examination about the idea that a nation would stage a crisis to create a cassus belli. In this instance, that tendency to overlook facts to focus on ostracizing dissent occurred time and time against despite the declassification of Operation Northwoods, a document which literally proves the long-standing use of this tactic, years ago. Now, the Pentagon and community of US intelligence agencies have cited the formerly outlandish "conspiracy theory" as a provocation for military engagement against the Russian Federation, an adversary its been guilty of concocting many of its own actual conspiracy theories against. How quickly the tables turn.

Comment: See also:


Snakes in Suits

Biden's top science adviser bullied and demeaned subordinates, according to White House investigation

Eric Lander
© Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesEric Lander at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington DC
President Joe Biden's top science adviser, Eric Lander, bullied and demeaned his subordinates and violated the White House's workplace policy, an internal White House investigation recently concluded, according to interviews and an audio recording obtained by POLITICO.

The two-month investigation found "credible evidence" that Lander — a Cabinet member and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy who the White House touts as a key player in the pandemic response — was "bullying" toward his then-general counsel, Rachel Wallace, according to a recorded January briefing on the investigation's findings.

Christian Peele, the White House's deputy director of management and administration for personnel, said that the investigation also concluded that there was "credible evidence of disrespectful interactions with staff by Dr. Lander and OSTP leadership," according to the roughly 20-minute briefing, which included a representative of the White House Counsel's office.

There was also "credible evidence" that Lander had spoken "harshly and disrespectfully to colleagues in front of other colleagues," Peele said, according to the recording. "The investigation found credible evidence of instances of multiple women having complained to other staff about negative interactions with Dr. Lander, where he spoke to them in a demeaning or abrasive way in front of other staff," Peele said in the recording.

X

What has been asserted without evidence may be dismissed without evidence

CNN interview
© CNN Screenshot
We're being bashed in the face with western propaganda about the Ukraine situation with increasing forcefulness. Every day now we're seeing things like "analysts" claiming Putin definitely wants a large-scale war, very familiar-looking puff pieces about Ukrainian guerrilla freedom fighters based on claims by anonymous intelligence sources, think pieces on why Americans should all care about Ukrainian freedom from Kremlin tyranny, and, of course, a lot of entirely unsubstantiated assertions about what Russia is doing.

Despite the British government's evidence-free claim that Russia was planning to install a puppet regime in Ukraine being debunked within hours and then shown to be a US intelligence claim dishonestly packaged as a British one days later, mass media outlets still to this day repeat the allegation like it's a real thing. Despite the entirely unevidenced US government claim that Russia was plotting to stage a false flag attack in eastern Ukraine failing to prove true in subsequent weeks, US Senator Bob Menendez went on CNN over the weekend and declared that this false flag which never actually, physically happened was grounds to sanction Russia effective immediately.

Arrow Up

Empowering China's digital informants

CMP tracking
© faeCMP tracking control: Empowering online informants
At a meeting in Beijing last month, Zhuang Rongwen (庄荣文), head of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and a deputy minister of the Central Propaganda Department, issued written comments on the construction of what he called an "integrated national system for the reporting and handling of illegal and undesirable information" (全国互联网违法和不良信息举报受理处置一体化机制建设工作). Zhuang urged officials across the country to push for "new breakthroughs" in 2022 in what he called "online reporting," or wangluo jubao (网络举报).

What does this mean? And what are its implications?

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regards the control and manipulation of public opinion, a process known since 1989 as "public opinion guidance," as being of "extreme importance" to regime stability. The "guidance" mandate is achieved on a constant basis both through a vast and evolving human architecture (including propaganda officials, media personnel, public security staff and so on) engaged in what is broadly called "news and public opinion work" (新闻舆论工作). It is also, in the information age, achieved through a vast and evolving technical architecture restricting access and filtering content on the internet and social media.

Comment: Once a regime gains 'the public' as partners and informants, the system is there to stay.


Footprints

National security adviser: Russia could invade Ukraine 'any day now'

war cartoon
© Chuan Ming OngEdging closer to war, the U.S. and Russia square off as China watches the outcome.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that Russian military forces could invade Ukraine "any day now."

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Sullivan told host Martha MacCallum, however, that Russia could still choose to take a diplomatic path. Sullivan said:
"Well, what I can tell you Martha is that we are in the window. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine or it could be a couple of weeks from now or Russia could choose to take the diplomatic path instead.

"The key thing is that the United States needs to be and is prepared for any of those contingencies in lockstep with our allies and partners."
Sullivan also said that U.S. officials have informed allies about the possibility of war breaking out in Ukraine, adding that material support was also provided to Kyiv under President Biden's direction.


Comment: 'Not sending troops to start war with Russia in Europe.' But optics say something else.
The United States said on Sunday it was not sending troops to start a war with Russia after deploying 3,000 additional soldiers to Germany and Eastern Europe over the Ukraine standoff with Moscow.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told Fox News Sunday:
"The president has been clear for months now that the United States is not sending forces to start a war or fight a war with Russia in Ukraine. We have sent forces to Europe to defend NATO territory."

The question is: Defending NATO territory 'from whom and what'? Ukraine is not NATO and Russia is not issuing threats.


Sullivan was speaking on NBC's Meet the Press when he said that "a military escalation and invasion of Ukraine could happen at any time.
"We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine, and we have been working hard to prepare a response.

"President Biden has rallied our allies. He's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank, he's provided material support to the Ukrainians, and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path."
Ukraine on Sunday insisted the chance of resolving the soaring tensions with Russia through diplomacy remained greater than that of an attack.

Officials briefed Congress and European allies in recent days that the Russian force amassed on the frontier is growing at a rate that would give Putin the firepower he needs for a full-scale invasion -- some 150,000 soldiers -- within a few weeks.

They said Putin wants options at his disposal, ranging from a limited campaign in the pro-Russian Donbas region of Ukraine to a full-scale invasion.

Russia denies that it is planning an incursion into Ukraine.



Footprints

Kamala Harris left speechless as another staffer exits

Harris
© PoliticoUS VP Kamala Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris' speechwriting team has lost its leader with Kate Childs Graham confirmed Friday to be joining a host of former colleagues by heading for the exit.

Herbie Ziskend, deputy communications director to Harris, paid tribute to his departing colleague when he announced her loss on social media:
"Kate is committed, hard-working, hilarious - a great colleague and friend. I'll miss working with her every day, but excited for her next adventure."
The departure follows a string of farewell messages as staffers leave the employ of the vice president, many of them vacating public facing roles in the press office.

Comment: This is news...the only news about Kamala Harris. At least the content is consistent.


Eye 2

'Rules for thee', etc.: Maskless Obama under fire over elitism

obama hawaii mask
© @bennyjohson/TwitterMaskless Barack Obama oversees construction at his Hawaiian beach front home
Ex-US President Barack Obama and several maskless Democratic officials were pictured next to masked workers & children

Former US President Barack Obama is among a number of Democrats facing public outrage and accusations of elitism. Pictures published by The Mail on Sunday showed Obama speaking with contractors and construction workers at his $8.7 million Hawaii property. Unlike him, the workers are all sporting face coverings in the photos.

Mr. Potato

Ukraine states possibility of Russian invasion "low", US claims it could be 'tomorrow or a few weeks'

Alexey Reznikov
Ukraine's defense minister Alexey Reznikov
Despite claims from the West that an invasion of Ukraine is just around the corner, the chance of a serious escalation on the Russian border still remains low, the Ukrainian defense minister said on Sunday.

In a statement published on his ministry's website, Alexey Reznikov explained that assistance from foreign countries had significantly boosted Kiev's capacity for resistance, but it is not expected that donated weapons will need to be fired any time soon.

"We have all the information, and we assess the situation realistically. At the moment, there are a lot of different hypothetical assessments and forecasts, especially in the foreign media," Reznikov said. "It is the duty of the military to calculate all possible scenarios, even the worst ones, and to do everything possible to neutralize threats. That is what is happening right now. The probability of a significant escalation as of today continues to be assessed as low."

Comment: Notably, whilst the West wastes its energy with Russia fearmongering, and sends weapons to Ukraine - which is teetering on failed state status by numerous measures - it seems the aspiring multipolar world has taken the current manufactured crisis as its cue to hasten its ground breaking mutually beneficial deals: And check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: Groundhog Day in the Situation Room: Whacking 'Our' Terrorists, Hating on Russia




Bullseye

Justin Trudeau: Bungler and menace to Canada

trudeau tweet vaccine
© Justin Trudeau/Twitter
At the beginning of January, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, posted a message on Twitter in which he announced that he had just received his Covid vaccine booster and urged others to do likewise.

At the end of January, Justin Trudeau posted a message on Twitter in which he announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Astoundingly, at the conclusion of his message Trudeau urged everyone to get the shots even though they failed to protect him from the disease. "Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted," he insisted.

Trudeau's message shows the depth of irrationality - bordering on insanity - to which many have fallen victim. We propose to call this phenomenon the Vaccine Insanity Syndrome (VIS). Those who suffer from VIS have largely lost touch with reality and things like common sense, evidence and logic no longer gain any traction in their thinking.