Puppet MastersS


Attention

Best of the Web: Iran-Russia set a western trap in Palestine

Pepe Escobar
The Cradle
Fri, 27 Oct 2023 17:46 UTC
The only country that could possibly distract the west from Ukraine is Israel. But the US and its allies are walking into an existential trap if they think a West Asian victory will be more easily won than a European one.
Iran & Russian Leaders
© The Cradle
The Russia-Iran strategic partnership - with China in the wings - is laying an elaborate, Sun Tzu-tinged trap for the Hegemon in West Asia.

Apart from Israel, there is no entity on the planet capable of switching the focus, in a flash, away from the west's spectacular debacle in Ukraine.

The warmongers in charge of US foreign policy, not exactly Bismarckian stalwarts, believe that if Project Ukraine is unattainable, Project Final Solution in Palestine could instead be a - ethnic cleansing - cakewalk.

A more plausible scenario, though is that Iran-Russia - and the new "axis of evil" Russia-China-Iran - have all it takes to drag the Hegemon into a second quagmire. It's all about using the enemy's own, discombobulated flip-flapping to unbalance him and disorient him to oblivion.

The White House's wishful thinking that the Forever Wars in Ukraine and Israel are inscribed in the same lofty "democracy" drive and essential to US national interests, has already backfired - even among American public opinion.

That does not prevent cries and whispers along the Beltway revealing Israel-allied US neocons increasing the tempo to provoke Iran - via a proverbial false flag that would lead to an American attack. That Armageddon scenario neatly fits Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's biblical psychopathy.

Vassals would be forced to meekly comply. NATO heads of state have made a beeline to visit Israel to demonstrate their unconditional support for Tel Aviv - including Greece's Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Britain's Rishi Sunak, Germany's Olaf Scholz, the senile lodger at the White House, and France's Emmanuel Macron.
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Attention

Courting Armageddon vs. cultivating peace

Alex Krainer
Alex Krainer's TrendCompass
Fri, 27 Oct 2023 17:20 UTC
A spat at the UN Security Council shows the contrast between two very different approaches to war and to peace.

Putin and a psychopath
© Alex Krainer's TrendCompass
Yesterday (26 October 2023) at the United Nations Security Council an interesting exchange between the representatives of Israel and China followed China's vetoing of the latest US-sponsored UNSC Israel/Palestine resolution. Israel's permanent representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan delivered an abrasive, undiplomatic reprimand:
"To those who voted against this resolution I must say that your decision shocks me to my core. In Israel, we are fighting for our very survival. My elderly parents living in Ashkelon have spent the last 20 days running back and forth to their bomb shelters as rockets rained down on them, deliberately on them, on civilians. And you cannot condemn even these deliberate attacks on civilians perpetrated by terror organizations? If any of your countries endured a similar massacre, I am certain - certain, that you would act with much greater force than Israel. Much greater force! There would be no question in your minds that such a barbaric slaughter requires a broad military operation against the terrorists who committed such inhumane atrocities to eradicate their terrorist capabilities in order to make sure that such atrocities can even happen again. How would Moscow react if terrorist death squads wiped out entire neighborhoods in Moscow? How would Beijing respond if a genocidal jihadis beheaded and murdered your babies? I will give you a moment to reflect on that thought. But I believe every person, not only here in this room, across the globe, whoever is watching this discussion, knows exactly how you would respond."
China's permanent representative Zhang Jun's response was very measured and diplomatic, but I will skip it here. You can see the whole exchange in the 4-minute YouTube clip below:


What I found more interesting was that if Mr. Erdan's remarks were intended to justify Israel's actions by suggesting that others would react with "much greater force," they certainly missed their mark.
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Popcorn

HSBC CEO warns of global 'tipping point' on debt, 'an inevitable reckoning that could hit hard'

Salman Akhtar
BNN
Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:27 UTC
CEO Noel Quinn hsbc
HSBC CEO Noel Quinn
In the bustling heart of London, within the towering edifice of HSBC's global headquarters, CEO Noel Quinn is expressing a profound concern. The world, he warns, teeters on a precipice, a 'tipping point' of debt, the ripples of which could trigger a global economic reckoning. This is not a casual observation, nor a fleeting thought, but a grave forewarning echoing through the marbled halls of the financial world.

The Debt Dilemma

According to Quinn, the rate at which governments worldwide continue to borrow is unsustainable. A reckoning, he suggests, is inevitable and economies could be 'hit hard.' His warning, far from being an isolated view, aligns with the concerns voiced by other Wall Street bankers and global institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank, about the health of the global economy.

Comment: With the above in mind, and considering how the US government could be one of the biggest losers in the next global financial collapse, and so backing of Israel's accelerated genocidal campaign in Gaza makes more sense, because it will serve a number of agendas; it distracts from the undeniable fact that the US has lost its Ukraine-proxy war on Russia; inflation, debt and unjustifiable spending can be blamed on the 'unexpected war in Israel'; this war footing could expedite corrupt spending bills (to continue funding these wars), as well as any other policies that the deep state need to ram through, bypassing the democratic process, including those which could critically impact the upcoming US elections.

The destabilisation of the Middle East will also seriously scupper China's Belt Road Initiative, and the chaos creation campaign also just happens to be near enough to the borders of Russia, and China to be problematic for them.

That's not to give the deep state too much credit in their strategy, because, for the most part, it seems more like their desperation has compelled them to start fires everywhere they can in the hopes that some of them will ultimately serve the agenda:

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Eye 1

Data reveals how OSCE mission member spied for NATO in Donbass


RT
Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:55 UTC
stakhanov military sites
© RT
RT has gained access to data retrieved by Russian prosecutors as part of an espionage case against a former OSCE mission member.

Russian prosecutors have provided RT with exclusive access to evidence in the high-profile case of a British national who was found guilty of spying on local militias for NATO while working for the monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Donbass.

Emails and maps stored by a man identified as David Orrells in password-protected archives had been earlier retrieved by Russian prosecutors as part of an espionage case against the former OSCE mission member. The British national was found guilty and sentenced to 19 years in a high-security prison in absentia in September.

Comment: See also:

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Bizarro Earth

Names released of 7,028 Palestinians killed in Gaza after Biden questions death toll - 2,913 of which are children


Middle East Eye
Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:39 UTC
Khan Younis gaza dead
© ReutersA mourner reacts amidst the bodies as people attend funeral for Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on 24 October 2023
The Palestinian health ministry on Thursday released the names of 7,028 people killed by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, a day after US President Joe Biden questioned the death toll since the war began on 7 October.

Biden told reporters at the White House that he has "no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth" about the number of people killed by Israel so far. "I'm sure innocents have been killed, and it's the price of waging a war," he added.


Comment: Echoes of Madeline Albright who, during a television interview, said that the death of 500,000 Iraqi children during the war on Iraq was 'worth it.'


In response, the health ministry published a 210-page report, detailing the names, ages, genders, and ID numbers of every person killed in the enclave. The ministry said an English version of the report will be published soon.

Comment: See also:




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Light Saber

Red line: China strongly opposes external forces interfering in Iran's internal affairs - Premier Li Qiang


Xinhua
Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:28 UTC
China Iran Li Qiang Mohammad Mokhber
© Xinhua/Yin BoguChinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 26, 2023.
China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Iran within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS and other multilateral mechanisms, practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Thursday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO Member States.

Since the establishment of China-Iran diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago, bilateral relations have withstood the test of the fluctuating international situation and made steady progress, said Li, noting that President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met twice this year and reached a series of important consensuses.

Comment: Meanwhile Iran's Foreign Minister is currently on a visit to Russia; as is Hamas: Hamas delegation visits Moscow, discusses release of hostages in Gaza

With the US sending in multiple warships and weapons into the Middle East region to provide back up and support for Israel's genocide in Gaza, these developments and meetings between Russia, China, with officials from Iran make sense because it's likely that Iran - a known supporter of Hezbollah, Hamas, and an avowed critic of Israel and the US- will be a primary target in their chaos creation campaign.

More on China's involvement in the current crisis:
China voted against the UN Security Council Draft Resolution on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict! Why?

Ambassador @ChinaAmbUN's answer is BASED!

China is by no means indifferent to the sufferings of the people in Gaza. What China opposes is that the draft resolution selectively avoids referring to the root causes of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and fails to urge Israel to lift its full siege on Gaza and to rescind the evacuation order for northern Gaza. Such an evasive and ineffectual approach will only accelerate Gaza's falling into an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.

China is by no means denying Israel's security concerns. On the contrary, China has always strongly advocated that equal attention should be paid to the security concerns and legitimate rights of both Israel and Palestine. What China opposes is that the draft resolution attempts to establish a new narrative on the Palestinian question, ignoring the fact that the Palestinian territory has been occupied for a long time and evading the fundamental issue of independent statehood for the Palestinian people. It is worth being vigilant that the draft departs from the spirit of previous UN resolutions and embeds the dangerous logic of the clash of civilizations and the justification of war and use of force.

China is by no means indifferent to acts that harm civilians. What China opposes is that the draft resolution does not call on the parties concerned to stop the indiscriminate and asymmetrical use of force, nor does it call for a thorough investigation into the heinous attacks such as the one on the Al-Ahli Hospital. Such selective application of international law and double standards will only push more innocent civilians to the brink of death. In terms of the content, the draft is seriously out of balance and confuses right and wrong.

China is by no means opposing the Council taking action. What China opposes is that the draft resolution is evasive on the most urgent issue of ending the hostility. It has never been able to call for an immediate ceasefire in clear and unambiguous terms. If a Council resolution is ambiguous on the question of war and peace and of life and death, it is not only irresponsible but also extremely dangerous. In terms of the approach, the draft was introduced in haste and lacked the consensus it deserved. In terms of the effect, the draft does not reflect the world's strongest calls for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue.

That's why, China vetoed it!


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Bullseye

US is wrecker of global peace conniving with Israel's war crimes and will not escape responsibility - North Korean diplomat


TASS
Wed, 25 Oct 2023 05:23 UTC
North Korea Kim Jong Un
© (KCNA via KNS)FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
The diplomat recalled that the United States supplied Israel with "huge amounts of munitions <...> and dispatched two carrier strike groups to the waters off the Middle East, thus giving Israel a green light to massacre Palestinians without any worries"

The United States cannot escape responsibility for conniving at Israel's crimes in the Gaza Strip, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said.

The North Korean diplomats slammed Israel's strike on "a public health establishment" as "an unimaginable hideous war crime and unethical crime," which violates international law. "What should not be overlooked is that Israel's such criminal act was openly committed under the undisguised patronage of the U.S.," he was quoted by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The diplomat recalled that the United States supplied Israel with "huge amounts of munitions <...> and dispatched two carrier strike groups to the waters off the Middle East, thus giving Israel a green light to massacre Palestinians without any worries." After the strike, Washington was indulging in "making absurd sophism that the incident seemed to be committed by other forces rather than Israel." "This shows that the U.S. is an accomplice who connived at and fostered Israel's genocide," he said.

Comment: Unfortunately for America, what the diplomat says above is correct: See also: Russia's Shoigu arrives in North Korea to 'strengthen military ties', also intends to meet up with China's officials

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Network

Hamas delegation visits Moscow, discusses release of hostages in Gaza, Israel condemns visit


Reuters
Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:24 UTC
Kremlin
© Getty Images / BolotThe Kremlin
A delegation from Hamas visited Moscow on Thursday for talks on the release of foreign hostages including Russian citizens that the militant group is currently holding in Gaza, Russian news agencies reported, citing the foreign ministry.

Senior Hamas member Abu Marzouk was among those attending the talks, TASS reported.

"Contacts were held with him in continuation of the Russian line on the immediate release of foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip. Issues related to ensuring the evacuation of Russian and other foreign citizens from the territory of the Palestinian enclave were also discussed," TASS said.

Comment: In response, Israel has condemned Russia's meeting with Hamas and called for Moscow to immediately evict them:
Israel demanded that Russia immediately expel the delegation of the Hamas movement from the country, a corresponding statement was published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Jewish state.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement "strongly condemning" the visit to Moscow of a Hamas delegation, calling it an "undignified step," and demanded that the Russian leadership immediately expel the Palestinians from the country.


That makes sense, because Israel is using those hostages as its excuse to continue its genocide and attempt at a compete takeover of Gaza. Were Russia to negotiate their release it would have to find another excuse: Hannibal Directive: Israel's forces responsible for Israeli civilian & military deaths following October 7 attack, testimony reveals


Israel views inviting Hamas leaders to Moscow as an undignified step that gives a tailwind to terror and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists. We call on the Russian government to immediately expel Hamas terrorists - said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to Israel's statement, but previously confirmed that a delegation of the Hamas movement had arrived in Moscow, headed by Abu Marzuk, a member of the group's Politburo.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with the political leadership of Hamas during a visit to Qatar. The topic of the meeting was also the release of hostages held by the movement in the Gaza Strip.
Russia is involved in diplomacy, a tactic that the US and Israel seem to have neglected in the last few decades in favor of threats, sanctions, aggression, and war crimes:

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Question

China dismisses defense minister not seen in public for almost 2 months

Stephen Sorace
Fox News
Tue, 24 Oct 2023 10:20 UTC
Gen. Li Shangfu
© AP Photo/Andy WongGen. Li Shangfu was appointed as China's defense minister in March.
General Li Shangfu is 2nd Chinese official to disappear from public eye this year.

China announced that Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu is being replaced, state media reported Tuesday, as speculation swirls over the official's apparent disappearance from the public eye almost two months ago.

State broadcaster CCTV said that Li had been removed from the State Council, China's Cabinet and the center of government power. No further information was given.

Comment: See also:

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Info

Mike Johnson, a staunch Louisiana conservative, is elected House speaker as GOP moves past chaos

Lisa Mascaro, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and Kevin Freking
AP
Thu, 26 Oct 2023 00:00 UTC
mike johnson
© AP Photo/Jose Luis MaganaRep. Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks after he was chosen as the Republicans latest nominee for House speaker at a Republican caucus meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.
Republicans unanimously elected Rep. Mike Johnson as House speaker on Wednesday, eagerly elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the major seat of U.S. power and ending for now the weeks of political chaos in their majority.

Johnson, 51, of Louisiana, swept through on the first ballot with support from all Republicans anxious to put the past weeks of tumult behind and get on with the business of governing. He was quickly sworn into office, second in line to the presidency.

"The people's House is back in business," Johnson declared after taking the gavel.

Comment: See also:

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