Welcome to Sott.net
Fri, 05 Nov 2021
The World for People who Think

Puppet Masters
Map

NPC

The Real Problem with Nationalism, Without the Virtue Signaling

eastern orthodox church
Depending on your political bias, U.S. President Trump is either a black hole, or a radiant orange sun. Either way, you cannot escape his influence. Every tweet and stray comment is picked up, and picked apart, by the media. As Jon Stewart recently pointed out - with a degree of insight sorely lacking in the majority of his peers - the media just can't help but take his bait:
"What he's done well is appeal to their own narcissism, to their own ego," he said. "The journalists stand up and say: 'We are noble! We are honorable! How dare you, sir!' And they take it personally."

"Now he's changed the conversation to - not that his policies are silly or not working or any of this other things - it's all about the fight," Stewart said. "He's able to tune out everything else and get everyone else just focused on the fight. And he's gonna win that fight."
But it's not just his attacks on the media (who are just as keen to attack him). Trump manages to dominate the news cycle, and even create the news cycle, by getting them to focus on issues of no real substance, simply because Trump said it. He's a master of distraction by controversy - troll level 'POTUS'. Or maybe it's unintentional and the media personalities are just that obsessed with them. Either way, I increasingly feel like this guy:

As Joe Quinn discussed in his latest SOTT Focus, Globalism Vs Nationalism in Trump's America, Trump created yet another controversy in a two-year long string of nonstop controversies: he said he is a nationalist at the post-midterm-election White House press conference and during a rally in Houston. Naturally, people were irate, because nationalism is bad. Right? Well, as Joe wrote, "Words and their exact meanings matter", so let's take a closer look at the n-word in question.

Handcuffs

Hamas dismantles Shin Bet-organized spy cell in Gaza responsible for failed Israeli mission

fighters from al-Qassam Brigades
© AFP
In this file picture, fighters from al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas resistance movement, take part in a parade in Gaza City.
Members of the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, have reportedly uncovered and dismantled a spying network responsible for a recent botched intelligence mission in the Gaza Strip.

Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Manar television network reported that Hamas intelligence units launched an intensive operation to identify and arrest those who had assisted Israeli forces in carrying out an operation east of Khan Younis on Sunday.

The report added that the detainees had all confessed to have been working for Israel's internal spy agency, Shin Bet.

Informed sources, requesting not to be named, said Hamas intelligence forces made use of subtle techniques to arrest the Israeli agents, who had not aroused anyone's suspicions.

At least seven Palestinians, including 37-year-old local battalion commander of al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing, Noor Baraka, lost their lives in the failed Israeli assault on November 11. An Israeli lieutenant colonel was killed and another officer was wounded in the action as well.

Comment: Mossad's domestic counterpart, the Shin Bet, has been bribing, blackmailing and coercing Palestinians for many years.

Among other things...


Light Saber

Hillary must answer key email questions in 30 days, US federal judge orders

Democrat needs to come clean with the American people about secrets she's hidden for years
Hillary Clinton
© JStone / Shutterstock.com
A federal judge ordered former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to answer five questions she has avoided for years about her use of a private email server to conduct official U.S. diplomatic business.

U.S. District Court Judge Emmett Sullivan on Wednesday gave Clinton 30 days to respond under oath to five questions.

These questions were all put to her nearly four years ago in a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit government watchdog Judicial Watch.

The five questions are:

Comment:




Quenelle - Golden

Why 13 countries prefer purchase of S-400 despite threat of US sanctions

At least 13 countries are interested in acquiring the Russian S-400 air defense systems instead of US platforms, despite the threat of US sanctions, CNBC said, citing sources close to US intelligence.
S-400
One of the channel's sources, who requested anonymity, said that among the countries that have already expressed their interest in Russian systems are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam and Iraq. But, the article points out, Washington hopes that some countries will eventually give up under diplomatic pressure.

Under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), the US can punish countries that purchase Russian armaments, especially the S-300 and S-400 systems. However, these countries have concerns that the U.S may eventually want to bomb them, and the hostile threat of sanctions are believed to be a tell-tale sign that a military campaign may shortly follow the economic warfare.

Propaganda

'Total witch hunt': Trump bashes 'disgraceful' Russia probe

US President Donald Trump
© Reuters / Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump talks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, November 9, 2018.
As midterm-bolstered Democrats double down on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into alleged 2016 'Russian collusion', President Donald Trump is lashing out, calling the probe a "disgrace" and "total witch hunt."

Last week's midterm results mean Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives in January, and the party has already said it will use a "subpoena cannon" to target Trump and everyone around him. Trump fired back by denouncing the Mueller probe once again.

"The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," Trump tweeted on Thursday morning.

Comment: Mueller report PSA: Be prepared for disappointment


Quenelle

'Unconstitutional': Austria wants no part of European army proposed by Macron, Merkel

Austrian army
© Reuters / Heinz-Peter Bader
An Austrian army soldier poses with a Steyr AUG A2 Commando assault rifle.
If Germany and France get their wish of developing a European army, Austria wants no part of it. The defense minister's office said it would opt out, as it would conflict with Vienna's constitution and neutrality.

Defense Minister Mario Kunasek's office told Kurier newspaper that while Austria has no details on the army proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it would still walk away from it because it is "contrary to the Austrian constitutional position" since Austria is neutral.

The idea of a unified European army was proposed by Macron earlier this month, with the French president insisting it is necessary in order to protect the continent from the likes of China, Russia, and "even the United States of America."

Comment: It's an eerie prospect that the EU, which has become synonymous with bureaucrats and opaque democracy, could be trusted with an army. Although it's no surprise Merkel, who's on her way out, and the ever unpopular and duplicitous Macron are chomping at the bit, but they would be hard pressed to find support from a number of other member countries, such as Italy and Hungary. Also check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: 'Quitaly' Highlights EU's Democratic Crisis


Russian Flag

Russian State Duma works to amend controversial anti-extremism law

Russian Duma
© Global Look Press / State Duma Russia
The Russian State Duma has approved the first reading of amendments to the controversial anti-extremism law, decriminalizing first-time offenses. Some legislators argue, however, that the whole law should be scrapped.


The main purpose of the amendments, according to legislators, is to make Russian penal code more "humane" and fix Article 282, which proved to be used "arbitrarily" in some cases. Under this legislation, an individual who incites hatred, discord and degrades human dignity in public speeches, in mass media and also in internet publications can end up behind bars for up to six years.

Over the past few years the number of Article 282 cases grew exponentially, with people getting into trouble over simple reposts on social media.

Star of David

Lieberman's resignation not a "victory" for Gaza but a warning that the worst is to come

Avigdor Lieberman
© Ariel Schalit / Associated Press
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman delivers a statement at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament in Jerusalem, Nov. 14, 2018.
In the wake of Lieberman's resignation the high probability of a Naftali Bennett-led Defense Ministry would unleash a new, even more brutal wave of extrajudicial murders of unarmed Palestinians, one that would deliberately target children.

A wave of instability now threatens Israel's government following the sudden resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday. Lieberman announced that he was resigning in protest of a recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since winning elections in 2007. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will serve as interim Defense Minister until an official replacement is appointed. Netanyahu also currently serves as Israel's Foreign Minister and Health Minister.

Comment: Naftali Bennett as Defense Minister is a frightening possibility.


Eiffel Tower

La Grande Armée 2018? Macron Taunts Trump on Armistice Day Amid Eurotalk of Empire-building

macron paris ww1
French President Macron rebuked the concept of 'nationalism' during Armistice Day celebrations marking the end of WWI. At the same time, his government was pondering the merits of empire and building an all-European army.

Donald Trump's trip to France got off to a bumpy start, and the world is still experiencing the turbulence today. Ahead of Trump's arrival in Paris for the celebrations, Macron dropped a bombshell, speaking out on behalf of an all-European military force, which would be totally free of US patronage.

"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," he told French radio.

Although Trump and Macron made nice for the cameras in Paris, the US leader referred to Macron's remarks as "very insulting."
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron 11/10/18
© Reuters / Christophe Petit Tesson
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron at Elysee presidential palace, Paris, France, November 10, 2018 Reuters / Christophe Petit Tesson

Comment: The current leadership in all western EU countries (save Italy, perhaps) doesn't have the cojones to walk the walk:

Europe bows to Trump: Not a single member-state takes up EU offer to form alternative payment channel for bypassing Iran sanctions


Che Guevara

'What's wrong with that?' Duterte skipped meetings at key Singapore summit for 'power naps'

duterte
© AFP/ Linus Escandor II
Philippines President Duterte raised a few eyebrows when he gave "power naps" as an excuse for missing key meetings at a Singapore summit. The president, however, said that he simply doesn't get the hype surrounding it.

President Rodrigo Duterte was among the world leaders and top officials taking part in the South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Singapore this week.

But the Philippines leader, who is renowned internationally for his bizarre and equally controversial comments, failed to turn up to four out of 11 appointments on Wednesday.

"He took power naps to catch (up) on sleep," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said, adding that "some quarters are making a big fuss of the President skipping a few meetings."