Fixing Humpty Dumpty,
2025 looks like it will be a messy year, with a lot of things breaking, and prior breakages being revealed, but that also accommodates lots of fixes being quickly instituted if they are not significantly resisted. Each of us may have things we can set-right if we are somewhat prepared.
Trump has said he would negotiate an end to the Ukraine War on his first day. That may be possible, even though "everybody" says it is impossible. Russia has stated its requirements for peace, which are: withdrawal of Ukrainian military from the oblasts of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia , Permanent Ukrainian Neutrality (never NATO) with modest defensive military forces, and "de-Nazification", which is subject to broad interpretation.
Ukrainian military supplies from the US can be stopped quickly by an investigation which finds that half the supplies that were sent to date were stolen and diverted. Various sweeteners for Ukrainian functionary actors will need to be arranged, and elections held to get a legitimate president to sign a treaty, though Russia would accept the head of the Ukrainian Parliament.
The "hidden hand" in this game is global neoliberal finance, particularly the City of London interests, including the BlackRock corporate cohort, which hold titular claim to a lot of "Ukrainian" assets in the disputed regions, which will not be "Ukraine" after a treaty is signed, but rather "Russia". Russia can play hardball with these "assets", particularly since western neoliberal finance has impounded 300 billion Euros in Russian financial assets and is stealing the interest on them.
Additionally, the international-corporation farmland purchases appear to have been illegal under Ukrainian law in most cases, which would take a long time to adjudicate. Ukrainian law, like Russian law, has outlawed a lot of GMO products and the chemical herbicides and pesticides which go with them as-used. This would invalidate most of the agricultural investment schemes.
The EU has declared last week that these Russian investment funds will be held and interest skimmed, until: 1) "the war is over" and 2) "Russia reimburses Ukraine for damage-done".
This appears to open the door for Russia to add sweetener to the deal, so that Ukrainian and western politicians can claim the victory of "making Russia rebuild Ukraine". Ukrainian infrastructure in Soviet infrastructure, Russian infrastructure, notably the electrical transformers and electric railways, which have been heavily degraded, and need specific replacement parts from Russia. Russia would benefit in the longer-term from the goodwill of helping rebuild Ukraine with Russian supplies, some Russian workers and some Ukrainian workers. This would open the door for removing anti-European ("anti-Russian") sanctions, which are crippling European economies, and re-establish supplies of oil and natural gas to German industry, which is starving to death. Trump has stated that he wants to end the sanctions to help support the $US as global reserve currency.
Ukraine will default on all loans as soon as it cannot borrow more to service them. This appears to be enough to bankrupt over-leveraged financial institutions, such as The Bank of England, which controls UK foreign and domestic policy, as let-slip by UK PM Liz Truss in 2022. This is probably the biggest impediment to peace in Ukraine. It threatens to precipitate the collapse of the western neoliberal financial system, as noted in "BOE Needs World War Three" https://drjohnsblog.substack.com/p/boe-needs-world-war-three
How to finagle that is above my pay-grade, but economic growth is over, and economic growth is what the monetary system, based upon loans being repaid at interest as backing for currency, needs in order to keep existing. A commodity-backed global monetary regime could be stable without continued exponential growth of the money-supply.
World War Three would allow power elites emergency-powers to impose financial losses upon "enemies" and ordinary-citizens, and they could maintain control of a dying tyranny. Alternatively, political decisions could be taken to avoid World War Three and to restructure the massive defaults of governments and corporations to preserve the real economy and the livelihoods of citizens, while rebuilding takes place over the next 15 years or so. It would be a big mess, very difficult, but fundamentally constructive.
Putin last week suggested that “there will be plenty to discuss” with Trump. “Of course, I’m ready to talk anytime; I will be ready to meet with him if he wishes,” the Russian leader said at his annual Q&A session. Putin noted, however, that he did not know when the first contact could begin, recalling that he had not spoken with Trump since the president-elect’s first term.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to put a swift end to the Ukraine conflict while urging the belligerents to conclude a ceasefire. https://swentr.site/russia/609793-kremlin-chances-trump-putin-meeting/
Trump has repeatedly vowed to put a swift end to the Ukraine conflict while urging the belligerents to conclude a ceasefire. https://swentr.site/russia/609793-kremlin-chances-trump-putin-meeting/
Trump has repeatedly pledged to end the Ukraine conflict within a day of taking office, but has yet to elaborate on how he plans to achieve this. His vows have raised concerns in Kiev that it may be facing not only a decline in aid but also an audit of the billions of dollars it has received from the White House under President Joe Biden.
"You look at some of these cities and there is not a single building in good condition left. So, when you say “restore the country,” restore what? This is a 110-year reconstruction,” the Spanish newspaper cited Trump as saying in a “message” to Zelensky from his Florida golf club this week. https://swentr.site/news/609772-trump-zelensky-territorial-claims/
"You look at some of these cities and there is not a single building in good condition left. So, when you say “restore the country,” restore what? This is a 110-year reconstruction,” the Spanish newspaper cited Trump as saying in a “message” to Zelensky from his Florida golf club this week. https://swentr.site/news/609772-trump-zelensky-territorial-claims/
After the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, Israel moved across the Purple Line and into Syrian territory. Early on, they seized areas around Mt. Hermon, which is in the northernmost part of the UNDOF zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was recently at Mt. Hermon for a photo op, and said troops will be staying there through at least the end of 2025.
Only “temporarily” seizing the UNDOF area appears to have just been a warm-up and Israeli bulldozers and tanks have been reported moving into Jubata al-Khashab Nature Reserve to bulldoze trees and agricultural lands in the area. It has been reported Israel is banning Syrian farmers in the area from going to their own fields to tend crops.
Now they’re also expanding beyond the UNDOF zone and into Yarmouk Valley areas. In addition to seizing the aforementioned villages, they’ve reportedly moved into the town of Rafid, where they bulldozed the Syrian Army outposts and searched the area. They have also taken up positions inside the village of Jubata al-Khashab.
There has been growing international criticism of the Israeli incursions, with many nations warning Israel not to make this a long-term territory seizure. https://news.antiwar.com/2024/12/20/israel-seizes-new-villages-in-southern-syria-fires-on-protesters-opposing-occupation/
Only “temporarily” seizing the UNDOF area appears to have just been a warm-up and Israeli bulldozers and tanks have been reported moving into Jubata al-Khashab Nature Reserve to bulldoze trees and agricultural lands in the area. It has been reported Israel is banning Syrian farmers in the area from going to their own fields to tend crops.
Now they’re also expanding beyond the UNDOF zone and into Yarmouk Valley areas. In addition to seizing the aforementioned villages, they’ve reportedly moved into the town of Rafid, where they bulldozed the Syrian Army outposts and searched the area. They have also taken up positions inside the village of Jubata al-Khashab.
There has been growing international criticism of the Israeli incursions, with many nations warning Israel not to make this a long-term territory seizure. https://news.antiwar.com/2024/12/20/israel-seizes-new-villages-in-southern-syria-fires-on-protesters-opposing-occupation/
| IDF Opens Fire on Syrians Protesting Israel's Expanding Occupation of South Syria https://www.informationliberation.com/?id=64781 The critical survival-resource: Helena Glass, ISRAEL Annexes Entirety of Golan Heights for - WATER https://helenaglass.substack.com/p/israel-annexes-entirety-of-golan |
Haaretz quoted soldiers, career officers and reservists who said commanders were given unprecedented authority to operate in the Gaza Strip
Batallion commander: ‘Anyone crossing the line is a terrorist — no exceptions, no civilians. Everyone’s a terrorist’ https://www.arabnews.com/node/2583751/media
Batallion commander: ‘Anyone crossing the line is a terrorist — no exceptions, no civilians. Everyone’s a terrorist’ https://www.arabnews.com/node/2583751/media
An MIT lab is collaborating with the Israeli military to develop AI surveillance algorithms and the university censored a campus publication that tried to expose it. We refuse to be intimidated and continue to demand: No More Research for Genocide. https://mondoweiss.net/2024/12/despite-censorship-and-intimidation-we-continue-to-demand-no-more-research-for-genocide-at-mit/
Seymour Hersch, THE NEW CEASEFIRE EQUATION, Saudi Arabia’s entry into talks between Israel and Hamas may change Gaza’s future
In return for its support and money, the Israeli told me, the Saudi leadership would be offered an expanded defense treaty by the United States that would include Saudi Arabia in its nuclear umbrella—its zone of protection—in case Iran, Israel’s last standing enemy, were to acquire a nuclear bomb. https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/the-new-ceasefire-equation
Turkish officials have demanded that Kurdish forces withdraw from the Syrian cities of Kobani and Raqqa https://thecradle.co/articles/turkiye-demands-end-of-us-support-to-kurdish-militants-in-control-of-northeast-syria
Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On Dec. 15, Central Command acknowledged that Truman had entered the West Asia region, but hadn't specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.
"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement, AP reported. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/225812/US-F-18-Super-Hornet-jet-crashes-over-Yemen-waters
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On Dec. 15, Central Command acknowledged that Truman had entered the West Asia region, but hadn't specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.
"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement, AP reported. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/225812/US-F-18-Super-Hornet-jet-crashes-over-Yemen-waters
The Yemeni Armed Forces announced in a statement that, "We have thwarted the joint US-British attack and targeted the aircraft carrier "USS Harry S. Truman" and a number of its accompanying destroyers.
In the statement, the Yemeni Armed Forces said that the operation was carried out using 8 cruise missiles and 17 drones.
The Yemeni Armed Forces also announced that during this operation, an American "F-18" aircraft was shot down by Yemeni forces when the destroyers were trying to confront the Yemeni drones and missiles.
The Yemeni Armed Forces further emphasized that after the aircraft carrier was targeted, the enemy aircraft left the skies over Yemen to defend the carrier. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/225855/Yemen-says-it-attacked-US-ship-with-8-missiles-and-17-drones
In the statement, the Yemeni Armed Forces said that the operation was carried out using 8 cruise missiles and 17 drones.
The Yemeni Armed Forces also announced that during this operation, an American "F-18" aircraft was shot down by Yemeni forces when the destroyers were trying to confront the Yemeni drones and missiles.
The Yemeni Armed Forces further emphasized that after the aircraft carrier was targeted, the enemy aircraft left the skies over Yemen to defend the carrier. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/225855/Yemen-says-it-attacked-US-ship-with-8-missiles-and-17-drones
To give Israel an airbase to attack Yemen: Recognizing Somaliland: A geopolitical game-changer for West Asia?
Trump plans to recognize Somaliland in order to bolster the west's foothold in the Horn of Africa against Yemen and counter Chinese influence, but in doing so, risks alienating key regional allies critical for Israel's wars in West Asia. https://thecradle.co/articles/recognizing-somaliland-a-geopolitical-game-changer-for-west-asia The Russian armed forces are now less than two miles away from overwhelming the city of Pokrovsk. The conquest of that city will have three major consequences for Ukraine. The first is that Pokrovsk is a key logistical hub, the loss of which would threaten the Ukrainian armed forces’ ability to supply their troops in the Donbas. The second is that, beyond Pokrovsk, Russian troops may find mostly undefended fields as they continue their march west across the Donbas. The third is that Pokrovsk is home to Ukraine’s only coking coal mine.
Coking coal is essential in the manufacture of steel. The loss of Pokrovsk would affect not only Ukraine’s economy, but its ability to obtain steel for its military manufacturing industry. https://strategic-culture.su/news/2024/12/22/ukraine-has-had-its-fill/
Coking coal is essential in the manufacture of steel. The loss of Pokrovsk would affect not only Ukraine’s economy, but its ability to obtain steel for its military manufacturing industry. https://strategic-culture.su/news/2024/12/22/ukraine-has-had-its-fill/
Oops... Romanian ‘election interference’ exposed as pro-EU liberal party psy-op
Calin Georgescu’s surprise first round election win was canceled over campaign ‘irregularities’ paid for by the country’s liberal party [NOT Russia] https://swentr.site/news/609757-eu-states-pro-russian-presidential/ Does this herald the death of fake energy policies? Qatar Warns EU That Tough New Regulations Put Gas Supplies at Risk
One of the world’s largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Qatar, has warned the European Union that it may halt vital gas exports if the bloc enforces its new corporate due diligence directive.
The legislation, which seeks to align companies with the EU’s net-zero goals, includes penalties of at least 5 percent of a company’s global annual revenue for non-compliance. Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that such penalties would be unacceptable for QatarEnergy, a state-owned company with extensive global operations: “If I lose 5 percent of my generated revenue by going to Europe, I will not go to Europe… I’m not bluffing,” Kaabi stated, adding that the legislation imposes impractical requirements on energy producers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241222/qatar-warns-eu-that-tough-new-regulations-put-gas-supplies-at-risk--1121238322.html
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow on Sunday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Slovakia is both a NATO and European Union member, making the visit rare and controversial.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt on May 15 of this year, has been blasted by European leaders as cozying up to Putin. But Fico in response has proclaimed that Putin has been "wrongly demonized" by the West. He also characterized the Moscow visit as about defending Slovakia's sovereignty and energy security.
"Top EU officials were informed about my journey and its purpose... on Friday," Fico announced on Facebook. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-meeting-was-response-zelenskys-gas-threats-slovakias-fico-says
The German parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday voted to reinforce the Federal Constitutional Court to protect it from political influence, partly as a safeguard against the growing strength of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The amendment to the law regulating the Constitutional Court presented to the German parliament this week was one of the final acts that Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruptured coalition government was able to agree on ahead of February's election. The amendment also passed the Bundesrat, the chamber that represents Germany's 16 state governments, on Friday with the necessary two-thirds majority. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-moves-to-protect-top-court-against-far-right/a-68403671
In latest threat to German democracy, dangerous fascist Elon Musk tweets six words about Alternative für Deutschland Fico, who survived an assassination attempt on May 15 of this year, has been blasted by European leaders as cozying up to Putin. But Fico in response has proclaimed that Putin has been "wrongly demonized" by the West. He also characterized the Moscow visit as about defending Slovakia's sovereignty and energy security.
"Top EU officials were informed about my journey and its purpose... on Friday," Fico announced on Facebook. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-meeting-was-response-zelenskys-gas-threats-slovakias-fico-says
The #2 party in this spring's German elections: Germany: Effort to ban AfD party faces major setback
An AfD ban is unlikely to pass in this legislative period, but efforts are still underway to ban the party https://rmx.news/article/germany-effort-to-ban-afd-party-faces-major-setback/ Be very afraid of AfD! Germany moves to protect top court against far right
The amendment to the law regulating the Constitutional Court presented to the German parliament this week was one of the final acts that Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruptured coalition government was able to agree on ahead of February's election. The amendment also passed the Bundesrat, the chamber that represents Germany's 16 state governments, on Friday with the necessary two-thirds majority. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-moves-to-protect-top-court-against-far-right/a-68403671
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has spoken out in favour of the Alternative for Germany party in the German parliamentary election campaign. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” he wrote on his online service X...
..Matthias Gebauer, who writes for Der Spiegel, observes that “Elon Musk … is openly promoting the AfD” and concludes that “Putin is not the only one who loves this party.” Erik Marquardt, head of the Green faction in the European Parliament, says that “The EU Commission and EU member states should no longer stand by and watch as billionaires misuse media and algorithms to influence elections and strengthen and normalise right-wing extremists.” This “is an attack on democracy,” and “has nothing to do with freedom of expression.” Dennis Radtke, CDU representative in the European Parliament, concludes that “Musk … is declaring war on democracy” and that “the man is a menace.” We are also under siege via “interference from Putin”; “the erosion of our democracy is being fuelled from both within and without.” Julian Röpcke, who writes for BILD, believes that “This is interference in the German election campaign by a tech billionaire who uses algorithms to decide what gets heard.” If Germany does not “respond with penalties, there will be no help for our eroding democracy.” Jonas Koch, at Die Zeit, complains that “the richest man in the world is now campaigning for right-wing populists in Germany.” https://www.eugyppius.com/p/breaking-in-latest-threat-to-german-ea3
Some Germans are aghast. How dare Musk, an American, intervene in our elections? Deeply unpopular German minister of health Karl Lauterbach, for instance, went almost comically Victorian with his performance of righteous ire for public display, calling Musk’s statements “undignified and highly problematic.” Shocking, shocking indeed!
Interestingly enough, most of the same Germans still have no problem with Joe Biden, also an American, having helped Ukraine blow up their vital energy infrastructure and then mightily promoting the de-industrialization of Germany and the EU as a whole by subsidizing companies which move to produce in the US. https://swentr.site/news/609765-germany-irreversible-decline-asphyxiation/
Interestingly enough, most of the same Germans still have no problem with Joe Biden, also an American, having helped Ukraine blow up their vital energy infrastructure and then mightily promoting the de-industrialization of Germany and the EU as a whole by subsidizing companies which move to produce in the US. https://swentr.site/news/609765-germany-irreversible-decline-asphyxiation/
Matt Stoller, Cutting Government Is Easy... If You Go After McKinsey
Elon Musk engineered a panic over government spending, thwarting major PBM reform and bans on junk fees. But cutting government spending is easy, if you take on power. And therein lies the rub... If Trump and Musk want to actually do something about the rhetoric they offered, well, they could start with the management consultants leaching off of all of us.
https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/cutting-government-is-easy-if-you
Thanks Noirette. Elon Musk’s Diverse Heritage: Unraveling His Family Roots
..Elon Musk’s family history begins with his parents, Khosrow Bagherzadeh, an Iranian diplomat, and Maye Cannes, a renowned African Canadian model.
Dr. Khosrow Bagherzadeh served as the Consul of Iran in Johannesburg from November 1970 to December 1974.
During the same period as Bagherzadeh’s consulate, Maye Cannes rose as a celebrated actress and philanthropist...
..In 1971, Khosrow and Maye were blessed with twin sons, Elon and Kian, born in Johannesburg, South Africa...Dr. Khosrow Bagherzadeh served as the Consul of Iran in Johannesburg from November 1970 to December 1974.
During the same period as Bagherzadeh’s consulate, Maye Cannes rose as a celebrated actress and philanthropist...
..With Khosrow’s diplomatic obligations calling him back to Tehran, the couple faced a crucial decision about their family’s future.
Khosrow, devoted to his homeland and culture, expressed his desire to return to Iran with his wife and sons.
However, Maye, experiencing the height of her fame as a model, was deeply rooted in her career and life in South Africa.
This dichotomy led to an irreconcilable rift between the couple, and they eventually decided to part ways, altering the trajectory of their children’s lives...
..The responsibility for the older twin, Ilan Bagherzadeh, was bestowed upon Maye, who continued to live in South Africa.Khosrow, devoted to his homeland and culture, expressed his desire to return to Iran with his wife and sons.
However, Maye, experiencing the height of her fame as a model, was deeply rooted in her career and life in South Africa.
This dichotomy led to an irreconcilable rift between the couple, and they eventually decided to part ways, altering the trajectory of their children’s lives...
She subsequently married engineer Errol Musk, and in the process, she changed Elon’s last name to Musk, a name that would become synonymous with innovation and groundbreaking achievements.
On the other hand, the younger twin, Kian Bagherzadeh, was entrusted to the care of his father, Khosrow. Kian accompanied his father to Iran, immersing himself in his Iranian heritage and cultural roots. https://medium.com/@TheMostReliableSource/elon-musks-diverse-heritage-unraveling-his-family-roots-28319b7778b4
Armstrong says, Our computer has been projecting that we are going into a depression in some areas and a recession in other areas. A depression most likely in Europe and a recession in the Unite“d States up until 2028. . . . At my November conference, everybody was celebrating after Trump won. I stood up and told my clients, ‘I’m sorry, Trump is not going to have a blissful administration, and he’s not going to prevent the economic decline.’ https://usawatchdog.com/depression-debt-default-destruction-in-2025-martin-armstrong/
Guatemalan authorities searched the compound of an extremist ultra-orthodox Jewish sect Friday, taking at least 160 minors and 40 women into protective custody after reports of abuse.
Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez said the National Civil Police and members of military participated in the raid on the Lev Tahor group’s community about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of the capital. "The protection of boys and girls is an absolute priority,” Jiménez said.
Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez said the National Civil Police and members of military participated in the raid on the Lev Tahor group’s community about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of the capital. "The protection of boys and girls is an absolute priority,” Jiménez said.
Guatemala’s Attorney General’s Office said in a statement on the social platform X that suspected bones of one child were found. The office said a complaint was made in November of possible crimes including forced pregnancies, mistreatment of minors and rape. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2583812/world
Taste's Great - Costs Nothing: US could quit WHO on Trump’s first day – FT
Members of the president-elect’s team reportedly plan to announce a withdrawal from the UN health agency on January 20 https://swentr.site/news/609763-us-quit-who-trump-inauguration/California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for bird flu after cases were detected in dairy cows. Critics of Newsom’s declaration said it’s unnecessary and could lead to granting the state “the authority to forcibly enter farms, test their animals, and mandate mass culling at their discretion.” https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/bird-flu-panic-ramps-up-california-declares-state-of-emergency/
Meryl Nass MD, Current Bird Flu Primer
I already linked to this site a few days ago, but since it is virtually the only place you can get decent information on bird flu, I am posting it in its entirety.AVMA is the American Veterinary Medical Association. https://merylnass.substack.com/p/current-bird-flu-primer
Louisiana is actually "following the science" now. Meryl Nass MD:
Louisiana has instructed its public health officials to stop pushing the COVID, moneypox and flu vaccines. What recipients need to be told about their vaccines for true informed consent
Naturally the governor and RFK are being bashed. Let's look at the facts. https://merylnass.substack.com/p/louisiana-has-instructed-its-public
Naturally the governor and RFK are being bashed. Let's look at the facts. https://merylnass.substack.com/p/louisiana-has-instructed-its-public
Relative risk looks good in advertising. Absolute risk should guide your personal decision. Absolute vs Relative Risk, An exceptionally important medical statistic https://criticallythinking.substack.com/p/absolute-vs-relative-risk
Peaceful Gardener (took this picture of Jenny with arugula)
