Ukraine Derangement Syndrome
Ukraine Derangement Syndrome
and other hegemonic frivolities
[Image: an Australian dog as concerned about events in Ukraine as the rest of the world are about potential changes in the makeup of the board of The Reserve Bank of Australia.]
Published: 2023-06-01
The 1st Amendment in Ukraine
Gonzalo Lira is still being detained in Ukraine for expressing options which are very critical of the Ukrainian government. Alex Christoforou opened a recent update (see Sources) with a clip of a journalist asking the State Department spokesperson about the case and asking if the State Department, at the request of Congressman Lu is doing anything to assist US citizen Lira. The spokesman made it abundantly clear that they are not, refusing even to mention Mr. Lira's name. The journalist gets credit for avoiding the "he's a journalist" line and going straight for speech, which left the State Department lackey completely cornered.
The summary is that the US government applies pressure for people's release when that serves whatever the current agenda is, and pressuring Ukraine to release Lira serves the opposite purpose because it forces the US to acknowledge that one of their allies is oppressing one of their citizens.
There is, of course, another person being persecuted, not for expressing opinion, but for publishing facts. In this case its the US hooking up with the UK, Sweden and Ecuador to do the persecuting, though the US has the leading role.
A Political Escape Clause
Julian Assange may be given a chance to offer a US legal curiosity, an "Alfred" plea. This legal oddity is a mechanism for the politicians who have pushed a political prosecution to bury their mistake by having the accused plead guilty to a lesser charge, maintain their innocence for the more serious charges and also admit that they may have been convicted based on the evidence presented for those more serious charges. Yeah. Its that crazy.
Consortium News' Cathy Vogan interviewed Australian barrister Stephen Kenny who spoke at the recent event in Sydney. The interview is marred by some poor audio quality, though subtitles are provided in the video (see Sources). The upshot is that Australian David Hicks made this type of plea to escape the Guantanamo prison. Afterward Mr. Kenny managed to have the ‘minor’ conviction (due to the guilty plea) struck down and so removed from his record. In the end, Hicks had a clean record.
The CN program continues with Cathy interviewing Bruce Afran, the US constitutional lawyer which Editor-in-Chief Joe Lauria spoke with recently. He describes the Alfred plea and emphasizes its utility. If Assange takes this option, and this could we be done from His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh, then he would obtain his freedom and the political leaders of the US could remove this sore. As noted at the rally, this issue is going to enter into the US presidential election and it may be advantageous for Sleepy Joe to get rid of it. Cathy Vogan displays her knowledge of the history of the Assange persecution and asks Mr. Afran several challenging questions. Assange's defense have argued consistently that he is not guilty of any crime. There are merits to both taking the plea to protect his health and rejecting it on principle.
Volodomir joins Slitherin
Returning to Ukraine, Russia has played tit-for-tat to the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin pushed for by NATO by issuing one for USA Senator Lindsay Graham. Graham has accused the Z regime of doctoring the video to take his statement of "the best money we ever spent" out of the context of "killing Russians". Graham is in a bit of a pickle. Either he expressed his joy at Russians (not Russian soldiers, just 'Russians') being killed or he is accusing his wonderful ally of doctoring his words! Interestingly, the more than 150 billion dollars spent on arming Ukraine (by paying US military contractors) did not come up in the yearly "US will default" charade and despite the Republicans crying about budgetary restraint they approved a military budget of $868 billion dollars. Vixen Nuland has outright admitted (see the McGovern interview in Sources) that the US is deeply involved (for months) in the planning behind the, oh shit its summer!, spring offensive, clearly describing the US's role in funding, arming and planning the proxy war against Russia.
In another twisted turn-up for the books, the complete rubbish story of Russians paying bounties for US soldiers killed in Afghanistan, turns out to be true with the bounties for dead Russians being paid by the US in military hardware, most of which disappears into the black market in accordance with the standard Ukrainian practice of “the most corrupt government in Europe”.
NATO nations with a geographic proximity to the conflict, precluding the Poles, have been less gung-ho about this proxy war. Another to join the “is this such a good idea?” camp is the chief of the Czech armed forces general staff, General Karel Rehka. He disavowed the Czech parliament that this whole affair is without risk, declaring:
It is necessary to stop saying that this [a war with Russia] is not possible, because it is simply possible. It can happen and it is necessary to prepare for it in the long run
Just down the road in Serbia a 20 year later repeat of the first “color revolution” is being orchestrated according to export George Szaumuely (see The Gaggle under Sources).
Moving a little further eastward, the Z regime is playing its part in the whole hegemonic frivolity too. A "peace summit" has been called without inviting the other belligerent. What is the technical term for a peace summit where only one half is invited, a Military-Masturbation? Z has also jumped on the sanctions as war-by-other-means bandwagon by inviting the Ukrainian parliament to sanction Iran for 50 years. I'm sure Iran will be quaking in their boots at the threat of losing trade with a nation in economic ruins.
The Sanction Slide
While we're on the stupid sanctions topic, lets move over to the middle east. The US has decided that the Caesar Sanctions which were designed to prevent Syria from rebuilding itself after the 10 year long foreign funded and armed insurgency/dirty war were just not enough. Syria's readmission to the Arab League has prompted the US to up the ante and expand the Caesar Sanctions.
Meanwhile, Israel decided that, seeing as they've been doing this for years and nobody ever calls them out for it, they'll just keep bombing Syria. Attacking airports had become passé and this time they decided on attacking the Syrian capital, Damascus, instead.
Adrift in the Rift
If one takes a drive south, avoiding the US base at Al Tanf to visit Saudi Arabia one may learn that the Theocratic Monarchy which formerly guarded the Petro-dollar has not only begun selling oil to China in Yuan/Renmimbi, and applied to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation but also applied to join the BRICS bank. The New Development Bank recently received former Brazilian President Dimla Roussef as its new President. Meanwhile, just over the red sea in Nairobi Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is making his 4th visit to Africa and talking Belt and Road Initiative and a Mulitpolar World. (Both of the above are reported by Alex Christophorou, see Sources.)
And while we're on BRICS, lets shimme on over to east Asia. The US would like to teach the Chinese about how to perform "professional" interception of foreign military jets in their identification zone, but for some reason the Chinese are not accepting invitations from the US Military for a little Tête-à-tête. On the water, given the recent 4 new US coast guard bases in the Philippines, they are joining Japan and the US in holding naval drills freedom of navigation synchronized swimming events in the South China Sea.
A Media Review on Home Soil
Moving south of the South China Sea, down here in Australia there is some news, though the operative word is some.
"The Australian" is the only remaining national broadsheet and it seemed appropriate to give it a squiz on Monday 28th May, 2023, to assess how useful it would be for national and international news. Yes, yes, I know that news is all on-line now, "newspapers are dead" etc., but at least the old journalists are likely to examine this old paper.
[Image: the upper section of the paper for 2023-05-28]
The most interesting national item was a proposal by the current centre left government to widen the membership of the board of the central bank (The Reserve Bank of Australia — RBA). This is being met with quite some resistance. Those with the power are suggesting that the dilution of it might lead to them not having as much: deep analysis indeed. The suggestion is that more voices might be dangerous. That would all depend on who they are, would it not? The article by Patrick Commins, the Economics Correspondent, was well researched providing a range of commentary from different groups.
[Image: The RBA article]
Other national news items varied from that which some may term "woke" but this was a pushback against over-funding of programs to accommodate transgender persons. There was a report on the impact on a small town of deaths due to a tragic car crash. Incidentally, on television news, the relevant leader of the police investigation had trouble holding himself back, essentially saying that this was not an accident, it could have been avoided. By this he meant, what do you expect with young people driving cars in excess of the speed limit when the driver has been drinking?
[Image: the top of page 3. The beer on the right is an ultra light (in terms of alcohol) beer produced by the excellent Australian brewery run by the Cooper’s family. They’ve been brewing for longer than I’ve been able to consume their excellent products. The “mug” is a prize won by a family member in a series run by the Royal Australian Navy’s Sailing Association (warning — Facebook link). ]
For the International section, there were two articles (of nine) in the two pages which were authored by employees of the newspaper. The other 7 were by other news agencies (The Times [of London, one presumes], the Wall Street Journal, and AFP [Agence France-Presse]). Full credit to "The Australian" for the piece highlighting the situation in Pakistan as former Prime Minister Khan is being abused and the ISI again take the reigns of power. The second piece by an employee was on suicides linked to social media. Of course, two pages is nowhere near enough to be informed about what's going on in the world, and most of the articles were slanted in the NATO orbit with "Gloom descends over Turkey as Erdogan looks to tighten grip" stealing the cake for a lack of subtlety.
[Image: the two pages of international news.]
In summary, "The Australian" has some good reporters though I found most of the topics covered of little interest, especially on the international front. But, perhaps I've spent too much time away and am feeling like an ‘expat’ in my native land.
A Soft Landing
On a cultural front, nothing has really changed in Australia since I left decades ago with the possible exception that the ladies are informed of the schedule for the cleaning of their loo's and the men, not so much. But they haven't made a stink about it.
Sources
Zelensky Asks Ukrainian Parliament to Sanction Iran for 50 Years, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-28
because Z is a tool (implying both meanings of the term)
US Airstrike in Somalia Targets al-Shabaab After Attack on African Union Base, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-28
because "you cant negotiate with terrorists" (until you can't beat them. then you run away and use stand-off weapons)
US, Japan, Philippines to Hold First Joint Coast Guard Drills in South China Sea, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-29
pivot to Asia
Russia Places Sen. Graham on Wanted List Over Dead Russians Comment, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-29
Russia says to US/International Criminal Court "we can play that game too"
Israel Launches Airstrikes Targeting Syrian Capital of Damascus, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-29
the holocaust does not justify bombing other people
Biden, McCarthy Agree on $886 Billion Military Budget, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-29
conservative cost cutting applies universally to everything except guns, ships, planes, tanks, satellites and submarines
China Declines Meeting Between US and Chinese Defense Chiefs, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-29
we'll talk to you when you stop provoking us
US Increases Sanctions on Syria After Damascus Rejoins Arab League, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-30
because "dumb as door nails"
US Announces $300 Million Weapons Package for Ukraine, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-31
because good money after bad
Czech General Warns NATO âIs Currently on a Courseâ for War with Russia, Kyle Anzalone, Antiwar, 2023-05-31
I really don't want to fight a war with Russia, and you don't either
Ukraine and Its Western Backers Plan "Peace Summit" Without Russia, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-31
like a beach party without any sand or water
US Accuses Chinese Jet of "Unprofessional Intercept" Over South China Sea, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-30
we, however, are very professional about flying our military aircraft in your identification zones
Ukraine Pushing for Road Map to NATO Membership, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-05-30
you can push all you want Z, but there have to be some sane heads in NATO somewhere
Other Interesting Stuff
You Can't Vote Your Way Out Of A Mess You Never Voted Yourself Into, Caitlin Johnston, Caitlin's Newsletter, 2023-05-29
Report: FBI Reopens Assange Investigation, Joe Lauria, Consortium News, 2023-05-31
WATCH: CN Live! 'Rescuing Assange', Cathy Vogan, Consortium News, 2023-05-28
Skip to 00:27:59 to pass over the introduction, background interview with David Hicks and the interview with Stephen Kenny. The Kenny interview has fairly poor audio, so the CN team have provided subtitles. It is interesting if you’re not aware of this background of the Hicks case and wish to understand what Kenny thinks about the applicability of the “Alfred” plea. The second half with Afran provides more information on what an Alfred plea is and how it could be used in the Assange case.
Is the Ukraine War Spreading into Russia？ Ray McGovern, fmr CIA, Napolitano interviews McGovern, Judging Freedom, 2023-05-30
US State Dept Gonzalo. Lindsey, Kiev video cut & paste. Erdogan wins. Athens Mayor S-300 to UKR？
TG 1145： A Color Revolution Is Prepared In Serbia, Lavelle and Szamuely, The Gaggle, 2023-05-30
Graham, Russians are in for rude awakening. Medvedev, UK our eternal enemy. UnionPay tops VISA. U⧸1, Alex Christoforou, his youtube channel, 2023-05-31
Culture
She's Got Her Ticket, Tracy Chapman from her 1988 debut self-titled album, Tracy Chapman, uploaded 2017-04-08
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