2023/01/30 23:00:02
Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of the issues of the day.
The ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’ will have two new open threads each week.
The Saker stated moderation policy will apply eg ‘no caps’, no obscenity … etc to all post.
The Cafe is now open for business … come on in and have a good time.
Saker Webmaster
Saker Message:
re: the Wikileaks Revolution, which will NOT be stopped
“This isn’t about envy. It’s about fear. In reality, Wikileaks does exactly what the corporate media wishes NOT to do.”
Why the western media is afraid of Julian Assange – Jonathan Cook
https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2023-01-30/media-afraid-julian-assange/
***************
Similar to this 2011 article:
“This article seeks to explain why the arrival of Wikileaks is a paradigm-shifting moment in history, mostly using Assange’s own words…”
Concluding: that the Wikileaks revolution could not be stopped because neither suppression of information nor authoritarian control of the Internet would be sustainable in the long term.
Altho’ these limits are now being tested by Western governments and media.
https://jaraparilla.blogspot.com/2011/06/wikileaks-revolution-is-here-to-stay.html
Well said Uncle Davy!
And this is precisely why Lula must seize the opportunity to gather his dozens of supporting leaders from all over the globe and flat-out demand the release of Assange from incarceration.
This will prove once and for all that Lula is a genuine grassroots leader and at the same time, it would be the final humiliating Coup d’etat for the criminal western oligarchy.
This would be his masterstroke that would define Lula as the true father of a new financial/security bloc.
At the same time, it would create even more solidarity in the ranks of the already monumental BRIICS+ organisation, and its myriad of multifaceted initiatives.
Go Lula – PLEASE step up to the mark
Col
“German tanks unite Russia and China even more. My task is simply to walk away from this, not to be a circus poodle. Any involvement in this is deadly.” – Croatian President Milanovic
Ukraine: the war that went wrong – The new sophisticated hardware wont help Chris Lynn Hedges
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/ukraine-the-war-that-went-wrong
US journalist, Presbyterian minister, author & commentator.
His father was a WWII vet, Presbyterian minister & anti-war activist.
His books include:
– War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (2002);
– American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America (2007);
– Death of the Liberal Class (2010); and
– Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt (2012)
17 mins ago Kharkov Region volatile! Russian forces returning & so far taken control of some 25 localities! Tactical retreat & regrouping near Balakleya & Izyum in Sept. was touted by West as “strategic defeat”. But now it seems, recent success in Donbass enable Russian return to Kharkov! – via MKB
Quoting Russian Duma “source” Tass reports that Putin’s State of Nation Address “can be expected on Feb. 20 or 21” — eve of anniversary of special military operation in Ukraine. Results & future trajectory in focus. Kiev’s desperate throw of dice in Donbass is understandable.
Donetsk Head Pushilin admits Kiev reinforcing Bakhmut, Ugledar, Maryinka with reserves & additional forces. Russian forces make some progress on these 3 directions, but they “are not so outstanding, because fighting is going on literally for every meter [of territory] there.” – MKB
Incredibly bright and breezy day in the UK, it’s cold, but the light is returning
I have an open, genuine question, am I the only one noticing the decine in comments on this site?Perhaps it’s war fatigue, fatalisn, the blues, information overload, or something else ? Why has it gone so silent, its weird.. such a truly great place for news and views!
But over the last weeks – or months – time flies and I cannot recollect when I noticed this :(
The many western blogs did seem to reach a saturation point, but the way in is also the way out.. One idea is to focus on Russian or Ukranian sources; the sites and commentariat by the people directly involved, rather than idle speculation from those who are not.. Good luck..
Israel is withdrawing 538 IDF instructors from Ukraine.
“One by one, US Air Force planes fly to Israel with the transponder turned off. 7 freighters from Qatar, 5 from Turkey & 4 from Chicago. Presumably, these are ground-to-ground missiles with a radius of 1100 km and missiles for air defense and missile defense systems with radar.” And a major announcement coming from Iran.
references:“???? Israel is withdrawing 538 IDF instructors from ???? Ukraine, who were training AFU in counter-battery tactics & organizing the protection of electronic warfare position areas, themselves learning how to shoot down ???? Iranian drones in electronic warfare with them.” — Glazyev ??
2:42 AM · Jan 30, 2023
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??pocalypsis ??pocalypseos ???? ???? ??
@apocalypseos
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5h
Replying to
@apocalypseos
“Within 72 hours all Israeli instructors will be in Israel. So far, no nuclear or limited nuclear escalation in Iran-Israel and neighboring countries is planned, but risk of ground collisions in proxy territories remains, as well as risk of exchange of ballistic missile strikes.”
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“One by one, US Air Force planes fly to Israel with the transponder turned off. 7 freighters from Qatar, 5 from Turkey & 4 from Chicago. Presumably, these are ground-to-ground missiles with a radius of 1100 km and missiles for air defense and missile defense systems with radar.”
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“If the information above is correct, then it turns out that this country [???? Israel] is a direct participant in the aggression against our country [???? Russia] for the sake of its goals in this territory.” — Glazyev
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“In the next 3-5 days, the conflict between ???? Israel and ???? Iran will either be extinguished or flare up with renewed vigor and block the ???? Ukrainian case, – the source.” — Glazyev
Hans Blinken
today at 2:04 pm
Iran’s President Raisi to address people live in a televised speech tonight after the news at 21:00 via IRIB 1 and national radio.
Something major, Iran is no drama queen like Israel
https://vk.com/papaduvalier
I shall miss this unique avenue of expression and my fellow posters.
FWIW I note the BBC propaganda as NPR transmits in CONUS has suddenly forgotten all about zone 404.
Indeed, something’s about to happen.
I too shall miss – as you said.
The concept and function of “gain”, it seems to me, ought to be mentioned here, as yes, indeed, there are fewer and fewer posts of commentary.
In “capitalist” lingo “gain” means rent, mostly. And that’s an abuse of meaning, a lie, if you will.
But I want to mention “gain” as it’s understood in radio or engineering terms. https://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/gain/
First there is no gain. That’s to say that all attempts to achieve gain involve a net increase in entropy. One therefore must assume what is not, assume a closed system, or rather regard only a part of a system.
Within that, a fraction of the power may be either amplified or focused, Thus 2 sorts of “gain” are noted.
For example, we can use a chemical reaction, combustion, in a generator, and throw away perhaps 90% of the power, but with the 10% we may melt, fuse, steel – we may weld steel. Thus “gain” occurs from an otherwise chaotic arena. Much the same thing takes place in an audio or radio amplifier, or a laser.
Radiation may be isotropic, or directional. When we say “directional” we often say, correctly, “gain”. The gain in an isotropic machine is said to be “1”.
So? So Humans use fire. The fuel provides “gain”. To-day most practical power derives from Carbon and Hydrogen, eg coal and gas and oil.
In “west” the “gain” from fire is said to amount to some 10 times the power of a healthy male, in kilowatts, or whatever. They say “we have each of us 10 energy slaves.” Perhaps so, whatever the multiple is, it’s from C and H in cooperation with O, unless it’s from the sun or from fission, more or less.
So? So limiting, throttling, the H and C translates directly to a loss of energy slaves. Since C and H are used to create food, we may expect a general and rapid reduction in the input, the “gain” of, and well-being of, the subject groups.
That’s assuming, naturally, that the relevant human groups are fairly stable in terms of number…aheeem.
I would now like to go on with respect to the jibbyjabbiethingies…but will not…it’s “QED” already, ain’t it?
………..
Since Saker site is going away, please allow me to say a special thanks to all my friends, and a shout to those whom I do not yet know.
Best! P
You will know know your friend
at the time of need.
Vladimir Vysotsky : Your Friend –
https://youtu.be/Vn6B5baMAn0
forgive the man who hates;
though he’s made his bed he’s
yet to lie in it
one is truly alive
only in the valley of
the shadow of death
helping a man carry
a sack of flour means getting
some flour on you
miracles await
those who have learnt to
love selflessly
A special thank you to AHH;
The warrior monk
The anoxia sharpshooter
Same song, same plumage
the image had special significance for me;
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/aa/64/e5/aa64e5f18886ff96a43ea46dd2f039dc.png
The Tale of the Hoopoe and Solomon, Which Explains That When
Destiny Comes, Clear Eyes Are Closed
When Solomon’s royal pavilion was erected,
the birds all came to pay him their respects.
He talked their language and they found him friendly;
they flocked to him devotedly, each one.
With Solomon the birds all gave up warbling
and learned to speak more clearly than your brother.
A common language is a bond and blood-tie;
with strangers one is like a prisoner.
O many a Turk and Hindu share a language,
while many a pair of Turks are total strangers.
For intimacy’s language is quite different;
it’s better sharing hearts than sharing language.
With neither speech nor sign nor scribe to help,
the heart gives out a hundred thousand meanings.
The mysteries of every single bird –
its skills and knowledge and experience –
Were shown one a a time to Solomon.
They praised themselves to try and win his favour.
Not for the sake of pride or self-regard,
but so that he could give them access to him,
As when a captive needs to have a master
he gives an introduction to his skills.
But when he is not keen on being bought,
he makes himself look sick, deaf, lame and palsied.
It was hoopoe’s turn to show his skills
and explanation of his work and thought.
‘Your Majesty, there is one little skill
which I shall tell you – best to keep it short.’
‘Then tell it so I know what skill that is.’
‘When I am at the highest point of heaven,
And look from heaven’s height with perfect sight,
I see the water deep within the earth,
And where I is, how deep, what sort of colour,
from where it flows, from out of soil or rock.
O Solomon, to help your troops’ encampment,
retain this clever one for your campaigns.’
Then Solomon said, ‘O what a good companion
to have in far-flung deserts with no water.
So you’ll find water for the troops, and on
campaigns you’ll be the soldiers’ water source.’
Excerpt from ‘The Lion, The Hare and the Hunted Animals’;
“Spiritual Verses, The First Book of the Masnavi-ye Ma’navi” by Rumi.
Translation Alan Williams ( A Penguin Classic )
À Dieu my friends, bonne chance, merci
Saker’s duty accompli
Storm’s a coming, wish you well
Batton the hatches, ride the swell
Treasures within will see us through
Best wishes to each and every one of you
The solutions don’t appear to be getting any better for the financially battered cities.
Already straining from an ambulance shortage, a new Augusta fire truck was rolled over on route and now we find the city has no insurance for some unknown reason and calls this a self insured city, except they don’t have the money to repair or replace the truck, and as such are in search of money so as to not be in the same political boat as the ambulance services with the Masters right around the corner.
When asked where the money was going to come from, the administrator said something to the effect of finding a way of forcing the tax payer to quickly foot this bill.
More tickets in the name of safer cities on paper, but on the streets the taxed feets, are going to be telling a different story.
feats of imagination?
don’t look at me, I’m paid
to shuffle feet…
Hike hike hike your feet,
all the way up the hill.
Take a look around,
and it was found,
all is sound,
in town.
everything is
as it should be, including
the things we don’t like
Although I completely understand The Saker’s decision to prioritize his heath and put his family first, I’m deeply disappointed at the closure of this blog.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the convos we’ve had especially here in the Cafe.
As I’ve said before in these times of the collective West’s insanity its hugely beneficial for our own mental & emotional health to have a network of like-minded individuals to share info & to discuss events with.
As Cafeistas, so we could all keep in touch I don’t suppose that anyone would be interested in setting up a chat group structured much like the Cafe but w/o moderation so it wasn’t very time-consuming.
I suppose we would have to suffer trolls from time to time.
Or maybe its just easier to migrate to Amarynth’s site.
Any thoughts / preferences would be appreciated.
I won’t be commenting again now until VVP delivers his SMO anniversary speech on 21/22 FEB
Anyhoo, I offer you all my very best wishes, good health and happiness for your future.
Onwards & upwards truth-tellers & poets! (with a nod to Dimi & Sudhi)
Cheers,
Uncle Davy, please checkout the Saker’s original post where he has recommended various sites as well as the four legitimate Saker community sites:
/an-update-about-the-blog/
He has also said in his latest post to give him some time to come back with an update on the guests postings etc. – so give him time to explore the possibilities and we all have until the end of the month for further news. Mod.
I tried offing a public chat room 1/2 year ago but no bites, could try again.
Thanks, Uncle Davy, I second your request for migration to Amaranth’s site –
This precious community should not be lost. We can have our cups of tea, coffee, and other spirits moving to another Cafe.
“One will not attain
everything one wishes for.
The winds blow where they
they will, not where
the ships wish.”
I had a look around there, and it seems very good but rather quiet, I’m sure it will pick up with time and all the very best with your endeavours – the winds of change are swiftly carrying me elswhere offshore !
I don’t know so much about the chat room but there is something else tucked away that has tools and shows some promise.
If I can find a way to eliminate emails and put it on automatic, it might be a refuge.
I’ll go back over that link, thankyou Mods! (I did read it at the time)
OK, great Alabama. I completely missed your proposal 1 /2 years ago.
You were ahead of your time!
I’m happy to go with the consensus.
Cheers,
West seeking to aggressively involve China by suggesting China is supplying weapons to Ukraine. Sound familiar, this is the same tactic used with Iran. And do not take your eyes off Mongolia, a global partner of NATO. NATO’s global partners include Afghanistan, Australia, Colombia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan. Surges of unrest in Mongolia suggest the making of a color revolution with the aid of social media. The protests are primarily against China
citing the “coal mafia,” which has been allegedly profiteering from doing business with Chinese companies. But various conspiracy theories are spreading on Twitter, including that there would be an internal power struggle within the ruling party elites.
Repost worth a read.
https://www.indianpunchline.com/unrest-in-mongolia-who-stands-to-gain/
This is a World War which means most saturation points are self imposed by the posters themselves. Peek out of the box and look around.
Very recently the US ambassador has promised to help Mongolia with its national sovereignty.
“When faced with decisions to deal with its neighbors, we want to ensure that Mongolia can make choices from a position of strength,” said Ambassador Buangan. “That is the underlying purpose of our interest in strengthening Mongolia’s democratic institutions, enhancing its national sovereignty, and diversifying the Mongolian economy.”
Complete text of his remarks as prepared follows here.
Remarks of Ambassador Richard L. Buangan
https://mn.usembassy.gov/pr-012423/
2…Daily Mail: Wagner is secretly developing swarm drones with China
Valentin Ustinov23 hours ago
https://solenka.info/daily-mail-proinformirovala-chto-chvk-vagner-razrabatyvaet-roevye-drony.html?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop
Russian bounty on Western tanks. The American M1 Abrams tank in Transbaikalia is rated lower thus going for less than the German Leopard.
The Abrams countrary to what we have been hearing, training delays and game playing, is actually the big prize. Nuland states that Abrams tanks will not arrive to 404 in Spring, when they expect 404 to launch “counter-offensive”. This is why.
excerpt; Bet Israel has one maybe Iran can borrow it.
Ukrainian Abrams will be neutered due to highly classified armor
By Boyko Nikolov On Jan 26, 2023
But what the Pentagon will try to remove from Ukrainian tanks is the armor of the American configuration of the tank. It is not by chance that Abrams is nicknamed “Iron Shield”. The tank’s armored packages are highly classified. Their development is so secret that even the staunchest allies of the United States very difficult, very hard, and with incredible exceptions get access to such armor.
I.e. no matter what or when the tanks before setting foot in eastern Europe will be specially configured. And the configuration will be primarily aimed at the armor of the tank.
Green Grape
To give you an idea of the secrecy, we will say this: the Abrams tanks in use in Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia have nothing to do with the American Abrams. Precisely because of the armor.
The program is called Green Grape. It is so secret that to say the program is secret is an understatement. Green Grape has developed depleted uranium [DU] armor. All American Abrams packages include a remote control. I.e. high density material. According to some unconfirmed sources, in addition to DU, the armor includes advanced ceramics.
That’s it. There is no more information about the armor. The remaining information unknown to us falls through the passage of dozens of security protocols. They are classified as “sensitive national security information”.
Even more secrecy
The Pentagon is not kidding about US national security. Secrecy is at such a high level that Washington is not looking for several, but a single manufacturer of the future armor. So far, three candidates have participated in the tender and all three have been rejected.
The reasons are different. The first company has experience in armor development, but not in DU work. The second company even has experience with the Abrams tank, has personnel who test the Abrams, and have worked on the armor of the Abrams tank. But this company does not have access to properly secured facilities where DU is processed. The third company was from Poland and, logically, has no experience in working with DU and did not provide real opportunities to work on the Abrams armor, as required.
Export variant
Most likely, Ukraine will receive a revised export version. Even this is sure to be so. Look, even the last buyer of Abrams Poland will not get what the Americans have. The Poles and other Abrams customers have semi-export armor without the presence of DU. There are specially developed export versions for these and others.
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/01/26/ukrainian-abrams-will-be-neutered-due-to-highly-classified-armor/
2…The Governor of Transbaikalia appointed payments to military personnel for the capture or destruction of Western-made tanks
Monday, January 30, 2023 12:15:36 PM
The Russian army is already looking forward to appearing on the battlefield tanks Western-made, for the destruction of which they promise good payouts. The regions began to join the initiative of Russian business.
The first to announce payments for the capture or destruction of foreign-made tanks was the governor of the Trans-Baikal Territory, Alexander Osipov. The decree he signed applies only to fighters from this region, whether they are military personnel, volunteers or mobilized, most importantly, they must be from Transbaikalia.
The document establishes the following payments: for the capture of a German Leopard tank of any modification in working order, a fighter receives 3 million rubles. Those participating with him receive 500 thousand rubles each, but no more than 10 people can receive payment for one tank. For the destruction of any Leopard MBT – 1 million rubles, participants – 150 thousand each, a group of no more than 5 people.
The American M1 Abrams tank in Transbaikalia is rated much lower than the German one. For the capture of an American in working order, a payment of 1,5 million rubles will follow, participants will receive 300 thousand each. For destruction – 500 thousand, participants 100 thousand each. Everything else is the same, in the first case the group is no more than 10 people, in the second – no more than 5. The same prices apply to other NATO tanks, including the British Challenger 2.
The initiative may be taken up by other regions, following the example of Transbaikalia and assigning their own payments for the destruction of foreign tanks, thereby giving another incentive to the fighters.
Earlier, actor Ivan Okhlobystin said that a group of businessmen had set a payment of 10 million rubles for each destroyed American tank. The Ministry of Defense has its own payments for destroyed enemy armored vehicles: an aircraft – 300 thousand rubles, a helicopter – 200 thousand rubles, a tank – 100 thousand rubles, a drone – 50 thousand rubles, an armored personnel carrier, a self-propelled artillery mount, S-300 systems, “Buk”, “Tor” or combat vehicle RZSO – 50 thousand rubles each.
https://en.topwar.ru/209896-gubernator-zabajkalja-naznachil-vyplaty-voennosluzhaschim-za-zahvat-ili-unichtozhenie-tankov-zapadnogo-proizvodstva.html
This is for everyone at the Cafe, a well known song about northern Ireland sung by an old friend and who did a lot to help young musicians to get established before he passed away.
https://youtu.be/C4wsR2kc6qM
Man, Scott Ritter is on fire. Definitely something to watch!
https://odysee.com/@theduran:e/preventing-a-long-war-w-scott-ritter:7
I haven’t watched it, but someone in the comments complains about what he says in the 1:13:34 mark. Another follows saying it goes without rebuttal or comment from the Duran.
It reminded me of a previous time when Scott Ritter talked about why the division of Germany was ‘necessary’. In face of the findings that the Anglo allies supported Hitler early on and that Stalin opposed the division in the first place, this gave me pause.
And now it’s there again.
Here’s my two cents:
AFAIK the Soviets under Stalin, having borne the biggest brunt of the war, rejected the genocidal Morgenthau Plan. It may seem ironic at first, until one considers that the USA and Britain were supporting Hitler as a puppet against the Soviets. The Anglophile Hitler even took inspiration from the USA’s Jim Crow laws.
The decision to break Germany up into smaller states was conjured by those same Anglo-Saxon powers. Stalin didn’t want that – he instead wanted a united, neutral Germany.
Heck, the first World War was even instigated by Britain who, if you can call it jealousy, wanted to prevent Germany from forging an alliance with Russia. The motivation for the Morgenthau Plan was no different from that of the relatively recent bombing of Nord Stream II.
Learning about this in 2020 (?) gave me a newfound appreciation for Stalin I didn’t have before. It gave me an insight into the difference in mentality between the Russians and the English(-speaking Americans).
I am sorry, but I fail to see any connection of the topics Germany, Division, Morgenthau, Stalin with the linked video. I can only repeat my recommendation to watch the video.
And, that is not meant as an insult at all, but I do not see the sense in discussing someone’s comments under a video before actually having seen the video, and with a reference to a timecode without even a mention of what supposedly was critiqued nor why it supposedly was critiqued.
I mean, please don’t take it badly, your comment is interesting as a standalone, and the topic you are treating is certainly worth discussing. But it just does not seem to have to do anything with the Duran+Scott Ritter video.
This is a gas,
https://apnews.com/article/chinese-surveillance-balloon-united-states-montana-47248b0ef2b085620fcd866c105054be
but there are no people in montana.
This menacing critter is below satillites but to high to shoot down. Its got to be driving the intel community nuts.