by Scott Humor
H.R. 1644, the Korea Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act
President Trump signed the ‘Buy American, Hire American’ executive order.
“The most spectacular claim—that North Korea is, at present, “capable of producing a nuclear bomb every six or seven weeks”—
is backed up entirely by an anonymous blob of “expert studies and classified intelligence reports.”… it is “impossible to verify.”
Coming to Russia, don’t complain about its weather. Remember that our climate was designed as a weapon against invading armies. At the end of April 2017, the United States government apparatchiks have officially divorced themselves from reality by starting two initiatives, both being a severe infringement on Russia’s sovereignty. First is an announcement of the US government tender to run a “refugee resettlement center” in Moscow for the Eurasian countries each of which having its own US Embassy. So far there has been no official Russia’s reaction to this announcement.
On April 29, the US House of Representatives passed a newly minted H.R. 1644: Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act. Despite of its title, the Bill targets Russia, China, Iran and Syria by a slew of measures that normally would be implemented only in a time of war.
At the look of it, the US Congress members claim to enforce the control over implementation of the UN Security Council resolution that limits the trade of the DPRK with other countries, and bans the supply of weapons, aircraft, missiles, nuclear and other technologies. However, the document also provides the “legal basis” for US military control over Russian ports in the Far East and in Syria, and also over the Iranian and Chinese ports.
What the Russian politicians and observers found the most amazing was the fact that the UN Security Council has never requested the US to provide control over implementation of its resolution on the DPRK.
As it is being presented, the H.R. 1466 Bill is an affront not only to common sense, but also to the fundamental norms of international law. For starters, if it becomes a law the Bill will allow the US military to inspect, search and seize any vessel or aircraft suspected in violation of the anti North Korea sanctions per their own discretion. It also gives the US military the authority to inspect the sea ports in Russia, Syria, Iran and China, implying that resisting will result in much broader sanctions against these four countries.
If adopted and signed into law by President Trump, the bill will also sanction Russia’s global food trade due to the North Korean workers being employed in Russia’s agricultural sector, at the time when Russia overtakes the US and Canada as a major grain supplier. The Bill, apparently, stands to completely ban the trade of Russia’s produced food over the world in order to replace it with the US produced Genetically Modified Organisms that the US sells as food.
The Bill has also targets Russia’s Far East ports and fleet and its Navy base in Syria. It seeks to impede Russia’s right to freedom of navigation, and its LNG and oil transported by sea.
But, why stop there?
The H.R. 1466 Bill seeks to put a stoppage to the Chinese trade with the US, it also seeks to impose the MANDATORY ASSET BLOCKING on the unspecified Chinese capital and properties located on the territory of the US and elsewhere.
In essence this Bill is an act of naked aggression and interference in the affairs of the sovereign states.
Below I posted information on the bill’s authors and their political contributors, so you would be able to see for yourself how much the US agricultural lobbies have been investing into this piece of legislature along with the pro-Israel lobbies, and Aerospace and Defense contractors like the Raytheon Company and Boeing.
Overall, the H.R.1466 is a very ambitious Bill, and I have to give credit to its real authors (not to the US Representatives, who landed their names to it); they manage to hide its real targets so deep that only a few people with the knowledge of the reality can actually read it.
Take for example a provision of “within the last 365 days” that allows retrospectively blanket target Russia and China. According to the Bill, any Chinese and Russian vessel including military, and aircraft carrying on regular passenger flights to the US, are the subject to seizure by the US authorities due to a simple fact that these countries’ fleets have been visiting the North Korean ports and the North Korean workers have been legally allowed to work in Russia and China. You can judge for yourself, from the excerpts posted below.
If this Bill is signed into the law, we might assume that it will place a halt to passenger flights between the US and Russia, and between China and the US.
Another important point of this Bill is a designation of the north Korean citizens as “slaves” and the country as a “terrorist state.” To designate an entire nation of twenty five million people as “terrorists” is some serious kooky-bananas. A similar attempt made by a military junta in Kiev Ukraine to designate as “terrorists’ the population of Donetsk and Lugansk republics has previously been rejected by the UN Security Council.
According to the GovTrack: “This was a vote to pass H.R. 1644 in the House. This vote was taken under a House procedure called “suspension of the rules” which is typically used to pass non-controversial bills. Votes under suspension require a 2/3rds majority. A failed vote under suspension can be taken again.”
“H.R. 1644 amends the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 to modify and increase the President’s authority to impose sanctions on persons in violation of certain U.N. Security Council resolution regarding North Korea. Specifically, the bill expands sanctions to deter North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, targets those individuals overseas who employ North Korean slave labor, cracks down on North Korean shipping and use of international ports, and requires the administration to determine whether North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism.”
232 republicans and 187 democrats voted for this bill. Only one republican voted against, Thomas Harold Massie, an American engineer and politician who has been the United States Representative for Kentucky’s 4th congressional district.
As in case of imposing anti-Russian sanctions after the US staged military putsch in Ukraine (STAND for Ukraine Act H.R. 5094 in May 2016), the US lawmakers use a completely artificial and staged anger with the North Korean leader to attack trade and freedom of navigation of Russia, China, Iran and Syria.
It’s important to understand that, going forward, it won’t matter what steps these four countries would take to satisfy the US government demands, their “guilty” status has been already predetermined and written into this Bill by a provision “within the past 365 days.” The Bill dictates that the moment president Trump signs it into the law, the US grants itself the “right” to start seizure of Russia’s, Chinese, Iranian and Syria capital, properties, vessels and aircraft, civilian as well as military, on the territories under the direct jurisdiction of the US laws, if not all over the world.
On average, it takes about a year for the US lawmakers to come up with a piece of legislature, so we can safely assume that H.R. 1644 was in development before the presidential elections. An anti – North Korea hysteria has started in March with an over exaggerated reaction to a video presumably made by the country.
It’s all started on March 21st, when the New York Times’ Russell Goldman reported that “Korea Flexes Its Military Muscle on YouTube, With Added Effects”
“North Korea released a propaganda video this week depicting a United States aircraft carrier and a warplane being destroyed in computer-generated balls of fire, the latest salvo in an escalating war of words between the two nuclear powers.”
A video in question was posted on March 18th by the state NK agency, and is a compilation of random images on the US troops and some computer generated graphic. The simple fact that it was released in Korean language shows that it was intended to be for the Korean audience only.
One has to be hard-pressed to find any threat in this sort of video. However, based on this video the US “Military Experts” concluded that the North Korea intended a missile launch within days.”
Not being “the US military expert,” I was absolutely right to assume that this was just another utterly fake threat that the U.S. cooked up in order to target Russia’s ports and to disrupt the international trade and freedom of navigation of Russia and China by deploying its fleet near the Russia’s Far Eastern borders.
There is a school of thoughts that the North Korean leader was recruited by the UK secret services while being a student of an elite boarding school there. That would explain his bizarre behavior and playing right into the hands of the US propaganda, and also his spat with China and his attempts to ruin the country’s relations with Russia that had been cherished so much by his father. Shortly before his death, ill and frail Kim Jong-il boarded a train and took a week long journey to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin. Their meeting was unofficial, and we still don’t know what was discussed, but I bet that the old man asked Putin to take care of his people. Putin is not known to ever renegade on his promises.
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PART II: The H.R. 1466 and its authors
The first draft of the Bill passed the House of representatives on March 21, 2017 allegedly in response to a “threatening” video.
Anyone who is familiar with the way the US laws are being written and adopted would know that it takes months and sometimes years to write something into a law. The high velocity with which this Bill passes through the US Congress indicates a premeditated event.
The Bill claims to enforce the UN Resolution on the North Korea, without naming one. The reason why the US House of Representatives fails to name any particular UN resolution that they seek to “enforce” is because there is NONE that would warrant such measures. In essence, with the H.R. 1466 the US lawmakers seek to place a stoppage to the global trade and maritime activities, and they see targeting Russia and China as the best place to start.
The Western Media reporting on the H.R. 1466 Bill mentioned the UN Security Council resolution #2270 adopted on March 2nd, 2016.
The latest UN resolution condemning the N. Korean missile test was adopted on March 23rd, 2017, two days after the US Senate passing the H.R. 1466.
RES/2345 The Resolution reads: “This resolution renewed for another 13 months the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee.”
According to the draft of this Bill, its first version was submitted on March 21, 2017 and the second was reported in the House of representatives on April 28, 2017.
Following our tradition to look at people behind the political events, the following is the list of authors and sponsors of this Bill.
Text: H.R.1644 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1644 Introduced in House (IH)] 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1644 To enhance sanctions with respect to transactions relating to North Korea, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 21, 2017
March 21, 2017
Mr. Royce of California (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Yoho, and Mr. Sherman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
April 28, 2017
Additional sponsors: Mr. Connolly, Mr. Bera, Mr. Abraham, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Cook, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Keating, Mr. Sires, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Barr, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Mrs. Wagner, Mrs. Mimi Walters of California, and Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas
—
Authors of the Bill
Edward Randall “Ed” Royce, a member of the United States House of Representatives for California’s 39th congressional district, is listed as the main author of this bill.
Edward R. Royce is listed by the non-government political watchdogs as the top second US representative that received pro-Israel campaign contributions – $233,943
Total Campaign Contributions Received by Ed Royce: $4,041,553
NORPAC is a bipartisan, multi-candidate political action committee working to strengthen the United States–Israel relationship – $114,243
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Real Estate | $344,349 |
| Securities & Investment | $321,400 |
| Insurance | $261,850 |
| Pro-Israel | $233,943 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $171,975 |
| Health Professionals | $107,185 |
| Commercial Banks | $101,000 |
| Misc Finance | $88,700 |
| Republican/Conservative | $70,740 |
| Accountants | $66,250 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| NORPAC | $114,243 |
| Royce Victory Fund | $35,100 |
| Morgan Stanley | $17,500 |
| Mutual Pharmaceutical | $15,600 |
| Blackstone Group | $13,500 |
| Rida Development | $13,500 |
| First American Financial Corporation | $12,700 |
| Seville Classics | $12,240 |
| Arnold and Porter | $12,200 |
| Wells Fargo | $12,000 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Nov 29, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016.
According to the MapLight disclamer, “Contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org). Legislative data from GovTrack.us. ”
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Eliot L. Engel Democrat (Elected 1988), NY House district 16
I wrote in details about the Representative Eliot Lance Engel in connection to his anti-Russia activities in authoring STAND for Ukraine Act H.R. 5094 in May 2016
Eliot Lance Engel has been reported as being a recipient of the pro-Israel campaign contributions $191,150
Total Campaign Contributions Received by Eliot L. Engel: $1,596,646
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Pro-Israel | $191,150 |
| Real Estate | $123,000 |
| Health Professionals | $105,925 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $95,186 |
| Securities & Investment | $68,025 |
| Pharmaceuticals/Health Products | $55,700 |
| Hospitals/Nursing Homes | $36,350 |
| Education | $34,300 |
| Building Trade Unions | $34,000 |
| Public Sector Unions | $31,500 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| NORPAC | $28,000 |
| St Georges University | $20,000 |
| Natural Food Source Incorporated | $16,200 |
| Duty Free Americas | $16,200 |
| Stroock Stroock and Lavan | $11,100 |
| Nimeks Organics | $10,800 |
| Baystate Medical Center | $10,800 |
| Boeing Company | $10,000 |
| Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | $10,000 |
| Raytheon Company | $10,000 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Nov 29, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016.
—-
Ted S. Yoho Republican (Elected 2013), FL House district 3
Total Campaign Contributions Received by Ted S. Yoho: $721,346
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Crop Production & Basic Processing | $72,411 |
| General Contractors | $39,451 |
| Real Estate | $35,177 |
| Agricultural Services/Products | $24,839 |
| Health Professionals | $23,960 |
| Livestock | $23,300 |
| Special Trade Contractors | $22,150 |
| Pro-Israel | $17,000 |
| Securities & Investment | $13,400 |
| Printing & Publishing | $11,800 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| Islands Mechanical | $15,400 |
| Anderson Columbia Company | $13,400 |
| Angel Investor | $10,800 |
| National Cattlemens Beef Association | $10,000 |
| Hennessey Arabian Horses | $10,000 |
| Florida Congressional Committee | $10,000 |
| American Crystal Sugar | $7,500 |
| Cecil W Powell And Company | $6,400 |
| Lockheed Martin | $6,000 |
| Vallencourt Construction | $5,900 |
—
Brad Sherman Democrat (Elected 1996), CA House district 30
Brad Sherman has reputedly received $93,580 in pro-Israel campaign contributions.
Total Campaign Contributions Received by Brad Sherman: $1,575,550
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Real Estate | $122,900 |
| Securities & Investment | $109,475 |
| Pro-Israel | $93,580 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $72,198 |
| Insurance | $69,300 |
| Accountants | $60,330 |
| Building Trade Unions | $57,500 |
| Misc Finance | $51,300 |
| Health Professionals | $46,575 |
| TV/Movies/Music | $46,015 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| NORPAC | $25,720 |
| Hackman Capital Partners | $16,200 |
| Capital Group Companies | $15,400 |
| Majestic Realty | $10,800 |
| Pachulski Stang Et Al | $10,800 |
| Saban Capital Group | $10,800 |
| Keyes Automotive Group | $10,800 |
| United Food and Commercial Workers Union | $10,000 |
| Honeywell International | $10,000 |
| Deloitte Llp | $10,000 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Nov 29, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016.
—
The US Representatives sponsoring the Bill
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is listed as a recipient of the pro-Israel campaign contributions – $138,800
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Republican (Elected 1988), FL House district 27
Total Campaign Contributions Received by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: $1,453,178
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Pro-Israel | $140,650 |
| Real Estate | $85,650 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $80,048 |
| Foreign & Defense Policy | $53,750 |
| Transportation Unions | $38,000 |
| Health Professionals | $36,150 |
| Republican/Conservative | $34,700 |
| Building Trade Unions | $29,000 |
| Misc Manufacturing & Distributing | $27,300 |
| Defense Aerospace | $26,750 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| Duty Free Americas | $20,500 |
| NORPAC | $18,850 |
| Leon Medical Centers | $16,450 |
| Southern Wine and Spirits | $15,400 |
| Clearpath Foundation | $10,800 |
| Badia Spices | $10,800 |
| Irving Moskowitz Foundation | $10,800 |
| Tate Enterprises | $10,700 |
| At and T Incorporated | $10,000 |
| Operating Engineers Union | $10,000 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Nov 29, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016. Contributions fro
—
The US representative Ralph Lee Abraham, Jr.
Total Campaign Contributions Received by Ralph Lee Abraham: $649,364
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Crop Production & Basic Processing | $76,435 |
| Health Professionals | $61,950 |
| Agricultural Services/Products | $33,200 |
| Oil & Gas | $23,950 |
| Commercial Banks | $23,450 |
| Real Estate | $22,775 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $20,850 |
| Hospitals/Nursing Homes | $17,900 |
| Misc Business | $15,100 |
| Forestry & Forest Products | $14,000 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| American Society of Anesthesiologists | $15,000 |
| American Sugar Cane League | $10,000 |
| National Association of Realtors | $8,500 |
| Farm Credit Council | $8,000 |
| Intermountain Management | $6,300 |
| Centurylink | $6,250 |
| Central Management | $5,400 |
| Moore Oil | $5,400 |
| Lasalle Management | $5,400 |
| Hospital Administrator | $5,400 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Nov 29, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016. Contributions from political
—
William R. Keating (D-MA) U.S. House
Total Campaign Contributions Received by William R. Keating: $1,094,550
Top 10 Interests Funding
| Interest | Contributions |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $76,117 |
| Building Trade Unions | $67,500 |
| Public Sector Unions | $53,500 |
| Transportation Unions | $48,500 |
| Industrial Unions | $47,000 |
| Real Estate | $40,549 |
| Pharmaceuticals/Health Products | $39,000 |
| Special Trade Contractors | $30,475 |
| Defense Aerospace | $30,000 |
| Crop Production & Basic Processing | $26,500 |
Top 10 Organizations Funding
| Organization | Contributions |
| Superior Plumbing | $21,700 |
| Nixon Peabody LLP | $13,320 |
| United Food and Commercial Workers Union | $10,000 |
| Honeywell International | $10,000 |
| Plumberspipefitters Union | $10,000 |
| Carpenters and Joiners Union | $10,000 |
| Operating Engineers Union | $10,000 |
| Painters and Allied Trades Union | $10,000 |
| Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | $10,000 |
| Ironworkers Union | $10,000 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Nov 29, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016. Contributions from political parties and from
—
Democrat David Nicola Cicilline the U.S. Representative for Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district, an author of the US-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Act
—
Steven Joseph “Steve” Chabot, the US Representative for Ohio’s 1st congressional district
Listed as the US legislator that received the most Pro-Israel campaign contributions:
—
Paul Cook (CA-8) reportedly received 3.300 in pro-Israel campaign contributions.
—
Ted Poe has reportedly received $11,250 in pro-Israel campaign contributions.
—
Andy Barr is reported to receive $35,750 in pro-Israel campaign contributions.
—
Michael T. McCaul reported to receive $37,650 in pro-Israel campaign contributions.
—
Ted Lieu reported to receive $56,395 pro-Israel campaign contributions
—
Only five sponsors of the Korean Bill, Austin Scott, Steven Brett Guthrie, Ann Louise Wagner, Marian Elaine “Mimi” Walters and Samuel Robert “Sam” Johnson, have not been listed as a recipient of pro Israel campaign contributions.
According to the MapLight: ” U.S. Congress illuminates the connection between campaign contributions and legislative votes in unprecedented ways.”
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Notable excerpts from the H.R. 1466 Bill
Text: H.R.1644 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)
Shown Here: Referred in Senate (05/04/2017)
—
The devil is always in the details, the Russia’s agricultural trade is targeted by the following:
“b) Expansion of Additional Discretionary Designations.–Section
104(b)(1) of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of
2016 (22 U.S.C. 9214(b)(1)) is amended–(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
“(M) knowingly, directly or indirectly, engaged in, facilitated, or was responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea in a manner intended to generate significant revenue, directly or indirectly, for use by the Government of North Korea or by the Workers’ Party of Korea;
“(3) a list of foreign persons that knowingly employ North Korean laborers, as described in section 104(b)(1)(M)”
Putting aside the bizarre rhetoric of the freedom of movement as being an “exportation of workers,” this point is directly targeting Russia that is known to issue 20,000 work visas for the North Korea’s citizens annually. The migrant workers from North Korea are mostly employed by the agricultural companies, they also known to create cooperatives to rent land for production of agricultural products. Russia is a host to the biggest community of the North Korean nationals most of whom live in Vladivostok area on permanent and semi-permanent basis.
The Bill seeks to declare the Korean community members work in Russia as being in a “violation of the UN resolution.”
———————
(1) In general.–Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that specifically describes the compliance of foreign countries and other foreign jurisdictions with the requirement to curtail the trade described in subsection (b)(1).
“(2) Form.–The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.”.
—-
Provisions targeting the sea ports and freedom of navigation
SEC. 104. Amendments to enhance inspection authorities.
Title II of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9221 et seq.), as amended by section 102 of this Act, is further amended by striking section 205 and inserting the following:
- Enhanced inspection authorities.
“(a) Report required.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report—
“(A) identifying the operators of foreign sea ports and airports that have knowingly—
“(i) failed to implement or enforce regulations to inspect ships, aircraft, cargo, or conveyances in transit to or from North Korea, as required by applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions;
“(ii) facilitated the transfer, transshipment, or conveyance of significant types or quantities of cargo, vessels, or aircraft owned or controlled by persons designated under applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions; or
“(iii) facilitated any of the activities described in section 104(a);
“(B) describing the extent to which the requirements of applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions to de-register any vessel owned, controlled, or operated by the Government of North Korea have been implemented by other foreign countries;
“(C) describing the compliance of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the sanctions mandated in applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions;
“(D) identifying vessels, aircraft, and conveyances owned or controlled by the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the Workers’ Party of Korea; and
“(E) describing the diplomatic and enforcement efforts by the President to secure the full implementation of the applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions, as described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
“(2) FORM.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
“(b) Specific findings.—Each report required under subsection (a) shall include specific findings with respect to the following ports and airports:
“(1) The ports of Dandong, Dalian, and any other port in the People’s Republic of China that the President deems appropriate.
“(2) The ports of Abadan, Bandar-e-Abbas, Chabahar, Bandar-e-Khomeini, Bushehr Port, Asaluyeh Port, Kish, Kharg Island, Bandar-e-Lenge, and Khorramshahr, and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“(3) The ports of Nakhodka, Vanino, and Vladivostok, in the Russian Federation.
“(4) The ports of Latakia, Banias, and Tartous, and Damascus International Airport, in the Syrian Arab Republic.
“(c) Enhanced security targeting requirements.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Homeland Security may, using the Automated Targeting System operated by the National Targeting Center of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, require enhanced screening procedures to determine whether physical inspections are warranted of any cargo bound for or landed in the United States that—
“(A) has been transported through a sea port or airport the operator of which has been identified by the President in accordance with subsection (a)(1) as having repeatedly failed to comply with applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions;
“(B) is aboard a vessel or aircraft, or within a conveyance that has, within the last 365 days, entered the territory, waters, or airspace of North Korea, or landed in any of the sea ports or airports of North Korea; or
“(C) is registered by a country or jurisdiction whose compliance has been identified by the President as deficient pursuant to subsection (a)(2).
(c) Mandatory and discretionary asset blocking.—Section 104(c) of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9214(c)) is amended—
(1) by striking “of a designated person” and inserting “of a person designated under subsection (a)”;
(2) by striking “The President” and inserting the following:
“(1) MANDATORY ASSET BLOCKING.—The President”; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) DISCRETIONARY ASSET BLOCKING.—The President may also exercise such powers, in the same manner and to the same extent described in paragraph (1), with respect to a person designated under subsection (b).”.
—
subsection (b)is called” b) Expansion of additional discretionary designations.—Section 104(b)(1) of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9214(b)(1))
Under section “205. Enhanced inspection authorities“ the US government grants itself “enhanced authorities” and the US doing so unliterary, using its own domestic legislature and on behalf of all the UN members and even the permanent members if the UN Security Council Russia and China, without ever getting the authorization from the UN Security Council.
“(c) Enhanced security targeting requirements.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Homeland Security may, using the Automated Targeting System operated by the National Targeting Center of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, require enhanced screening procedures to determine whether physical inspections are warranted of any cargo bound for or landed in the United States that—
“(A) has been transported through a sea port or airport the operator of which has been identified by the President in accordance with subsection (a)(1) as having repeatedly failed to comply with applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions;
“(B) is aboard a vessel or aircraft, or within a conveyance that has, within the last 365 days, entered the territory, waters, or airspace of North Korea, or landed in any of the sea ports or airports of North Korea; or landed in any of the sea ports or airports of North Korea; or
“(C) is registered by a country or jurisdiction whose compliance has been identified by the President as deficient pursuant to subsection (a)(2).
—-
“(C) is registered by a country or jurisdiction whose compliance has been identified by the President as deficient pursuant to subsection (a)(2).”
“(d) Seizure and Forfeiture.—A vessel, aircraft, or conveyance used to facilitate any of the activities described in section 104(a) under the jurisdiction of the United States may be seized and forfeited under—
“(1) chapter 46 of title 18, United States Code; or
“(2) part V of title IV of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1581 et seq.).”.
SEC. 204. Determination on designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.
(a) Determination.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a determination whether North Korea meets the criteria for designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
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The Russia’s lawmakers response to the Bill
A senior Russian senator says the American bill allowing the US Navy to enforce international sanctions on North Korea through the control of Russian ports is a violation of international law, and is equal to a declaration of war.
“The realization of this [US] bill includes a proposed force scenario in which the US Navy would conduct compulsory inspections of all ships. Such a scenario is simply unthinkable because it means a declaration of war,” RIA Novosti quoted upper house Committee for International Relations head Konstantin Kosachev as saying.
The senator emphasized that no one had given the United States official powers to enforce the UN Security Council resolution on North Korea, and said that Washington is trying to establish the primacy of US laws over international law.
The deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee for Defense and Security, Frants Klintsevich, said that the possibility of external control over Russian sea ports was out of the question, but the mere fact that US lawmakers were discussing the proposal was definitely a hostile act.
He added that it was extremely unlikely that the US motion would force North Korea to change its course.
“What immediately draws attention is the list of nations where US congressmen want to have special control over sea ports,” he said. “These are Russia, China, Iran and Syria. The United States is again trying to expand its jurisdiction all over the globe. It is as if they were telling Russia, China, Iran and Syria that these nations are suspects in crime, which is nonsense, according to international law.”
Another deputy head of the same committee, Andrey Krasov, said that the US bill will face an appropriate response from Russia, should it be passed.
“The US administration will receive a symmetrical adequate response to any unfriendly steps toward Russia and our allies. In any case, no US ship will enter our waters,” Krasov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
Last week, Russia expressed support for a Chinese initiative at the UN Security Council aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The draft resolution proposes that North Korea refrain from missile and nuclear testing, and that the United States and South Korea undertake not to hold any military exercises in the region.
In addition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has urged Washington and Seoul to reconsider their decision to put the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula, warning that it will serve as a “destabilizing factor” in the region.
—-
Thanks to our Navy researcher LeDahu for pointing out this piece of the US legislature that I missed because new anti-Russia sanctions have been deceptively disguised as an enforcement of the UN anti-Korea sanctions. Come to think of it, the same way the Stand for Ukraine Act was actually a list of sanctions against Russia.
Scott Humor
Director of Research and Development
author of The enemy of the State
Featured image: 1 kilogram gold coin minted in Korea depicting Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Well this is real straight forward. If Trump signs this it is a clear declearation of war. If Russia or China except this then they have folded and are no longer a country.
Notice at the same time Syria is to be split by US backed Kurds starting at the Med right to US controled Iraq.
This feels like it folks, it’s on, world under US rule or war.
The neocons control Washington. Trump has caved under, and yes, if they try to enforce this, there will be war with Russia, China and Iran. May as well hide under your desks, for all this is worth. Our country’s stupidity and blatant disregard for other countries’ sovereignty is worse now then ever before in history. They WILL get their war … hope they realize there will be no survivors.
Yes but Turkey does not like that and Bayrock which funded Trump’s property empire used Erdogan’s money
Surely there would have been drafts of this legislation circulating for awhile? In the back corridors of the Capitol? If so, I would imagine the Russians already have some version of the draft?
Is this why the RF diplomats were ordered out of the US by Obama at Christmas? To ensure that any “back” networks were broken?
Also – Vitaly Churkin? He’d be able to call BS on the fallacy that this nonsense had UN auspices.
| Also | reminds me of the “Patriot” Act that was “here’s one we prepared earlier” immediately after 9/11. Along with Building 7 that was what convinced me 9/11 was an inside job _ with some career experience in the slow! slow! slow grind of govt. (And they are all the same, everywhere) – the slow grind of govt – and here was a ready- written Patriot Act ready to roll…..
So yes….. Many of us have been scratching our heads at the confected “kabuki” of the North Korean “crisis”, and here, now, a final piece is added to the jigsaw, and the picture takes shape…
It will be interesting to see how the Zionazies deal with Moon Jae-in if he wins the South Korean Presidential election. He wishes to deal with the North diplomatically, not with the usual deranged aggressiveness that is the Zionazies’ psychopathic trade-mark.
Usually they take care of that before and during the election. Watch for allegations of “voting irregularities” and how they cast and count the vote. Most likely, a “peace” candidate doesn’t stand a chance of being declared the winnner. No matter how many voters support peace.
i forgot to add this above. If Trump signs this then the next day the US dollar will or will not be the reserve currency. Depending on if Russia and China fold or not.
This does require a response and not just another we will take measures later.. Dump the dollar, block the sea lanes, a real response.
The neocons believe only they are crazy enough to risk Nuclear war, they are counting on that
This aggressive bill would be a response to a failed one world project. The last ditch effort before a Masada type scenario is fulfilled. The USD in its current state will of course change as soon as the yuan goes gold backed.
This bill in an attempt to capture real trade as empty USD derivatives fail. There is nothing real in the US economy. There is a high likelyhood that there is nothing real in the US Navy either.
It brings to mind the French making an Austrian prince emperor of Mexico – because they owed some money.
“Maximilian I of Mexico”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_I_of_Mexico
OK _ why? why would the US introduce this legislation?
War on OBOR
We are just days away from a meeting with earth-tremor geo-political implications _ the May dates One Belt One Road meeting in place, china.
Stop, dear Sakerites and really let the implications of OBOR percolate:
(Quoting Pepe Escobar) OBOR is an immensely ambitious $1.4 trillion project potentially touching 64 nations, no less than 4.4 billion people and around 40 per cent of the global economy which will, among other features, create new “innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive” trade horizons …..
Does OBOR conflict with the ubiquitous “US interests” – ? ….. !!!
(If “lucky” the US will be left wallowing as a NAFTA backwater)
Does the US, with its self-declared “exceptionalism” and “Ruler of the World” Hegemon sit back quietly and just “allow” Russia-China-Iran and 110 other countries to trade freely, without the US reserve currency?
Hell no!
So the options are:
1/ Hot war
2/ Asymmetrical war
3/ 1+2 + +
The US legislation discussed here, PLUS the associated article on the US State Dept establishing a NGO refugee/migrant centre in Moscow are the SAME piece of asymmetrical strategy.
The OBOR traverses Central Asia. In fact it cannot function without a stable, client-state Central Asia. So where is the US about to stir up (more) trouble? Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The very essential link in the China-Russia-Iran OBOR.
Refs:
http://katehon.com/article/2017-forecast-global-trends
/the-ultimate-21st-century-choice-obor-or-war/
https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201608311044816377-g20-geopolitical-juncture/
The US actions reminds me of this quote from Karl Rove:
“That’s not the way the world really works anymore.
“We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality.
And while you’re studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors … and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”
The US State Dept is about to “create a new reality” in Central Asia. Probably using its good proxies, some new variant of ISIS.
The dying snake is at its most dangerous as it thrashes about in its death-throes.
Thank you, all, for your news and insights. Ah, yes, the arrogant words of the master deceiver Mr. Rove : “all of you will be left to just study what we do” (!!)–here is how this whole thing has been working for many years: first they deceive themselves, and then the truth-seekers finally wise up to their awful deceptions. In the bitter, terrible end, the people who believed that they would somehow ‘live forever’ learn the hard way that they too are mortal– but unfortunately, they drag millions of people down with them. This whole crazy thing is not going to end well, I fear.
Ever since I first read that quote (later attributed to Rove) in a column of Justin Raimondo I felt that it was the perfect crystalization that sums up the world we live in. The other part-that-contains-the-whole is the Russian word, applied to the Americans, that translates to English as ‘not agreement capable’ mentioned most recently in the Saker’s Guns and Butter podcast.
it’s basically psychopaths vs normal people across all levels of granularity
“…when we act, we create our own reality”.
A psychotic perception of the world. Rather similar to Freud’s “pleasure principle” – the way in which very young infants see the world as subject to their wishes and desires. At about the age of 1-2, normal infants leant about and accept the “reality principle” which dictates that, in the clash of wills between you and the world, the world always wins.
Mr Krasov expresses the reality principle very clearly in his words, “…In any case, no US ship will enter our waters”.
That is to say: if the Americans act under the influence of their psychotic delusions, they will receive a bloody nose.
Hence it is vital for Russia to rally the moderate Muslims.
What Rove didn’t factor in, is that if –They– can base their power on “Divide and Conquer”, –We– can base ours on “Unite and Trade”. If they think they can always be one step ahead of us, then they are betting that Fall doesn’t follow Spring.
Oh please, what China and Russia are doing is they are trying to grab a piece of the NWO pie. Would you rather live under an NWO ruled by the US or an NWO ruled by Russia/China. If Russia/China were the dominant superpower today they would be acting just as arrogantly as the US is. Absolute power corrupts the best leaders in history, no need to act as if the US is somehow an exception from all empires of the past. If Russia/China do end up countering and succeeding against the US in pursuit of global hegemony then 20 years from now people like us will be “Americo-philes” and would be just as criticial of the Russian/Chinese world order as we are critical of the American rule today.
There is a big difference. Its an ideological difference. The US has the “frontier” ,manifest destiny,exceptionalism,there can be only one,ideology. Russia and China throughout history (even in the times when they were great ) didn’t have that. And I don’t expect they would today. Besides,the US ,isn’t going anywhere.In a multi-polar World the US would still be one of the great powers of the World. She just wouldn’t be “the” great power in the World. Her size,population,economy,military,resources,would still make her a World leader. She would just have to not try and dominate other states.For the American “people”,not being the World’s bully,would be a good thing.Its the elite and neo-cons with their “rule the World” ideology that would suffer.
I doubt it – China has committed 50 trillion towards free energy by 2050 – Russia has committed to becoming the ‘organic’ food capital of the world by 2020 !
The world population doubles every 45 years – 2060 will see 14 billion people on this planet !
We need to change direction and prosper OR keep on doing what we are doing and PERISH !
The hubris of a failed/fake empire.
The irony is that 20 years hence America will resemble the Soviet Union of 20 years past.
A
“The irony is that 20 years hence America will resemble the Soviet Union of 20 years past.”
No, it will still resemble nazi germany of 80 years past. Expecting pindos to grow up, discard their many generations of indoctrination and at the same time throw off their debilitating subservience to Israel in just 20 years a pipe dream. Just the thought of going cold turkey regarding their tv would send 95% of them into sweaty convulsions.
The popularity of Israel has been dropping over the last decade or so.
The reason Israel is powerful in the US is because politicians believe that if the pro-Israel PAC money opposes them, then they lose. That’s probably still true, but its getting closer.
On the left, you see more and more politicians who show less love to Israel. A sea change could occur within the next 20 years. And Trump wasn’t very pro-Israel early in the campaign before he decided he needed Sheldon Aldelson’s money. Yes, they pulled him into line. But its interesting that you do now see successful campaigns that don’t always toe the line on Israel. The banker-center is still strongly pro-Israel, but you see cracks on both flanks.
On the idiot-nets, there’s always crazy talk about how the US is a colony of Israel. But that power comes from the pac-money and votes that US politicians. US politicians have believed, rightfully, that being opposed by the pro-Israel forces is the kiss-of-death in an election. But, if that changes, it can change quickly. If a couple of up-starts win elections while being opposed to the pro-Israel money, then politiicans will quickly learn from that and adjust. And the spell can be broken in just one or two elections.
I suspect you’d find that younger voters are less and less pro-Israel as time goes by. And Netanyahooooo does Israel no good in the long run.
Bamma boy again, and the Obama II clone probably cant help it.
We can conclude that USA as a spoiled child only knows destruction of creation. I am looking forward to see the first fist in their stupid grinning face.
Profound research and analysis. Disturbing news. It seems that they are not going to stop until they ruin the world. Or until they get stopped.
Thanks.
I was relieved to discover that I am not affiliated and do not have investments with any of the listed.
R
Serial killers rarely just give up their beloved past-time. They get caught or die.
It will be entertaining to watch US of Arrogance ships try to forcibly enter the waters of the 4 listed nations. This is the most ridiculous bill in history, which is no small feat. Can you imagine being one of the sailors on the ship tasked with entering foreign waters against that country’s will? You want us to do what? It would be safer to try to survive jumping of the deck and swimming home. Time to ramp up Zircon anti-ship missile production.
Do not underestimate the capability of the US Congress to be ridiculous.
It seems they’ve raised the bar more than ever.
This bill and the majority of “American” Congressional legislation these days is likely drafted in Tel Aviv.
Or by AIPAC, an already common practise.
“/…/ the US lawmakers use a completely artificial and staged anger with the North Korean leader to attack trade and freedom of navigation of Russia, China, Iran and Syria.”
For all the über-ridiculous Pindo temper tantrums against all and sundry — indeed, they very much resemble the manners of a violent down-and-out drug addict — I wouldn’t label any of them as “artificial and staged anger”. Rather, they illustrate the correctness of the proverb ‘Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad with power’. And keep in mind here that this madness of unrestrained self-worship, narcissism, and perpetual rage and anger against everyone and everybody is a Pindo national trait. It’s not a matter of just the Pindo Elite — it’s the ethos of an entire nation built on racist genocide, slavery, and war. Fascism is the rallying call of militant parasites. Their fury is real and definitely warranted now as their privilege as parasites is seriously called into question.
Well now, what a small world! Thank you o Humor(ous) one for this little gem!: “the North Korean leader was recruited by the UK secret services”.Ah, perfidious Albion still at it; old Gog of Magog being at last dragged with “hooks in his jaws” to his final end. Almost all dictators, Communism, Nazism, ad infinitum, were hatched in England and The Land of the ‘Free’; all under the hidden hand of the Synagogue of Satan. The 33 degree Mason – whose statue stands in the District of Columbia (who was the goddess Columbia? She stands at the entrance to New York(shire)) – predicted around 1844 that, there would be three world wars and, he predicted who would fight those wars, before the protagonist’s names were even invented: Political Zionism, Nazism, the kings of the east (Islam in particular).
So now I know why Kim Jong Un’s brother had to be eliminated, after he had visited his father’s grave in Russia. My guess is, he knew the designs of his brother and, tipped the Russians off as to what was about to happen.
>As it is being presented, the H.R. 1466 Bill is an affront not only to common sense, but also to the fundamental norms of international law. For starters, if it becomes a law the Bill will allow the US military to inspect, search and seize any vessel or aircraft suspected in violation of the anti North Korea sanctions per their own discretion. It also gives the US military the authority to inspect the sea ports in Russia, Syria, Iran and China, implying that resisting will result in much broader sanctions against these four countries.
It reads exactly like in “The vampire of the continent” from Reventlow but it was wrote in 1916 over british policies.
Small point but I notice, for any supporters out there, that Tulsi Gabbard is one of the sponsors of this bill. There are many who consider Ms Gabbard another version of the failed Elizabeth Warren who finally showed her pro-Israel credentials during the last election cycle. Tulsi has inspired many who believe she is anti-Establishment and would certainly consider her for a run on the presidency.
Lesson to be learned: Those elected/appointed to top US Federal Offices are not good people. They have all been selected by TPTB either as proponents of Empire, or as controlled opposition to Empire. There is no more trust to be garnered in the halls of DC.
Yes; it’s a hard and sad lesson, but it does seem to be true. We can stop waiting for the Messiah of decency and rationality to come along, because no one like that could get through the filters.
Amazingly enough, our only hope is a “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” scenario, where a complete political novice with no links to any of the political establishment takes power. Of course it would need more than one “Mr Smith” – we’d need hundreds at least. Backed up by millions of supporters.
If you reaction is, “that’s impossible!” – so much the worse for us all.
Unfortunately, though, when the “wrong” candidate gets elected steps are taken to neutralize his/her ability to govern. Trump is a good example. Endless “investigations” by the approved political class on “trumped up” charges (no pun intended), vilification by the media, etc. The party of the candidate can also be attacked and threatened with defeat at the next election cycle.
Two other examples: the 2000 election where Bush was selected to win (or, perhaps Cheney in the White House was the real goal) and Gore nearly did; the Carter administration when Carter sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. Gore didn’t win but there were disturbing signs that trouble was brewing. For example, the near universal consensus in the media that Gore should step down, the busing in of thuggish “protestors” to stop the Florida recount, the immediate demands for electronic voting machines, etc.
Interesting about Gabbard. It seems that persons with particular independent credentials are singled out for special treatment. For example, Jill Stein and the recounts. In the media space, Matt Taibbi has seemed to have been given particular attention to ensure he does not stray from the established narrative on 9/11. It also interested me that John Pilger, who is highly respected, was used to produce the discredited interview with Assange before the last presidential election.
Tulsi is right about Syria, but a complete pro-Maidan fool when it comes to Ukraine and Russia.
This is the most insane thing yet. This will cause a war immediately, Russia and China better start communicating with Trump that this bill is totally insane.Russia should target a few ICBMs at Israel and say if general war breaks out Israel will go down with Russia.
Don’t you mean that Israel will go down with the US and Western Europe? I don’t reckon NATO has the capacity to defeat Russia in any confrontation within and around Russia, let alone a combined Russia and China.
Don’t you mean that Israel will go down with the US and Western Europe? I don’t reckon NATO has the capacity to defeat Russia in any confrontation within and around Russia, let alone a combined Russia and China.
“Russia should target a few ICBMs at Israel…”
I have no doubt that has been done years ago – probably decades.
Israel threatened to nuke the USSR in 1973 if US military aid was delayed, after the start of the Yom Kippur War. If you read the Wikileaks entry on the ‘Samson option’ you will see that one Jewish worthy, a Professor Perlmutter, declared in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece, proposed that Israel cause a ‘nuclear winter’ as fit punishment for centuries of oppression by a ‘Jew-hating world’ (that old Talmudic projection again). The reason for this omnicidal plan-that certain EU officials had dared to criticise Israel’s brutality in putting down the al-Aqsa Intifada.
The next 3.5 years are most crucial in human history. The main question is: are American ruling class mentally sane enough to accept the reality that USA can’t compete no longer? Can Americans finally admit they can’t always win and that America is not anything special, just one nation among others, another “mortal”?
No,they can’t. Only military defeat,and or economic collapse,can convince the US population that “the Emperor has no clothes”.Until then ,just as in nazi Germany, the regime will still be accepted.Nations brainwashed,don’t “wake up” unless forced to.
they are not winning anything – this country is quite poor overall. Here is San Francisco, or LA or anywhere else you can see more poor people with absolutely nothing at all than anywhere else. Nobody can afford to buy a place (and younger people think it’s normal to be a debt salve. They have no memory of better times – i.e. they live in a Dark Age).
the fact that we have a few people who have a lot of money does not mean that overall this is not a poor banana republic.
Americans are quite sad, lonely, superficial people who live in fear of many things – mostly of their government and their imaginary friends.
They grow up being trained to be submissive and slave-like: God is everything – you are nothing.
marketing takes over where religious brainwashing/child abuse stops.
I’ve lived in the US for more then a decade and every year I see more poverty, more stupidity and general sense of being lost and confused as well as destructive. There is nothing here for any other country to envy or to aspire to. Prosperity and fake happiness (actually mania) is all Hollywood propaganda and BS.
I actually feel sorry for Americans overall especially the younger ones – this is a trainwreck in slow motion. Nobody can learn anything useful from Americans – it’s a failed state. And it gives me no joy to say this.
It gets more and more ridiculous…
… but also more and more delusional.
And that is the good news,
I’m not going to get bothered about a “law”. We don’t use “laws” or logic or facts. We just keep getting more evil and more crazy until Putin blessedly stops us by taking out DC and NY. Soon, please.
This “law” is just a product made by the Congressmonsters for their paymasters, who like to see written approval of their insatiable blood fetish. It’s a war porn fanfic.
“The Bill dictates that the moment president Trump signs it into the law, the US grants itself the “right” to start seizure of Russia’s, Chinese, Iranian and Syria capital, properties, vessels and aircraft, civilian as well as military, on the territories under the direct jurisdiction of the US laws, if not all over the world”.
And what if Russia, China, Iran and Syria reciprocate in exactly the same ways? All US capital, properties, vessels and aircraft, civilian as well as military, in most of Asia could be seized.
If there was no North Korea USA would have had to invent one… they did !!!!
The entire Korean affair rests on the necessity or imperative of the sea-peoples to maintain choke-forward operating bases in the Earth Island (Asia-Europe-Africa (MacKinder Thesis)) and thus prevent the economic integration of the earth except by sea traffic – which is in turn under the control of the pirate, er “sea-peoples” Essentially the “sea-peoples” are the anglosaxon diaspora with their large forward operating base in a portion of north america..
Whether Kim is an intl-asset or not his functions would probably be indistinguishable either way.
The HR bill does seem to represent a particularly diabolical feature in a tapestry of ongoing events over a significant period…
Some may well conclude the obvious implications are… (Well, they are obvious!)
And then a few may recall comrade Lavrov’s recent mentioning that Russia accepts the doctrine of preemptive defense…
These two features loom rather large, don’t they?
I am myself reminded that Peter Lavel recently mentions re-watching “Dr. Strangelove”
merkwürdigliebe….huuummmm They got that right… bunch a psycos gunna “hair-lip everybody on Bear Creek” (if you remember the great Slim Pickins as “Kong”…)
Hope, they say, dies last. And we’re not dead.
Pax
Hey! Excellent and really superb job on the paper. Wonderful work!
@LZ99
…….imperative of the sea-peoples to maintain choke-forward operating bases in the Earth Island (Asia-Europe-Africa (MacKinder Thesis)) and thus prevent the economic integration of the earth except by sea traffic….
Correct. And what is deliciously ironic is that it was US-Australian joint “war-gaming” of blocking/choking the sea-lanes of the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca that became the catalyst for the Chinese to initiate the One Belt One Road project.
Plus the US navy inserting itself into the Persian Gulf, irritating Iran. Caused Iran to be a key partner of One Belt One Road.
Some may recall the inimitable Sterling Hayden as General Ripper. His character (and he himself if you read his biography for the war) knew and said a truism sometime ignored, to their peril – what’s that?
“Two can play that game, soldier”…
The 4th Reich sees the universe as static, while in fact actions cause reactions… Their delusions doom them, alas…all eras end…
Pax
From what I’ve seen there is “0” reporting on this in the MSM,certainly in the MSM in the US. So the US population basically knows nothing about the implications of this Bill. They will be totally shocked when foreign states are forced to sink US ships over it. They’ll be told it is “unprovoked” aggression from those states. But that is fine. As long as countries stand up to US aggression,it really won’t matter what Americans believe. It is way past time to worry about things like that. But if those countries do not resist the US on this (even if it means war) they will have lost what sovereignty they have,or ever hope to have in the World.They will be acknowledging that the US is the World’s ruler. And all other nations must obey the US’s dictate.
yes uncleB this is nothing less than a deleration of one world govt inforced by the US. It will be excepted or it wont.
Also talk wont mean anything, this requires nothing less than action. Forget the UN.
There is only one thing the west will understand.
I’m certain there will be a report on UKColumn News. It comes out at 1pm in Plymouth UK Monday to Friday and can be watched on YouTube or listened to via Soundcloud.
You should watch this as they report the amalgamation of UK forces with the EU and that there will not be a Brexit.
They also cover Establishment paedophilia, imprisonment without trial of whistleblowers in solitary confinement eg Melanie Shaw.
They cover UK government pressure on the police to stop investigations in to paedophilia in Westminster.
War criminals are exposed, privatisation of the National Health Service, etc etc.
All the news the British main stream media fails to publish.
http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Century-Yuri-Slezkine/dp/0691127603
Jewish Millennialism destroyed the USSR after taking Russia hostage and it will most probably destroy the USA in its turn.
It is remarkable what a disastrous track record Jewish control of USSR and USA has in the final analysis and the ease with which Americans recycle their taxes to politicians via Israel is bemusing
It would really be amusing to see how the empire zombies will be trying to implement inspections in Vladivostok and Dalian ports, airports and naval vessels referring to a newly generated US law. Or on the other hand. I’d rather not see it…
This reminds me of the scene in Blazing Saddles where the sheriff puts a gun to his own head to bluff the dumb racist town folk.
They’ve gone completely bonkers. They are itching for a nuclear war. Russia and China won’t oblige them but it doesn’t matter — these psychos will just go ahead and manufacture conditions that will make the confrontation inevitable and sooner rather than later.
While the rest of us are wondering why these psychopaths would even think of going down such a dangerous road, Paul Craig Roberts thinks he has the answer: these nutcases think think they can win a nuclear war without much damage.
“A reader asked why neoconservatives push toward nuclear war when there can be no winners. If all die, what is the point?
The answer is that the neoconservatives believe that the US can win at minimum and perhaps
zero damage.
Their insane plan is as follows: Washington will ring Russia and China with anti-ballistic missile bases in order to provide a shield against a retaliatory strike from Russia and China. Moreover, these US anti-ABM bases also can deploy nuclear attack missiles unknown to Russia and China, thus reducing the warning time to five minutes, leaving Washington’s victims little or no time in which to make a decision.
The neoconservatives think that Washington’s first strike will so badly damage the Russian and Chinese retaliatory capabilities that both governments will surrender rather than launch a response. The Russian and Chinese leaderships would conclude that their diminished forces leave little chance that many of their ICBMs will be able to get past Washington’s ABM shield, leaving the US largely intact. A feeble retaliation by Russia and China would simply invite a second wave US nuclear attack that would obliterate Russian and Chinese cities, killing millions and leaving both countries in ruins.
In short, the American warmongers are betting that the Russian and Chinese leaderships would submit rather than risk total destruction.”
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/05/05/sauron-rules-washington/
Roberts is supported by the Federation of American Scientists whose report (co-authored by Theodore Postol) states that recent improvements to US nuclear weapons make them three times more powerful.
An excerpt:
“This increase in capability is astonishing—boosting the overall killing power of existing US ballistic missile forces by a factor of roughly three—and it creates exactly what one would expect to see, if a nuclear-armed state were planning to have the capacity to fight and win a nuclear war by disarming enemies with a surprise first strike.”
http://thebulletin.org/how-us-nuclear-force-modernization-undermining-strategic-stability-burst-height-compensating-super10578
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”…
If the fool in the WH signs, chances are very good that we’ll be living like hobbits.
The US doesn’t have a serious defence against ICBMs. The only program they have is Ground-based Mid-course Defense (GMD) which was rushed into service in 2002, before testing was completed. It is intended to defend against Iranian and North Korean ICBMs that are not multi-warhead, and only in very small numbers. There are only 44 interceptor missiles in existence, 40 of them at Fort Greely, AK. None of the interceptors fielded are the latest version.
So Russian and Chinese ICBMs cannot be stopped by GMD and Mutually Assured Destruction is still the prevailing philosophy.
PCR doesn’t know what he is talking about.
There are a couple of things on that. One, do you have any links on that. And two,from what Putin and others have said it appears the US isn’t really trying to shoot the missiles down over the US. But to stop them from getting to the US first. By having the defenses in Poland and Romania. And now in Korea against China as well.
Here is a bit on the very troubled GMD project. The fundamantal problem seems to be that they can’t harden up the electronics controlling the actuator jets that do the final in course guidance so that they are able to withstand the vibrations they sustain. It seems that tests are always a ‘success’ according to the subsequent publicity. I read an article on it a couple of weeks ago but can’t find it. These give a bit of background.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/3979m-next-step-or-last-step-for-gmd-05229/
http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-missile-defense-failings/
The Aegis ashore systems have no real ability to stop any Russian ICBM salvo, they don’t have enough missiles. What they do do, coincidentally of course, is give deep into Russia radar coverage (giving triangular calibration capability to Aegis ships in the Baltic and Black Seas) and the ability within their Type-41 missile packs to hide sneak attack cruise missiles with or without nuke tips.
They don’t ahve enough ABM’s stationed in Romania, South Korea and on their Aegis warships to shoot down all the Russian and Chinese nukes.
A lot of Chinese & Russian nukes are on mobile launchers for a reason…..you just don’t know where they are hidden (e.g Chinese have built 5000 kn worth of tunnels into their mountain ranges all around China)
Then there’s the question of the Russian SLBM submarines carrying the most modern of all MIRV nukes going. The Chinese have a fair number of Subs too.
The first thing to get straight is that the sites in Poland and Romania are not for anti-ICBM work, they are for shorter range than that. It is true Putin objects, but it doesn’t harm the MAD effectiveness of the ICBMs, especially submarine-launched ones.
I started at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground-Based_Midcourse_Defense and branched out through the links in the footnotes. A USG report on a request for more information from the military has a lot of this information.
The entire program has been a complete mess because of being deployed too early, requiring retro-fits when tests prove successful, while also plowing ahead with development.
All ICBM intercepts occur above the atmosphere, about halfway in their trajectory, so nowhere near the target.
With missiles going from North Korea and Iran to California, they track over Alaska (roughly), so all the tests so far have been against non-ICBM missiles fired from Kodiak Island, AK towards west of California. These targets do not have the speed or height of real ICBMs. The last test was in 2014, and the next test was due in 2015, then delayed to 2016, then delayed to early 2017, then delayed to June 2017. It is due to have a new interceptor and a new booster, so is quite a ground-breaking test. Only after that is successful will the deployed interceptors be upgraded.
It’s true that missile defence systems most likely don’t work (see my reply to Uncle Bob 1 below), but the crazies are not interested in that. They reckon that with improved missile capabilities, the “super-fuze” device, they can knock out most of Russia’s and China’s missiles in the first strike, enough to make the Russians and Chinese think twice before striking back. A knockout with the first punch. The super-fuze increases he killing power of American missiles by a factor of three. So instead of using all their missiles to achieve a certain level of destruction, they only have to employ a third with two thirds to spare. They then use the two thirds to intimidate the Russians and Chinese, who now have almost none, save perhaps those on their submarines, into surrendering on pain of further destruction.
PCR says that’s what they’re banking on and he’s not alone in his assessment. Several rocket scientists say the same ( http://www.ucsusa.org ). The first strike to make Russia and China hold their hands up seeing that their missile arsenals have been very severely degraded while the Americans still have 70% of their missiles still not fired, and a retaliation would invite even greater, destruction.
In any case, these calculations are moot if the psychopaths decide to try their luck. War is unpredictable and there’s no way of knowing how Russia and China will respond. There could well be MAD, perhaps ‘weighted’ against the Russians and Chinese compared to the Americans, but for practical purposes, since we’re talking nuclear war, MAD just the same for the rest of the world.
Russian Strategic nukes are far more modern the Americans who are still using Minutemen III (from 1970’s) and SLBM Trident 2’s (1980’s)
It’s no coincidence that Obama stated back in 2015 ….that the U.S has to spend a $1 trillion over the next 2-3 decades to modernize it’s entire nuclear stockpile
Welcome to America’s New World Order.
Disguised behind the usual phony pretext issues (in this case North Korean WMDs), the Americans will try to violate the sovereignty of other nations and declare that they, as the Exceptional Nation, have a right to do whatever the hell they want.
That is the thinly disguised significance of this latest American diktat.
At base, the Americans are pathological in their desire to rule the world.
And like a rabid beast, America is going to have to be put down, and put down hard, sooner or later.
What the N. Korean “Crisis” Is Really About
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/05/03/n-korean-crisis-really/
Sauron Rules in Washington
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/05/05/sauron-rules-washington/
More Evidence that Washington Is Criminally Insanehttp://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/05/03/evidence-washington-criminally-insane/
Earlier Basil posted a couple of very important links to articles.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/05/05/sauron-rules-washington/
http://thebulletin.org/how-us-nuclear-force-modernization-undermining-strategic-stability-burst-height-compensating-super10578
The first one talks about how insane the thinking in the West is.And that the US believes with its nuclear defense they can make a first strike against Russia and China without those countries being able to strike back effectively.
The second also leads to some very interesting questions. That I’d like to have the answers to.
It says that unlike the US ,Russia has no space based radar early warning system. Which means the US has a 30 min. warning time for nuclear attack. But the Russia’s is only a 15 min. warning time. That would seem to me a priority to fix. It also says that a new US technology allows for their nuclear weapons to be increased in power enormously. Giving them the ability in a first strike to destroy all of Russia’s ICBM hardened land based silos’s before they could be fired. A couple of questions there would be,does Russia also have that technology to increase their nuclear weapons power (and if not why not). And second what is being done to correct the silo problem.
We are quickly entering a period of “push comes to shove”. And the issues in those two articles need to be addressed seriously by Russia and China. In that type of a situation there is no “catch up” or “second chance”. You have it right or you are done.
Bob,
Ditto your call for somebody who’s clued up on nuclear weapons to clarify things for us.
Russia developed a satellite-based early warning system called ‘Prognoz’ but has not developed it further probably due to lack of critical technologies. The Russians do know about this new development of the fuzes and have developed a new ‘deterrent’ in the form of nuclear-tipped underwater drones that could hit coastal areas making them unusable and unlivable, in effect repaying pain in kind.
Since the hoo-haa over THAAD in Korea, I’ve been looking up things like missile defence systems to see if THAAD is really what it’s made out to be, ie able to defend SK against NK missiles. I stumbled across a very interesting report titled ‘Countermeasures’ put up by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Security Studies Program at MIT. It’s a bit dated (written in 2000) but fairly comprehensive (200 pages) laying out how offensive missiles could be modified (‘countermeasures’) to defeat defensive systems like THAAD, S-300 and others. Countermeasures include decoys, camouflaged warheads, submunitions (mainly biological and chemical), MIRVs, etc. If I understand it correctly, the bottom line is, the attacker equipped with countermeasures wins. At the moment both US and Russia have developed countermeasures. I just hope the Russians are also working on their fuzes and, if they’re successful, to announce in quickly.
But there’s an even more interesting observation (for a layman like me, at any rate) that the authors made. This has to do with their assessment of nuclear threats to the US. They rate the threats as follows:
(1) An Accidental, Unauthorized, or Erroneous Launch by Russia.
(2) An Accidental, Unauthorized, Erroneous, or Deliberate Attack by China.
(3) The Threat from Emerging Missile Powers.
http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/documents/nwgs/cm_all.pdf
This fits into the very dangerous situation that we’re in now. Both Russian and American nuclear forces are at high, hair trigger alert. They’re in a fog as far as communications with each other are concerned and trust levels are extremely low thanks to the neocons. The Russians know about American improvements in targeting and thus killing power. They only have 15 mins to decide if the blip on the radar is a false alarm (apparently happened in 1995 when the Russians mistook a sounding rocket for a Trident -launched missile) or a Minuteman III. If after 15 mins they’ve still not got confirmation to say that it’s a false alarm, we’ll get item (1) above. And counter-strikes.
I never thought there’ll come a day when I’ll feel nostalgic for the MAD doctrine. Like my tai chi sifu says, we live in interesting times. Cheers.
Not sure what the limit for links is here at the Vineyard but here are a few that may be useful:
— Close calls with nuclear weapons from UCS (PDF):
http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/04/Close%20Calls%20with%20Nuclear%20Weapons.pdf
— Page with links to scientists’ views on nuclear strategies including MAD:
http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/cold-war/strategy/strategy-mutual-assured-destruction.htm
— Some Establishment thoughts on MAD:
http://foreignpolicy.com/2009/11/09/the-dustbin-of-history-mutual-assured-destruction/
— FAS page on all things nuclear:
https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/
When the US carrier and support ships were originally announced to be heading for the NK peninsula (but actually weren’t yet), there were a lot of drills including the night time movement of Russian military units including air defense missiles from the Vladivostok bases all the way up to the Kamchuka peninsula. My Russian wife told me about this port thing weeks ago and this is the first I’ve seen of it in western media.
The Chinese came to the same conclusion that North Korea has been compromised:
‘Shen Zhihua: North Korea Has Changed from an Ally to China’s Potential Enemy’
http://chinascope.org/archives/11898
Actually, I found a quick scan of those contributor lists to be rather interesting.
What I expected to see was that these were all heavy recipients of the “Defense” industry. That seemed to be a more likely link than “pro-Israel”. But, I was surprised not to find that. Yes, its there on some of them, but not as prominent as I expected.
I generally expect to find a lot of “defense” money behind any the MC that are backing all these pro-war moves.
A quick scan of this list showed much more banking connections than defense connections. The FIRE sector seems prominent on this list (Finance-Insurance-Real Estate).
One reminder though is that these lists have become much less useful during my lifetime. They’ve “legalized” so much loose money to politicians and gotten rid of most of the post-Watergate reforms that used to at least provide some reporting of where the money comes from. These days the BIG money is likely in various organiazations that spend lots of money on TV ads during the elections.
Notice that while a competitive Congress race usually costs in the millions, these numbers don’t seem that high. Most of the “political” ads on TV during an election are not paid for by the candidate. And of course, most of these MC run almost un-opposed in gerry-mandered districts that almost guarantee wins unless the candidate is caught in bed with a pre-teen.
I did not find anywhere that this was co-sponsered by Gabbard
I was really surprised when I heard this story a few ays ago (and total silence of course in the western MSM).
Blocking the ports of another nation is a ‘casus belli’. Do Americans have an idea yet how to ‘enforce’ this? My guess is that the first US Navy ship entering Russian territorial waters will have its electronics fried with EW, like the Russians did with the Donald Cook in the Black Sea. Good luck wiith that. My guess is also, that the Iranian and Chinese Navies will also not allow this. Eventually the first US Navy ship will simply be sunk. To have an idea what that looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwn7l3cZzZM
That is not a good story to sell in the USA.
Let’s remember that mutiny broke out in the US Navy in 2013, when the Russian and US Navies were opposed to each other in the East Meditteranean (Obama wanted to ‘send a signal to Assad’, normal people use mail and phones for that).
All the comments here are trying to figure out consequences of this “rule” to be imposed to the herd by the psychopathy, ill meaning and potential acting of those in power in the empire.
The empire is using this fake reason — a small, miserable, poor and barely surviving country is the enemy, the potential destroyer of the empire by owning some small matches to set a fire — but all this is lies,lies,madness and mainly cunning!
Why nobody turns he table on the liers, in a machiavelic way – deal with them with the same rules/acting/realities/lies — get/force the damn small country with his idiotic fool in chief to surrender the handful of bombs, true or fake, he has to Russia and China in exchange for any betterment of his country economy, visas for tourists/workers/education…anything that brings the small country to a better level and leave the fool where he is till he is irrelevant. .
Thus the supposed “rule” that is specific to NK relationships with others, falls and the empire cannot act on it as an act of war!
I might be a fool besides being a nobody but all this war talk is so depressing and wasteful for all humanity!
The US Gov’t went insane a LONG time before “the end of April 2017,” .
Second, Congress is the same bunch of nitwits who think that passing a law (i.e., writing some words on a paper) will change something. You know–like how everybody now drives 55 on US highways because Congress passed a law requiring it. It’s a form of magic.
I do not blame us or west.
The way Russia has shown herself to be full of clay feet and betraying her allies like Syria and North Korea so easily the anglosaxon enemies of russia got emboldened and push the envelope so much that in the middle of 3rd world war the stupid Russia is still asleep and betraying her allies.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse……
But why is RT not reporting this?
And why no joint condemnation by Russia and China?
Spanish Empire lived so long in Latin America because they had there over 200 000 common laws, regulations and directives. Nobody cared of them. That made Empire unite.
Now thinking about EU sanctions we see similar things. Russian trade with Germany increased 36% in Jan-Feb. With Finland growth was over 60%. This is alao a story about politicians and media folks living far from reality.
oin the dots:
Russia has just begun construction of a new gas pipeline to Europe, that will land in Turkey.
The US arms Turkey´s nemesis, the Kurds.
Turkey resurrects the issue of IDF murder of Palestinians and their supporters, and the Turkish ambassador is called to answer to the Israeli government.
Erdogan is called to meet Trump in Washington.
Lavrov is called to meet Trump in Washington.
The US announces naval war games with Colombia, Peru and Brasil (all nice folks) off the coast of Venezuela, which is heavily in debt to Russia via the state oil company, who also own strategic oil infrastructure in the US.
I’m really disappointed in the malicious fake news that this “article” represents. The bill is flagrantly misrepresented. While virtually every single section and “main point” in the article is a total fraud, I will focus on just one:
The bill does nothing of the sort. As the section in question (Section 104 of the Bill, which amends Section 205 of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 to require a report “identifying the operators of foreign sea ports and airports that knowingly” violate UN Security Council resolutions. (Removed for violation of blog rules.MOD)
[sic].
CalDre,
I provided the links to the bill.
if you ever read the bill STAND for Ukraine Act H.R. 5094 from May 2016, you would know that it was all about the outlining the Cold War strategy with Russia, rather than delivering any help to this miserable, fascists run country.
And, btw, the Russian officials see this Bil the way I interpret it. The links to the Russian officials’ statements are also provided above.
You might consider that it’s you who lack the understanding of the US government legal language.
I’ve read the bill, and I’m a (very good) lawyer, not that that’s relevant as the language is entirely clear. It’s about providing a report on violations of the UNSC sanctions regime, has nothing whatsoever to do with sending US navy ships into Russian ports or “declaring war”, all of which is patently absurd. Or why don’t you quote the section that authorizes such behavior? The language you quoted clearly and unambiguously refers to a compliance report, which is very common in congressional bills. There is no ambiguity. There is no basis whatsoever for what you wrote.
I know about the RT article at https://www.rt.com/politics/387256-declaration-of-war-senator-blasts/ and read it with incredulity. I assumed they had gotten a bad translation as the bill most obviously does not do what they claim. Either that or you have gotten yourselves the equivalent of neo-cons in your parliament, which would truly be a shame (even though even neo-cons do not so flagrantly misrepresent a document that anybody with a brain can read for themselves and see the misrepresentation, thus undermining the credibility of the speaker).
I remember Ronald Reagan sign directive 133 regarding Yugoslavia.IMF ,USA Aid NED was employed heavily.I can recommend you and others film:The Weight of Chains | Težina lanaca (2010) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waEYQ46gH08
CalDre,
You wrote: ” It’s about providing a report on violations of the UNSC sanctions regime”
Why don’t you mention that the H.R. 1466 banns employment of the North Korean nationals?
Russia is a hosting country for the largest North Korean community in the world, and Russia has a state program issuing 20,000 work visas annually for the North Korean nationals. People live, work, and study in Russia without denouncing their North Korean citizenship. According to this Bill, the US government illegal ban on their labor on the territory of Russia would create grounds for more American illegal economic sanctions against Russia under a false pretense of a “failure to comply with the UN resolution.”
This so called “law,” if adopted, would create a legal echo chamber, similar to the Western media “echo chambers,” with each new “law” being “authorized” by this Bill.
We are not even discussing here the secret policy riders tucked into this Bill.
Without even going into an issue of national ports monitoring by a foreign government, which has been an act of war since the Vikings and Queen Elizabeth’s pirates, please show us the UN SC resolution that authorizes the US government and its military and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities to act on the behalf of the Security Council members in enforcing its North Korean resolution?
If you cannot come up with such authorization, then everything that is being considered in the H.R. 1466 Bill is illegal.
“Why don’t you mention that the H.R. 1466 banns employment of the North Korean nationals”
Because it doesn’t. What it tries to address is North Korean nationals who are “indentured servants” – i.e., whose wages are paid to the N. Korean government instead of the workers. This is to enforce the UNSC prohibition both against human trafficking and against funding the N. Korean regime. Moreover, it doesn’t ban the employment of N. Korean nationals, but bans the import of goods produced by forced labor or indentured servants (and permits sanctions against those who participate).
“illegal ban on their labor on the territory of Russia“. If Russia does not employ them as indentured servants there should be nothing to worry about.
“the secret policy riders tucked into this Bill“. And what are those? And how do you know about them if they are secret (AFAIK Congressional laws are not “secret”).
“national ports monitoring by a foreign government, which has been an act of war since the Vikings and Queen Elizabeth’s pirates“. Are you kidding me? Everyone monitors each others’ ports, both military and commercial. I’ve never heard spying and intelligence gathering being “an act of war”, can you provide substantiation to this claim? Such as: a principle of international law banning intelligence gathering on ports and describing it as an “act of war” (which would justify military measures under the UN charter and other principles of international law)?
“show us the UN SC resolution that authorizes the US government and its military and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities to act on the behalf of the Security Council members in enforcing its North Korean resolution“. I’m not a fan of N. Korean sanctions but, let’s be clear, Russia did approve them in the UNSC. And while I don’t have time to read all of the N. Korean resolutions, I would point to Paragraphs 38, 40 of UNSC Resolution 2321 and Paragraphs 11, 14, and 26 (which includes reporting non-compliance by other member states) of UNSC Resolution 2094.
“If you cannot come up with such authorization, then everything that is being considered in the H.R. 1466 Bill is illegal.” Untrue, there is no principle of international law which generally prohibits a country from imposing sanctions against another country. It’s an aspect of sovereignty, just like Russia can choose to trade with Ukraine or not trade with Ukraine. Moreover, in this case, the sanctions would be specifically targeted at enforcing a UN Securities Council resolution, which, of course, has the force of international law.
As a general matter, I do not agree with US sanctions regimes, US empire or US war-mongering. However, those issues are separate ones from the claims you are making in this post.
Silly me ?? I thought that King Canute has passed away long, long time ago ?? Didn’t know that he sit in US Congress ?