Excellent pre-show outline of the world’s zeitgeist
I was guest yesterday on the show, “Blowback: Experiencing Imperial Decline”, with fellow China Writers’ Group member Billy Bob as the host (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003511545399). I’ve been a guest many times and have never had pre-show notes sent to me like the ones below. What an excellent outline for the world’s zeitgeist. This was created by his co-host Ben Toth, in Hungary, who also participated, as well as Leo Zhao in Germany.
Bravo!
A: WEST ASIA – THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT
“The US is holding us back from Biblical vengeance. I call for firebombing of Gaza like Dresden” – Moshe Feiglin
“We are the people of the light, they are the people of darkness. We shall fulfill the prophecy of Isiah” – Netanyahu
“If the international media are objective, it serves Hamas. If they show both sides, they serve Hamas” – Yael Lapid
“Israel is never held accountable and the world walks away” – King Abdullah
“By sending an aircraft carrier instead of a relief ship, they showed what kind of lobby they serve” – Erdogan
“This is not a war. This is genocide” – Lula
DIPLOMATIC WAR
– US: Biden threatens Iran, Blinken threatens Iran, Austin threatens Iran.. ( statements )
– US: Republican ( Rick Scott ) floats kicking Ally ( Türkiye ) out of NATO ( Newsweek )
– UN: More Palestinians killed since 10-7 than in past 20 years combined ( OCHA )
– UN: US draft resolution fails, does not call for ceasefire or safe passage of relief ( UN )
– UN: Israel demands UN chief resign after he says Hamas attacks ‘did not occur in vacuum’ ( Times of Israel )
– UN: Israel denies visas to UN officials after Guterres speech ( Al Jazeera )
– UN: Israel ‘deeply disappointed’ over lack of China condemnations of Hamas attack ( reuters )
– UN: Israel unhappy with Russian stance on Gaza war – should be more “balanced” ( RT )
– UN: Iran‘s FM Abdollahian directly warns US – will not be spared from the fire if genocide continues ( video )
– Türkiye: Erdogan gives fiery speech, does not condemn Hamas ( video )
– Türkiye: Nation suspends all energy deals with Israel ( Andalou )
– Türkiye: Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar cancels his visit to Tel Aviv ( TR MFA )
– China: Premier Li Qiang declares support for Iran against external forces of interference ( Xinhua )
– Russia: Hamas’ and Iran’s delegations meet in Moscow, details unknown ( MFA photos )
– Libya expels American, British, French and Italian Ambassadors ( Libya update )
– Qatar: delivers death sentence to 8 Indian navy officials for espionage activities on behalf of Israel ( Al Jazeera )
PHYSICAL WAR
– Gaza: 7,028 people killed ( 2913 children ), 12,000 tonnes of bombs dropped, outweighting Hiroshima ( PHA )
– US: Bombs Northeast Syria “linked to Iran“ in “self Defense” of military presence ( Biden, Austin )
– US: Moves the largest NATO navy in history to the Mediterranean, supplies, weapons systems to region ( Mil )
– US: 900 troops deploying to Centcom area – not Israel ( DOD video update )
– Israel: Netanyahu refused to sign an order for a ground operation in Gaza – fear of losing trust if it fails ( NYT )
– Israel: Airstrstike hits Taba and Nuweiba, Egypt information is being collected ( reuters )
– Israel: Will flood Hamas tunnels with nerve gas under US Navy supervision ( AP )
– Israel: Agrees to Delay Gaza Invasion so US can rush Defenses to Region ( WSJ )
– Australia: Sends troops to Middle East as crisis escalates in ‘volatile situation’ ( Daily Mail )
– Iran: Announces large-scale military exercises next week ( PressTV )
– Qatar: 44th Chinese naval escort taskforce arrives in Doha for 5 day good-will visit ( GT )
PROPAGANDA WAR
– US: Israeli airstrikes will save lives ( Isr and Pal ) when invasion begins ( NYT main story! )
– US: Biden says he has “no confidence” in Palestinian death count ( reuters )
– US: Why middle East peace requires turning off Iran’s oil and increasing Saudi’s ( Time )
– US: Senate unanimous resolution: condemn Palestine protests, full and complete support for Israel ( document )
– US: Blinken asked Qatar to “tone down” Al Jazeera coverage of Palestinians in Gaza ( Axios )
– US: Putin is getting what he wants – guest essay by Hanna Notte ( NYT )
– US : White house is losing the messaging war on Ukraine, changing message to jobs ( Politico )
– US: A close look at evidence in Gaza Hospital Blast casts doubt on Israeli narrative ( NYT )
– Israel: 10-6 Dead : 60% identified as military or police ( Haaretz )
– Israel: Freed Israeli hostage’s remarks seen by Govt. as damaging to Interests ( Haaretz )
– Israel: Blasts “antisemitic” Amnesty over finding war crimes by all parties ( Politico )
Appendix: Hamas officially recognized as a terrorist organization ( not by Egypt, which recognizes some officials ):
– Australia
– Canada
– European Union
– Israel
– Japan
– Paraguay
– United Kingdom
– United States
Appendix: Useful clips
– Kirby: Gaza Ministry of Health is front for Hamas : https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1717604496530890934
– UN : reaction to Palestinian and Israeli speeches : https://twitter.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1717783965573034225
– Erdogan : O Israel, you’re not going anywhere : https://twitter.com/upholdreality/status/1717482266429985136
– Ione Belarra : cut ties, impose sanctions, prosecute : https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1717194723545186397
B: WESTERN POWER EVAPORATES GLOBALLY
“Russian attack on Ukraine, Hamas attack on Israel are directly related, because Putin‘s birthday is October 7. This is not a coincidence.” – Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Bundestag Deputy
“The challenge is that when we increase demand, we want more supply, not higher prices”– Stoltenberg, economist!
“Hungary is becoming a problem for the European Union, which must be solved” – Kaja Kallas
WEST
– US: Republicans propose splitting Israel and Ukraine aid – $106B proposal dead on arrival ( WSJ )
– EU: To counter China‘s Belt and Road, EU asks Chinese State-run enterprises for help ( SCMP )
– EU: Slovakia announces halt of military aid to Ukraine ( Euractiv )
– EU: Slovakia and Hungary threaten to break EU unity on Ukraine military aid ( FT )
– EU: Hungarian parliament rejects proposal to hold vote on Sweden‘s NATO bid ( AP )
– EU: To introduce “Democracy passports” for Russian opposition working towards regime change ( Euronews )
– EU: Moldova gets €72.5m assistance package, a day after blocking 22 Russian TV channels ( EC )
– Ukraine: Elensky losing support in Ukraine – US-backed ( USAID ) survey ( RT )
– Ukraine: Trust in government increases after full-scale invasion – Poll ( Kyiv Ind )
– Ukraine: will run out of ammunition in 2024 ( Le Monde )
– Kazakhstan : US ambassador opened NATO peacekeeping operations center in Astana ( TASS )
– Australia: And US announce infrastructure plan for Pacific Island Nations ( SCMP )
– Australia: Bans screwdrivers, nuclear reactor exports to Russia ( Canberra Times )
EAST
– China: will skip Malta “Peace Formula” meeting as Elensky blueprint struggles ( Bloomberg )
– China: YTMC makes world’s most advanced 3D NAND memory chip in “surprise tech leap” ( SCMP )
– China: Is beating the US in the race for the Seabed’s Riches – lithium, manganese, copper etc. ( Bloomberg )
– China: Tiangong space station to double in size while ISS retires in 2030 ( Universetoday )
– China: ‘Questions arise’ as China constructs thousands of schools in Iraq ( VOA )
– China: And Colombia elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership ( CN FMA )
– Russia: EU is planning Nazi-Germany-inspored documents for Russians – Zakharova ( TASS )
– Russia: How baseless claim about Putin’s health ( death ) spread from unreliable Telegram to TV news ( AP )
– Russia: Alternative – Dorby Cola – overtakes historic Coca-Cola sales ( RT )
– Russia: Lavrov arrives in Belarus to participate in Eurasian Security Conference ( Ru MFA )
– Africa : ECOWAS invasion of Niger quietly dismantled, despite Tinubu push ( RFL, France )
– Africa : Burkina Faso nationalizes sugarcane sector from French companies ( AN )