Oct 172018
 
 October 17, 2018  Posted by at 1:51 pm Finance Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


René Magritte Pandora’s box 1951

 

They can’t help themselves even as they hurt themselves. Look guys, chill! I saw someone imply on Twitter that Donald Trump is an accomplice in a murder cover-up. This person knows as well as all the ones who liked the tweet that they all just don’t know. They don’t know exactly what Trump knows about the chilling Khashoggi execution.

Just like they don’t know exactly what happened in the consulate. Information from anonymous Turkish sources is dripping through drop by drop, and it looks terrible -and terribly graphic-, but the conclusion that Trump wants to cover up a murder is multiple tokes over the line.

The Saudi attempt at labeling the execution a kidnapping gone wrong is out the window if only a tenth of the Turkish sources’ claims is true. What emerges is a picture of premeditated torture and murder. And one that was ordered by someone in the royal family. Which can really only be one of two people: the King or his son, MbS, and the latter seems more suspect. But what any of it has to do with Trump remains to be seen,

He’s not liking the whole thing one bit, that’s for sure. If only because whatever America does vis a vis the Saudi’s is now ultimately his call. While the strong link between the two countries was established decades ago, and would be very hard to untangle, if it comes to that. See, I can write Ban Saudi Oil, as I did last week, but I also realize how extensive the consequences for the US economy would be if such a thing were considered.

Not a decision you take lightly. Trump for instance knows full well what would happen to his standing and popularity if gas prices were to double or triple overnight. Is that a reason to let the Saudi’s get away with murder? No, but it is a reason to be circumspect, and to demand solid evidence. Doing that doesn’t make anyone an accomplice to a murder cover-up.

Moreover, the dependence on Saudi oil and the petrodollar arrangement is just one facet of what has driven US Middle East policy since WWII -and arguably before-, shaped by governments from both parties in Washington, and driven by very powerful intelligence agencies -both American and foreign- as well as the military-industrial complex.

You can’t blame that all on one man. Not Khashoggi, nor the ‘war’ in Yemen, or any of the bloodshed that has occurred before he became president. And you can’t expect him to end it all on a rainy afternoon either. If he would be inclined to do so. Since no president before him has been, you’d only be criticizing him for continuing established policy.

Every US president for many years has been an accomplice to murder, not just a cover-up, in Saudi Arabia, where women and gays and everyone else the House of Saud didn’t like end up without their heads attached to their torso. It’s how we get cheap oil, how we have built our societies and communities into what they are at present. Good design? Hell no. But it is what it is.

 

Still, allegations like the murder cover-up one keep coming. The reason is, as I’ve written many times now, that it makes the media money. Being anti-Trump sells. It has given us the Russiagate narrative, the Mueller investigation and tons of other stories that don’t go anywhere. Because it doesn’t matter if they are true, what counts is that they sell newspapers and TV commercials.

And there are some in the media, and certainly many in the anti-Trump echochamber, who still dream of impeaching him. But, as I said before, that doesn’t include the owners of papers and TV channels. They’ve never had a single person bring in sales like this, and it has saved many of their assets. All they need to do is twist everything that happens into something Trump can be blamed for.

That the Democratic Party is the main victim of this doesn’t seem to occur to anyone, really. Or maybe only Trump himself. Three weeks before the midterms, his detractors handed him another two main victories, free of charge. And one can’t help thinking: don’t you guys see what you’re doing?

A lawsuit filed by Michael Avenatti on behalf of Stormy Daniels, about a Trump tweet no less, was thrown out by a judge. The Senate a few weeks back refused to even talk to Avenatti’s other client, Julie Swetnick, in the Kavanaugh hearings, who had come up with a story about coordinated gang rape.

Avenatti has proven incredibly toxic to the Democrats, and they don’t appear to realize it. But he’s nothing compared to Elizabeth Warren, who all but folded her political career this week, after media -reluctantly- reported that the DNA test she wanted Trump to pay a million bucks over, showed she’s less Cherokee than 90-odd percent of white Americans. Liz, why, how, what were you thinking?

 

Guys, chill! You have elections coming up. Don’t hand it to the guy on a platter, let him at least exert some effort. The Democrats apparently still think they’re going to win the elections, that their echochamber tactics will turn people against Trump. In reality, they’re only talking, shouting, to themselves, and to people who already see things the same way they do anyway.

How many Democrats have you seen declaring that the US should stop selling weapons to the Saudi’s, should tell them to stop starving millions of Yemeni children, should cut off all communication until the truth about Khashoggi is revealed? Me neither. Their identity is no different from Trump, other than on minor issues, the only identity they have is they’re against him. And that’s the same as having none.

While there are so many issues that people should really go after Trump for, all that we see are fake narratives about Russian collusion, which, as I’ve explained, we now know are false because Mueller hasn’t reported anything, and if he had any proof he would have to reveal it because he couldn’t sit on evidence about a president colluding with a foreign power for even one day.

Which is perhaps why, though the timing is strange with the midterms in less than three weeks, two of the strongest anti-Trump media, the Washington Post and the BBC, came out with pieces in the past 24 hours that hesitantly say a few positive things about Trump, albeit clad in inevitable smears and accusations.

The WaPo:

 

Trump Could Be The Most Honest President In Modern US History

Donald Trump may be remembered as the most honest president in modern American history. Don’t get me wrong, Trump lies all the time. He said that he “enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history” (actually they are the eighth largest) and that “our economy is the strongest it’s ever been in the history of our country” (which may one day be true, but not yet).

In part, it’s a New York thing – everything is the biggest and the best. But when it comes to the real barometer of presidential truthfulness – keeping his promises – Trump is a paragon of honesty. For better or worse, since taking office Trump has done exactly what he promised he would do.

 

And the BBC:

 

Is This The Most Successful Month Of The Trump Presidency?

These days there seems to be even more of a swagger as Donald Trump strides across the South Lawn to board his green-liveried helicopter, Marine One. Those campaign-style rallies, which have become such a marked feature of his presidency, have even more of a celebratory charge. The president seems more willing to answer reporters’ questions, partly because there is a better story to tell.

Last week he also sat for the first 60 Minutes interview of his presidency, which aired on Sunday night. The veteran CBS presenter Lesley Stahl, who conducted this cross-examination, was struck by his self-assurance. “Right now,” she said afterwards, “he’s so much more confident. He is truly president. And you felt it. I felt it in this interview.”

 

If you didn’t know better, you’d think they’re trying to boost the guy ahead of the elections. Me, I’m wondering why such media don’t harp every single day on the ongoing issue of family separation. And keep at it till every American -and Brit- talks about it. Instead, their biggest story this week has been that Pocahontas was of 1/1024th Native American descent. Or something in that vein.

As for Khashoggi, that story appears to have taken on a life of its own, drip-fed by Erdogan at first, but it seems to have reached a point where even if Erdogan gets what he wanted and cuts the drip, it won’t stop. It’s been a weird dynamic, how one man’s fate is more important than that of millions of others.

Where did that come from? Someone powerful seeing an opportunity to get rid of MbS? Still find it hard to gauge. It doesn’t look as if MbS can be maintained in his position by his father. Too much bad publicity, too much at risk financially. And it would be convenient if Trump and King Salman would agree to push him aside, put all the blame on him, and see if that satisfies the media and public.

But the King may still try and go for broke. And his son may also have usurped too much power for the dad to order him gone. But that would mean a major headache for Trump. How about if either the king or the prince decide to gamble and threaten to end the petrodollar? What would the echochamber suggest Trump does then?

 

 

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  • #43396

    René Magritte Pandora’s box 1951   They can’t help themselves even as they hurt themselves. Look guys, chill! I saw someone imply on Twitter that
    [See the full post at: Chill!]

    #43398
    zerosum
    Participant

    Humans are predators!

    “…. the US should stop selling weapons to the Saudi’s, should tell them to stop starving millions of Yemeni children, ….”

    “Every US president for many years has been an accomplice to murder, …. It’s how we get cheap oil, how we have built our societies and communities into what they are at present. Good design? Hell no.
    But it is what it is.”

    #43399
    zerosum
    Participant

    Canadians can chill out
    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-17/pot-stocks-slide-canada-debuts-legal-weed-sales

    “… most government and private estimates range between C$3.5 billion and C$5.5 billion a year. (Last year estimate consumption)
    For comparison, the latest annual tally of spending on beer was C$9.1 billion….”

    Is that $5.5 Billion coming out of the grocery/food budget?

    #43401
    VietnamVet
    Participant

    Western oligarchy can be divided into two mob gangs fighting over world turf; Nationalists verses Globalists. Donald Trump, former casino boss, on one side. Lindsey Graham, flakey single 63 year old bought politician on the other. This century’s amorality has turned into bloody immorality. The Saudi consulate murder is being pushed by the Turkey Qatar alliance to stress their rival Saudi Arabia. The media moguls are publishing it to protect their operatives. Globalist Oligarchs are outraged that fellow Davos Oil Sheiks were shaken down by MbS to fill Saudi state coffers. It could happen to them. The 100 billion dollar Saudi military contracts have not been signed. Saudis are in negotiations to buy Russian armament. The Deep State wants MbS gone. Only Donald Trump and Jared Kushner support him.

    There will never be a purposeful boycott of Saudi Oil. This can only be done by a competent government willing to ration to overcome spot shortages. Both American political parties are only in it for the money, not what is best for Americans.

    #43402
    V. Arnold
    Participant

    Wonderful Magritte; Pandora’s box.
    Do click the painting for a nice history and interpretation.

    I’ve little doubt this is just one more crime destined for the bin; Not Prosecuted

    #43416
    Dr. D
    Participant

    I’m so dumb sometimes. Of COURSE the media, that didn’t care about a million in Yemen, don’t care about Skripal or Assange too, don’t care about Kashoggi either.

    First, who’s Kashoggi? Yes, a reporter, one who interviewed Bin Laden, and recently of the inside-connected CIA-friendly WaPo. But also nephew of an infamous arms dealer, an inside Saudi, and pretty-well substantiated a carrier for the Muslim Brotherhood. He ran Saudi & co. missions in Afghanistan, Africa, and elsewhere. In other words…not really a reporter. Or at least not primarily. So?

    Second, so Saudi had him killed, in a string of 4 or 5 anti-Saudi reporters this year, mostly tracking dirty European payoffs back to the Princes. Those weren’t exactly secret, they were sending a message, but look at what is reported now: 15 international mercenaries, Saudi security team, openly fly together on commercial, land in the Turkey airport, are seen on camera together, and go to the Embassy. Their target is Kashoggi, who has been everywhere, has an address, and is easy to find and simple to kill in the dangerous streets of Istanbul. Instead, they walk into the Embassy on camera, and wait for Kashoggi to arrive on camera, as every embassy can be certain the host country absolutely WILL have 360 surveillance pointed at it 24/7.

    Despite being a security hazard and a professional security team, they have him bugged, reportedly with an Apple watch, which cheerfully reports the violent murder home to Turkey. Having done this egregious act, they then send in a cleaning crew on camera, with mops and buckets, as if there are no cleaning supplies already inside.

    The media then knows who, what, where, when, and why within an hour, as a unified narrative exists more or less immediately. Despite having chopped off heads longer than we’ve known them, despite imprisoning or killing dissidents, gays, even people drinking a beer or having a hookup for life sentences, the media, business, banks, that is to say, the Deep State instantly boycotts Saudi and their business conferences, basically before an investigation can be launched. The Media demands Trump jump to conclusions, and what? Dissolve the alliance and the petrodollar before Friday this week, or else? Or else he’s enabling Saudi violence they’ve exhibited since 1940, and certainly every day for the last 10 years as they man 9-11, fund ISIS, and attack Yemen with our weapons, all openly, and openly, enthusiastically cheered, sharply defended by the exact people decrying it now: CNN, WaPo, banks…

    I’ve got a better theory: like planes going down, China in Djibouti, and chemical attacks washed down with a rag and a garden hose, this is the 20th attempt this year to start WWIII and escape their crimes.

    Like everyone, Saudi Arabia is not “a country” but an associated web of power blocs. Lately, that’s blown into the open as MBS takes on his hundred brothers, a few going down in plane crashes, some hung upside down in the Ritz-Carleton until they coughed up a few billion in crooked money, and CIA-connected Prince AL Waleed. How connected is that other faction of Saudi Arabia? (and let’s just simplify and say there are only two right now) Well, the last head of the US/CIA wing was widely called Bandar “Bush”, since he and the Bush interests were indistinguishable going back 30 years. Bush Senior. So, yeah, pretty close.

    Now that MBS has dismembered the CIA/Alwaleed/Bandar Bush faction (who also tried to counter-assassinate him 2-3 times), they are counterattacking by knocking out MBS, and MBS’s support through the non-CIA U.S. and DJT. They can put a wedge between Turkey, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia, even if that means sending Saudi into the arms of China. Doing so will rock the U.S. and economy, and be able to tie Trump’s support (which, true or false, they will always report in the same breath, coughRussiaRussiaRussiacough) and therefore paint Trump with a failing market and world economy. They can then regain and ring-fence the power center in their repressive holdout in Saudi Arabia, which was slipping from their grasp.

    …Oh and hopefully get enough sparks to start the long-desired Mideast war, dragging in China, Russia, and the U.S. in WWIII, kill millions or billions, make a ton of profit, and re-establish control.

    So which sounds more likely, Saudi Arabia, instead of having a dissident have a quiet, unprovable accident in the busy streets of Istanbul, instead get their secret security team on 100 cameras, then dismember him on film in the most inflammatory way possible, then immediately leak that crime to the arms of a waiting media, who suddenly cares about violence they’ve been cheering for decades?

    So what’s with the embassy? All you need is the consulate there to be sympathetic to the anti-MBS plan, to be concerned about a crime he committed that MBS will eventually tag him for. Then he can set the action, forge the documents, and make a paper trail that at first revue, and for the mercenaries, appear as if it’s authorized by the core Saudi line, not a rogue faction. Because as we’ve seen in the U.S. lately, a rogue, dissident faction IS the government, and until purged, are the same people, with the same paperwork.

    All they have to do is get Trump to mouth off and jump at the bait, which they believe he’s ADHD and violent, impulsive, irrational. …And yet again, he is not, and they fail.

    The 4 powers, U.S., Turkey, Saudi, and Russia, are instead running a real, methodical investigation and looking for the real story. WWIII does not look likely, and the media looks vapid. Again. You’d think they’d learn.

    So since this is all staged, and Kashoggi is an MB insider, you think he’s actually on a Thai beach sipping mai-tais right now? After his little vocal acting for the Turkish cameras? Or did he meet a burn notice with a bad actor? Stay tuned…more distractions from declass and sedition trials will be forthcoming.

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