#Far Eastern Economic Review

[centrally-unplanned]

Do you think Germany could have won on the Eastern front?

Finished Stahel's Kiev book, which is basically more of the same from Barbarossa. He seems like he feels the need to prove Germany couldn't win, not just that he believes it and argues why.

From Tooze we know German war production was geared to aircraft well prior to Barbarossa, and Hitler refused to release large numbers of extra tanks until right before Typhoon. So there's at least some slack here.

I wish he turned the question around, asked what it would take to knock out the USSR, then see if Germany could've managed it.

~Woo Stahel posting! He is definitely a fun read regardless of if one agrees or doesn't. I am infamous for being a Barbarossa truther, I think Germany definitely "could have won" in the East. But of course, it is all around what we mean by that. If I was isekai'd into the head Third Reich in July of 1940 with a cadre of mutuals wielding absolutely authority, could I have beat the Soviets? Absolutely, none could possibly resist my strategic genius, honed on endless rounds of Hearts of Iron & Lesswrong blog posts. But that isn't a realistic scenario right, that isn't going to happen; Nazi Germany didn't have nearly enough hot elf chicks to attract any isekai protagonist portals, for one. We need to be specific here.

I tend to think the material constraints are definitely not overwhelming, the Nazis had a ton of slack. You mention the withheld reserves, and as you know from Stahel's earlier works the entire operation was run on blindly optimistic assumptions, the simple idea that a massive operational victory would usher in complete collapse, and so reserves were unnecessary. A me-at-the-helm Germany with no extra magical resources could still have had double the tank numbers, double the planes, probably a solidly higher cadre of rolling stock for resupply, and certainly things like better winter equipment (there would be hard limits, like truck supply isn't getting much higher I don't think). Something I have often highlighted is that while the Germans were "fuel constrained" it was with a policy of keeping fuel in reserve in large quantities, they were not close to the bottom in 1941. If they treated 1941 as "maximal effort, do-or-die", as I think they should to exploit their real-but-definitionally-temporary doctrinal-tactical advantage, they could not only have had bulkier armored formations and more supply "units" but ran more units in the field at the same time and for harsher tempos - part of why they didn't "field more tanks" is that they thought they were at their supply cap, but that was a policy choice.

I think you in other posts have shown you read the recent ACX review of How The War War Won, a stellar book. They mention in that review that the Germans had as many people working in airplane manufacturing as the US did in late war - of course making far less planes. But still, that was far higher than they were in 1941! Those people generally existed then, many were Soviet POWs but by no means all. Germany "woke up" to the stakes of their war in 1942, and began much more intensive economic mobilization then; nothing material was stopping that sooner.

Something that the Battle of Kiev also breaks down is a common idea that the Nazi operational advantage was predominantly in the surprise of the opening operation, that all their units were pristine and executing long-rehearsed plans, and that the path of Barbarossa was a sort of inevitable fade of that surprise. There is truth in that of course but Kiev was well after the surprise had worn off, and using units that on the Nazi's own operational charts said were so shredded as to be "unfit for offensive operations". And they still pulled off the greatest operational victory Nazi Germany ever achieved anyway. So much of Stahel's (very impressive and valuable) work is listing out like August 1941 memos and diary entries about how the Mud Sea of the Russian Steppe and the endless hordes of Soviet bodies had burned down the spirit of the soldiers, and how all the German officers were getting into fistfights with each other over a broken operational plan they had to pivot on the fly. But they kept winning, so?

Something I will criticize Stahel for is that, to make his case work, he needs Kiev to be exceptional, which he finds in Stalin's idiocy and meddling, making it a battle that should never have happened, that any sane leader would have averted. And Stalin is no strategic genius, for sure. But the case is way too strong - it rests on the hindsight 20/20 idea that the Soviet Union could just toss aside the economic assets of the Ukraine and just go on fighting. We know that that happened, that they could do that. But their victory masks how close to economic collapse they got, the days the spent on starvation-level calories building tanks that broke down after a single battle while running their rail stock and truck fleet into the ground. Perhaps, to not get into it right now, to only be bailed out by Lend Lease, the scale of which in 1941 the USSR could not have bet its horse on. He presents an overly rosy view of the idea of "strategic retreat" that the reality of war and internal Soviet thinking doesn't quite match.

Which is all to say that, under many timelines, the Nazis would have found victories like Kiev, and the Soviet leadership was not comically stupid. Our scenario of victory does no rely on a rigged game of the Nazi leadership becoming ubermensch while the Soviet rats witlessly scurry about their sinking ship or anything. I do think that a Nazi leadership that took the Soviets seriously, prepped intensively, understood the stakes that failing to achieve a quick victory meant a two-front war with probably the US on England's side, a war where they would be outnumbered 5 to 1, and so any price to boost the odds was worth paying, could have at least set themselves up for something like a win. Not guaranteed or anything, maybe not even 50% odds, but a solid chance.

Okay this went way longer than I expected, so to wrap it up quickly the next level is to ask - could the existing Nazi leadership have realized that? Can I kill off or brain-transplant just like few people and change how they operate enough while still keeping them as coherently the same entity? And I think to that the answer is probably not. I'll set aside the long case here, but you know it from reading Stahel - they had awful infrastructure for strategic planning, the median think tank today has a bigger staff than OKW did, they had ideological blinders on Soviet capabilities which they could not shed pre-first blood, etc.

And more importantly, in 1941 they were winning. They seemed safe, they seemed fine. Like, all that 1942 mobilization of the economy? It was done in part via mass-scale slavery and forced starvation. Something the Nazis were perfectly willing to do in 1943! But after they had just conquered Paris? Telling its new allies in Romania or whatever "hey we conquered Europe but our situation is so desperate we need forced labor battalions to man the Skoda Works factories"? This just isn't how politics works, no combatant did that in World War Two. The Allies in their ludicrous industrial might could afford that mistake; the Axis, trying to thread the needle of victory through the miracle eye of unlikely probabilities, could not. I don't think getting so deft a strategic tailor at the helm of the Nazi strategy was in the cards in 1941 in any of the "adjacent" timelines. You would need something pretty big to shift.

[probablyasocialecologist]

A future zero growth economy can only be built on the basis of social ownership of the means of production. This would require that the society as a whole (through some form of democratic government) own all or most of the means of production. The social ownership of the means of production implies that, as far as investment needed to replace the existing capital assets is concerned, the allocation of investment resources has to be carried out by planning through direct government decision-making. Such allocation may still take place in terms of monetary units (for example, so many billions of yuan are invested in this or that industry), but the allocation decision is no longer driven by the pursuit of monetary profit. Instead, it is guided by long-term social objectives such as ecological sustainability and people’s basic needs, which are to be determined through democratic decision-making.

[...]

While bourgeois economists and some market socialists argue that planned socialist economies are hopelessly inefficient based on their understanding of the historical experience of socialism in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and China, many have pointed out that even the historical bureaucratic socialism achieved spectacular success in meeting people’s basic needs and the widely publicized inefficiency of socialist planning was greatly exaggerated. In the future, democratic governance in combination with new computer and network technologies may help to substantially improve the efficiency of socialist planning. In any case, the previous sections have argued that the requirements of ecological sustainability with zero growth necessitate social ownership of the means of production and planned allocation of investment resources. Investment in fixed assets will largely determine a society’s allocation of productive capacity between different industries and sectors. Given these physical and institutional constraints, whatever differences in efficiency that may arise because of different arrangements of day-to-day production and consumption activities are likely to be small. A society based on democratic planning is likely to be much more egalitarian in income distribution compared to a society where day-to-day production and consumption activities are driven by the market. Having removed market mechanisms from most economic activities, individuals in a planned society are much less likely to be motivated by short-term self-interest and are more inclined to behave in accordance with long-term social interests.

[mariacallous]

Twenty-seven years since the last revision in 1997, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has altered its Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15)—providing a much-needed update in the standards for defining race and ethnic categories for use in data collection across all government agencies.

The revised standards are not perfect, and OMB promises to continue monitoring their use. But they are a marked improvement in light of ongoing shifts in U.S. racial and ethnic demographics, because they will allow more flexibility for individuals in identifying how they see themselves.

The new changes will affect the “minimal categories” for data collection—the race and ethnicity data that every federal survey will be required to ask about. In addition to the five “race” categories that have been used for decades (reflecting persons identifying as White, Black or African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native), the new minimal categories will also include “Hispanic or Latino” and “Middle Eastern or North African” (or MENA). These two new categories are not traditional racial categories; therefore, this classification will be noted as one of “race and/or ethnicity.”

The addition of the Hispanic or Latino category results from the elimination of the separate “Hispanic/Non Hispanic” question which was previously asked in addition the race question. Research from the Census Bureau and others showed that when posed with separate ethnicity and race questions, a large share of Hispanic or Latino respondents did not identify with traditional racial categories and that a “combined” race/ethnic question yielded far more valid results. In this new classification, Hispanic or Latino respondents, like those of other groups, can choose to identify with other racial categories as well, but will not be required to.

The addition of the MENA category for people of Middle Eastern and North African descent stems from years of lobbying from MENA-related communities. Prior to the new standards, MENA was often offered as subcategory of “White.”

Perhaps most importantly, the new standards dictate that as a default, government agencies will collect data on detailed race and ethnic groups within each of the seven minimal race and ethnic categories. And where possible, agencies will provide “check boxes” for the five largest detailed groups (based on the 2020 census) as well as an open-ended “write in” box to capture other groups. (One exception is for the American Indian or Alaska Native category, for which only a write-in option is required.) Moreover, the instructions on questionnaires that allow both minimal and detailed categories encourage respondents to select “all that apply,” thus facilitating the collection of multiracial and multiethnic categories.

Clearly, the expansion of the data that government agencies collect will provide far greater opportunities to examine racial and ethnic disparities on measures of economic well-being, health, education, and more from variety of sources. With that said, OMB is aware of the challenges involved with their implementation—it provides guidelines for their presentation and promises to maintain a standing Interagency Committee to carry out continuing research and review of SPD 15. Now, it is up to policymakers, scholars, and practitioners to communicate their experiences with the new standards to the wider network of stakeholders and agencies in order to take advantage of this long overdue effort to improve the nation’s diversity data.

In this Around the Halls piece, scholars from across Brookings give their early thoughts on these changes and their potential impacts.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

The Golf Specialist. stevebrodner.substack.com

* * * *

THE APOSTLE OF THE NEW RIGHT

TCinLA

Sep 20, 2024

JD Vance has proven himself the kind of loyalist for whom nothing exists but the loyalty, with his actions regarding the lies about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio. There seems to be something missing inside Vance, something that being Trump’s vice president fills.

You can see it the way his chest puffs out, the way he tries to look tough for a minute before a smile breaks in his response to rally crowds. You can see this reaction over and over again in his love of the response to his “money lines.” He gets filled with the glory of the moment, the crowd’s response giving him such a powerful affirmation for his work as Trump’s attack dog, to the point it seems to be its own reward.

When one considers Vance’s effort to spread the racist lies about Haitian immigrants eating pets, continuing the spew the lies despite numerous fact checks, with the Wall Street Journal, documenting that Vance and his campaign knew from the outset what they were saying was a lie that they went on to spread anyway, that’s all the proof needed of Trump’s genius in choosing Vance: Corporal Six Months In An Air-Conditioned Trailer is a man for whom no lie is too brazen, no attack too low, no step too far in his pursuit of Eminence.

It turns out Vance may be even more broken as a human being than Trump is. A review of how he got where he is demonstrates he is someone who will do anything to achieve the eminence and power he believes he has been denied since birth.

There is irony in the fact that - on the one hand - Vance is a card-carrying member of the upper echelon of America’s ruling elite: Yale Law School graduate, New York Times best-selling author, Silicon Valley venture capitalist, United States senator. And on the other hand, he is now a vociferous conservative critic of that ruling elite, as the Tribune of disaffected Middle Americans/ It’s a role he claims by virtue of his birth in eastern Appalacia, his familys problems as documented in his book, by his upbringing in post-industrial Ohio. He said, “It’s the great privilege of my life that I’m deep enough into the American elite that I can indulge a little anti-elitism,” in one of his first major interviews following publication of “Hillbilly Elegy.”

But how populist can he really be, cozying up to billionaires in Silicon Valley? How does a Yalie attorney and former venture capitalist understand the lives of Trump’s blue-collar voters? This is a guy who owns two million-dollar houses and claims to be a credible advocate for the GOP’s economic populism?

Vance is a particularly good example of the kind of “empty person” who is attracted to authoritarian movements in the belief their true genius will be recognized therein. This is a familiar trope for some of the worst individuals who became involved with Stalinist Communism, Nazism and Fascism. Bernardo Bertolucci gave us a portrait of this kind of person in his film “The Conformist.”

What has been relatively unknown in contermporary politics is that Vance comes from what is now referred to as “The New Right.” For those unaware of this phenomenon, The New Right is a new movement advocating an illiberal and explicitly reactionary political order. While it uses the rhetoric of conservate populism, it is fundamentally elitist. Its goal is to replace the current ruling elite with a new, more conservative one - drawn of course from the ranks of the New Right.

Who are these people? Elon Musk is one, so is Peter Thiel. Also Marc Andreessen, as well as other Silly Con Valley Bros who believe their success demonstrates their worthiness to run more than a computer company. The goal is a to find someone who can lead a right-wing populist movement to political power, then carry out a top-down transformation of American society into an illiberal social order built around conservative values, even if those values remain broadly unpopular with the American people.

Consider that Trump is 78, in poor physical health and obviously “losing it” in terms of mental competence. Should he win re-election, he is unlikely to complete the term, either dying outright or being removed for failure of mental competency under the 25th Amendment.

Which would thus push JD Vance into the White House. Where he could reorganize the cabinet and bring in his New Right allies, installing them in the positions of power that would allow them to institute this plan.

In a 2023 interview, Vance said , “One of the ways in which I’m very much populist is that I think people need to have elected representatives who try to channel their frustrations into solutions that will make their lives better. One of the ways I’m very much not a populist is that I think every populist movement that has ever existed has failed unless it’s captured some subset of the people who are professionally in government. You can’t just run a political movement purely with voters — you need voters, you need bureaucrats, you need lawyers, you need business leaders, you need the whole thing.”

For those who were surprised - given his past criticisms of Trump - by his new-found belief in Trumpism and the MAGA movement, what he did in accepting the vice presidential nomination has been chalked up to either moral collapse or rank opportunism. But considered in light of the ideas presented in the writings of the New Right intellectuals close to Vance, it looks a lot like the first step in their much larger plan.

Patrick Deneen, a New Right Catholic philosopher and political theorist at the University of Notre Dame, has written two influential books that promote the ideas of the New Right.

In the 2018 book “Why Liberalism Failed,” that first got him noticed, he argued that small-L liberalism is inevitably self-destructive; that a political system based on expansion of individual rights and autonomy will inevitably undermine the traditional family, organized religion and local communities - the collective institutions that make political life possible.

In his 2023 book, “Regime Change,” Deneen lays out his vision of an ideal “post-liberal order” that drops liberalism’s protection of individual rights in favor of a social order that promotes “the common good;” this is a purportedly objective set of social conditions that “undergird human flourishing,” which is borrowed from Catholic social teaching. In this analysis the phony commitment of liberalism to egalitarianism gives cover to a corrupt - left-leaning - elite pursuing its own interests, at the expense of the interests of the downtrodden - right-leaning - masses. In this post-liberal social order, a new ruling elite will promote collaboration between “the few” (the New Right) and “the many” in pursuit of “the common good,” in a system governed by the same institutions, infused by a “fundamentally different ethos.” This would include aggressive trust-busting of corporate monopolies; a robust “pro-family” welfare policy to promote the formation of traditional families; strict limits on abortion; and limits on LGBTQ+ rights.

The major point is Deneen’s plan for transition from the liberal order to the postliberal order, which would require the creation of “a new elite” — a “self-conscious aristocracy” as he puts it - who could enter government, academia and the media, take them over and repurpose them to serve conservative and illiberal ends. Having replaced the old, corrupt liberal elite, the new elite would ally with and rule in the interests of the “many,” using their power to foster conservative values like “stability, order and continuity.” Deneen’s term for this is “aristopopulism” which — an alliance between a “genuinely noble elite” and the populist masses, who would together replace secular liberalism with a postliberal system based on a “forthright acknowledgment and renewal of the Christian roots of our civilization.”

Even a casual study of the past 150 years of social change led by “leading forces” - what ended up being called Communism and Nazism - is a good guide to what happens when those in the “leading force” take power.

Vance supports Deneen’s ideas. When he participated in a panel discussion at the launch for “Regime Change,” Vance identified himself as a member of the “post-liberal right,” and said he “sees my role and my voice” in Congress as “explicitly anti-regime.” Significantly, he appeared at this event alongside Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts - the man responsible for Project 2025. Asked how he balances the interests of “the few” and “the many” in practice, Vance answered, “Things in American society are so tilted toward the ‘few’ that I just focus on the ‘many,’ and let the rest of it figure itself out.”

Vance’s suggestion that Trump should ignore the Supreme Court if they step in to block the mass firings called for in Project 2025 is the kind of move that the New Right advocates.

All of this is clear when considering the thinking of Vance’s primary political patron and close personal friend Peter Thiel, who Vance met in 2011 at a talk by Thiel at Yale Law School, which Vance later called “the most important moment of my time at Yale.”

Vance later worked for Thiel’s venture capital firm, Mithril Capital and then founded his own fund with Thiel’s backing. Along the way, Thiel became a tutor to Vance, introducing him to the intellectual influencers shaping the politics of Silicon Valley’s right-leaning Bros

For the record, Thiel has said that “democracy” no longer supports “freedom,” and that allowing women to vote is why the conservatives he supports lose elections. He’s right about that, women are doing a great job of sending people like him back to mommie’s basement. Of course, he believes the 19th Amendment should be overturned.

For Thiel and the rest of the Silly Con Valley Retrogressives, “real political freedom” requires shrinking and eventually abolishing the centralized political state, replacing it with an “anarcho-capitalist” system governed exclusively by markets and social competition - a stateless techno-libertarian paradise in which the only rights are property rights. Under this new order, a “natural elite” - people like Thiel, Musk and Andreessen - would inevitably rise to the top. According to Thiel & Co., democracy existed to protect markets; once it ceased to do that, it is now expendable..

Vance and the people who have worked to put him where he is are united by their opposition to liberal democracy and their fundamental elitism - their belief America is and always will be run by elites, but is currently ruled by the wrong kind of elite. They recognize their ideas are not sufficiently popular to win broad-based political support; thus they propose an alliance between reactionary elites and the alienated masses, channeling popular frustration against the democratic order they hope to eventually replace.

This is only different from Leninism in how the new rulers will initiate the “dictatorship of the proletariat” andwhat it will look like.

The New Right is committed to identifying and cultivating that new conservative elite. Idiots like Charlie Kirk - who is probably not a current member - take their money to set up organizations like Turning Points Action to attract the future “elite” for recruitment.

This new elite will be made up of people who are steeped in elite culture and reactionary ideas, but who “understand the people” and can credibly claim to govern on their behalf.

In other words, they will look like JD Vance. As he said in an earlier interview, “Maybe the most important role that I have to play from the New Right’s perspective is to help build institutions and to get people engaged in politics who weren’t previously engaged in politics. It’s definitely an interesting thing, but it’s going to take a long time.”

Perhaps not that long if Trump and Vance win in November.

TCinLA

[darkmaga-retard]

Karl Sanchez Sep 12, 2024

This meeting with members of the government reviewed the Eastern Economic Forum’s results, heard an excellent report on the Agro-Industrial Complex, Putin’s suggestion to PM Mishustin that exports of some select resources be restricted, a report on the geological study of subsurface resources, and further reports on the overall state of Russia��s development:

Vladimir Putin: Hello!

Today we will discuss issues related to regional development, discuss how individual regional development programs are implemented, and separately – the state program for the development of the Kaliningrad Region.

But first, as we usually do at such meetings, let's talk about the current situation. First question to Yuri Trutnev about the results of the Eastern Economic Forum.

Yuri Petrovich, please.

Trutnev: Thank you.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues! The ninth Eastern Economic Forum, which was held in Vladivostok under your leadership, has come to an end.

The Forum enjoys a steady interest in the world. If last year the forum had 6,300 participants from 62 countries, this year it was 7,100 people from 75 countries. The countries of the Asia-Pacific region and other regions of the world were represented quite widely. Among the participants were representatives of business and diplomatic corps of 16 unfriendly states. These figures underline the interest of the world around us in our country and in working in the Far East.

At the ninth Eastern Economic Forum, 313 agreements totaling 5 trillion 569 billion rubles were signed – this is the best result in all past years. Last year, we concluded 386 investment agreements totaling $ 3 trillion 800 billion.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Considering that approximately 80 percent of the signed agreements are translated into real investment projects, the Ninth Eastern Economic Forum attracted at least 4 trillion investments to the Far East and the Arctic. It was these agreements that allowed us to make a proposal to increase the planned target for attracting investment until 2030 to 12 trillion rubles.

[generation1point5]

Though I’m waiting for The Smoke Room to be finished before I offer a full-blown review of my thoughts on the game and themes, I have a few thoughts on each of the routes as I’ve encountered them thus far.

1915 is a chaotic era in both US and world history. Being set in a historical era means that I approach the subject matter more from my analytical side than personal side; in some ways I relate with many of the other characters, but it isn’t to the same degree that I have with Echo; not that this is a bad thing, but it will certainly influence my analysis to follow.

It makes sense to me that The Smoke Room using Echo as a setting would not be concerned with world affairs; that being said, I figured Cliff’s story might have involved itself a little more with the Great War; he would have been around fighting age, and any relatives he had as a member of the gentry would have been conscripted as part of the Dutch’s contingency in case the war came to the Netherlands, not that it did. Even so, nationalist sentiments among all the countries of Europe at the time were arguably at its height; many of the world’s biggest empires in this era were in an existential fight for their place and prestige on the world stage. I wouldn’t expect Cliff himself to have any particular notions of pride in nationhood, but I would have thought to have glimpsed some of that in at least some of his family.

By that same measure, I’m curious to know more of Nik’s own situation, given that his own homeland is the chief battleground for the Eastern Front; any family he has left there would be in a kind of peril that no amount of money he might send could save them from. Even if he could pay for safe passage, any escape through the Baltic would have been at risk of attack from unrestricted U-Boat warfare as soon as they hit the North Atlantic. For both narrative and character reasons, these considerations are extremely peripheral to the central focus of the Smoke Room as a whole, but at the same time I can’t help but wonder how these factors would play into the psyche and the motivations of the characters, however minor. 

On the domestic front, The Smoke Room constructs a much more sophisticated picture. The more developed eastern United States coming into the modern age, slowly brings its technological progress and the dominion of capital upon the last vestiges of the United States frontier. With the growing assertion of federal oversight on these lands, the last vestiges of native independence are slowly but surely extinguished. On the opposite coast, the rapid development of California as a (former) hub for immigrants from the East and the gold rushes up and down the coast has capped the other side of the United States with a cosmopolitan hub and economic powerhouse in its own right. In the middle of all these developments, Echo becomes the confluence of a number of diverse characters of all sorts of backgrounds, the nexus of dire changes that bear down on a small town founded in the middle of a lurking, and growing, horror. In contrast to the Echo of 2015, the boomtown’s population was much larger, and much more diverse. Many more will presumably be witness to the horror that will begin the town’s slow but inevitable decline.

The inclusion of Chinese immigrants into the picture was a welcome surprise for me; the story of the diaspora that came in the late 19th century and their reaches is not readily portrayed outside of places beyond their point of origin and a brief mention of their work on the railroads, but some Chinese did in fact settle in the United States frontier (and in parts of the South!), as early as the closing years of the Wild West era. Their own eventual involvement in what may befall the town is a point of keen interest to me; as far as Echo itself is concerned, there will be more reasons than just racial tensions that would prompt their eventual exodus from the town.

In contrast to the paranormal forces of Echo as experienced in the modern day, the beings as they exist The Smoke Room thus far has been relegated to the background, presumably to erupt towards the end of the routes as events come to a head. A greater emphasis is placed on horrors of the artificial sort; the class disparity, the racism, the homophobia, the various factors that divide the town into haves and have-nots set the stage by which the supernatural events will inevitably unfold. I get a growing impression of “the Sins of the Fathers” as a theme in The Smoke Room; but this is by no means as black and white as the term implies. Like its predecessor, the lines between protagonist and antagonists are blurred. Among the more sympathetic characters there are real flaws that lead to devastating consequences. Sam kills in self-defense, kicking off the awakening of the evil that will eventually consume the town. William’s sense of justice, while not legalistic, is still bound by laws as applied by the pressure and the influence of those in power and led to the shattering of a family. Murdoch’s people-pleasing behavior puts him between the conflicting goals of his loved ones. Cliff’s well-intentioned anthropological pursuits retains the imperial paternalism of his privileged origins in Europe, and Nik’s protectiveness puts him at risk for the same pitfalls as Leo will fall into 100 years later. Countless external and internal factors, at a socioeconomic scale impacting the psyche of many individuals, create the dialectic which will set the destructive cycle of Echo to follow. From the beginning, the end is a foregone conclusion.

To bring this full circle with my initial observations before, I anticipate (and hope) that The Smoke Room will retain much of my initial impressions of Echo; a microcosm of the human condition at a point in time; accelerated by supernatural means to an inevitable conclusion. What we observe in the Smoke Room is Echo at its height, where the confluence of people from all around the world, great and humble alike, coalesce around a point at which its slow, entropic decline will begin. It serves as the counterpoint to Arches, where a small external group of strangers is witness to the final moments of the cycle burning through the cinders of its last victims, its last perpetuators. 

[stevebattle]

Robot "Monkey Train" by Jiro Aizawa (1948), Tokyo. "Should monkeys drive trains? Since 1948, happy trained monkeys have been regularly driving a three-car train around a 164-metre track inside Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, carrying an annual average of more than one million passengers, mostly children. They pull a lever, when the human station-master whistles, maintain an even speed with a hairy paw on the brakes, bring the train to a smooth halt at the end of the line, and spring out to salute the dismounting passengers. The working schedule for each monkey is less than two hours, with a union lay-off of two hours. The zoo authorities insist that the monkeys which are taught to drive are happier than caged monkeys, which jabber excitedly and point enviously as the train speeds by and the driver waves to them with tolerant superiority. However, the Japan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS) rejoined the Japanese SPCA in protesting against the unique practice. A new Japanese law, JAWS says, demands that 'animals should be handled in a proper manner with respect to the natural habits.' Jiro Aizawa, chief director of the Japanese Children's Culture Research Institute, who invented and patented the monkey's train, opposes the animal lovers' campaign. 'These adults', he argues logically, 'must be persons who have never experienced the joys of playing with toys.' " – Far Eastern Economic Review, September 27, 1974. Ueno Zoo ran the Monkey Train from 1948 through to 1974, when it was closed due to public concern for the monkeys’ welfare. Of course, the monkey is not really driving the train; notice the mini robot sitting next to it. The monkey is the train conductor.

[axvoter]

Blatantly Partisan Party Review XVII (Victoria 2022): United Australia Party

Prior reviews (many as the Palmer United Party): federal 2013, VIC 2014, federal 2016, VIC 2018 (Bobby Singh, Palmer United independent), federal 2019, federal 2022

What I said before: “This party is now a grievance machine of very angry cranks who think something has been stolen from them; it’s rooted in the conspiracy theorist thought patterns that convince people who are generally pretty comfortable that they are in fact the great victims of the world.” (federal 2022)

What I think this time: Not content with stinking up the federal election and sending Ralph Babet to the Senate—a man contending for the “worst senator” mantle alongside the likes of Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Matt Canavan, and Gerard Rennick—the UAP is now running for the Victorian state parliament with, among other candidates, Babet’s twin brother Matt (lead candidate in South-Eastern Metropolitan). UAP’s state leader is Geoff Shaw, the disgraced ex-Liberal member for Frankston, so you know this party can really pick ‘em.

As far as policy goes… what policy? The party’s website lists its Victorian candidates but no state policies. It still just displays the flaming bag of shit that the UAP offered to electors at the federal election. If you want unhinged covid conspiracies, cooker grudges, untrammelled resentment, economic incoherence, and environmental ruin, then this is the party for you. If you want something even within shouting distance of sense, look elsewhere.

To borrow my favourite example of unparliamentary language from New Zealand (a banger from 1949), the collective brains of the UAP could revolve inside a peanut shell for a thousand years without touching the sides.

My recommendation: Give the United Australia Party a weak or no preference. Remember to vote below the line on the large ballot for the Legislative Council so that your preference goes where you want it to go; all ballots with 5 or more preferences marked below the line are valid votes.

Website: https://www.unitedaustraliaparty.org.au/

[eliteservermanagement]

Leasing IP Addresses in Ukraine: A Cost-Effective Solution for Expanding Businesses

In today’s digital age, IP addresses have become essential for online connectivity, data transfers, and digital services. As businesses scale and grow, the need for flexible and scalable IP address solutions becomes increasingly important. One such solution gaining popularity is leasing IP addresses, particularly in tech-driven countries like Ukraine.

In this blog, we'll explore the ins and outs of leasing IP addresses in Ukraine, the advantages it offers, and why it’s an optimal choice for businesses looking to expand their online presence.

What Does It Mean to Lease an IP Address?

Leasing an IP address involves renting a block of IP addresses for a set period rather than buying them outright. This allows businesses to utilize digital resources without the long-term financial commitment and hassle of ownership. Leasing IP addresses is often seen as a more flexible and cost-effective solution, especially for businesses with changing network needs.

Why Lease IP Addresses in Ukraine?

Ukraine, with its growing digital infrastructure and tech-savvy environment, is becoming a strategic hub for online services. Here are key reasons why businesses should consider leasing IP addresses in Ukraine:

Affordable Pricing: Compared to purchasing, leasing IP addresses in Ukraine is far more economical. This is especially beneficial for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to avoid large upfront costs.

Tech Growth: Ukraine’s booming IT industry has created a demand for digital infrastructure. Businesses in Ukraine need scalable solutions to manage their online services, and leasing IP addresses offers that scalability.

Strategic Location: Positioned between Europe and Asia, Ukraine is an ideal location for companies targeting both Eastern and Western markets. Leasing IPs from Ukrainian providers offers businesses the advantage of enhanced connectivity to both regions.

Benefits of Leasing IP Addresses in Ukraine

1. Flexibility and Scalability

One of the greatest benefits of leasing IP addresses is the flexibility it provides. Businesses can scale up or down based on their specific needs. If you’re launching a new service or experiencing seasonal traffic spikes, you can lease additional IPs and return them when they’re no longer needed, helping manage costs efficiently.

2. Enhanced Online Security

Leasing dedicated IP addresses can significantly improve security, as these IPs are exclusively used by your business, reducing risks associated with shared networks. Dedicated IPs can also prevent issues like blacklisting, which can occur when other users on a shared IP network engage in malicious activities.

3. Faster Deployment

Leasing IP addresses means quicker deployment of network resources. For businesses in fast-moving industries, such as e-commerce or SaaS platforms, the ability to access and configure IPs quickly is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.

4. Geographic Targeting

For businesses aiming to target specific regions, leasing IP addresses from Ukraine can help optimize their websites and online services for local markets. With a Ukrainian IP address, businesses can provide faster loading times and more relevant content for Ukrainian customers.

How to Lease IP Addresses in Ukraine

Leasing an IP address in Ukraine is a straightforward process, but it’s important to choose a reputable provider. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Research Providers: Look for companies that specialize in IP leasing services in Ukraine. Ensure they offer competitive pricing, strong customer support, and access to both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

Choose the Right Plan: Depending on your business’s requirements, you may need to lease a few IP addresses or an entire block. Discuss your needs with the provider and find a leasing plan that’s right for you.

Understand the Terms: Carefully review the terms of the lease agreement, including pricing, the duration of the lease, renewal policies, and any limitations on usage.

Configure and Deploy: Once the lease is finalized, work with your provider to configure the leased IP addresses in your network infrastructure. This may involve setting up DNS records and network routing to ensure smooth integration.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

While leasing IP addresses in Ukraine offers many benefits, there are also a few challenges to consider:

IPv4 Availability: IPv4 addresses are becoming increasingly scarce, and prices have been rising globally. While leasing is more cost-effective than buying, the limited availability of IPv4 addresses could affect your ability to secure them at a reasonable cost.

Transition to IPv6: As IPv4 resources dwindle, businesses are shifting toward IPv6, which offers a much larger pool of addresses. However, not all systems are fully compatible with IPv6, so businesses may need to ensure their infrastructure is ready for the transition.

Local Regulations: It’s essential to comply with Ukrainian regulations regarding data privacy and internet usage. Working with a local IP leasing provider helps ensure that your business adheres to the country’s legal and regulatory standards.

The Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6 Leasing

As the world moves towards the adoption of IPv6, it’s important to understand the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 when considering leasing IP addresses in Ukraine:

IPv4 Leasing: IPv4 is the traditional IP addressing system and is still widely used. However, the supply of IPv4 addresses is limited, and leasing costs can be higher due to scarcity. If you rely on legacy systems, IPv4 may still be your best option.

IPv6 Leasing: IPv6 offers a much larger pool of IP addresses, making it the go-to option for businesses planning for future growth. Leasing IPv6 addresses is typically cheaper and ensures your network is future-proofed for the inevitable global transition.

Conclusion

Leasing IP addresses in Ukraine is an ideal solution for businesses seeking flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Whether you're a startup, an expanding company, or a global enterprise, leasing allows you to access the digital resources you need without the financial burden of purchasing IP addresses outright.

Ukraine’s growing tech landscape and strategic location make it an attractive option for companies looking to enhance their online presence. By leasing IP addresses, businesses can enjoy faster deployment, improved security, and the ability to scale their networks to meet changing demands.

As the demand for digital services in Ukraine continues to rise, leasing IP addresses will become even more essential for businesses aiming to thrive in this competitive and dynamic market.

[swldx]

BBC 0408 19 May 2024

12095Khz 0359 19 MAY 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55434. English, dead carrier s/on @0358z with ID@0359z pips and Newsroom preview. @0401z World News anchored by Stewart Macintosh. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in eastern city of Dhahran. During the meeting, the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in various fields were reviewed. Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has threatened to resign unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets out a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip. Mr Gantz set an 8 June deadline for a plan to achieve six "strategic goals", including the end of Hamas rule in Gaza and the establishment of a multinational civilian administration for the territory. "If you put the national over personal, you will find in us partners in the struggle," he said. "But if you choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss, we will be forced to quit the government." Mr Netanyahu dismissed the comments as "washed-up words" that would mean "defeat for Israel". Over 10,000 Protesters in Tel Aviv had been calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and trigger new elections, as well as for an immediate ceasefire in order to release the hostages held in Gaza since October 7. The Pacific territory of New Caledonia is "under siege", the mayor of its capital has said, following days of rioting that has left six people dead. Nouméa mayor Sonia Lagarde said numerous public buildings on the archipelago had been set on fire and that, despite the arrival of hundreds of police reinforcements, the situation was "far from getting back to calm". French gendarmes have launched a major operation to regain control of a 60km (37-mile) road between Nouméa and the airport, France's interior minister said. Persistent heavy rains fuelled a third consecutive week of deadly flooding in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, devastating a region which is a key agricultural and economic driver of the national economy. The National Rifle Association is formally supporting former President Donald Trump, an expected endorsement that came Saturday at the group’s annual convention in Dallas. The endorsement of his presidential campaign came shortly before Trump took the stage to keynote the NRA’s annual meeting, a speech he used to paint a picture of President Joe Biden as trying to erode gun rights without citing specifics. Sports. @0406z "The Newsroom" begins. 250ft unterminated BoG antenna pointed E/W w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), JRC NRD-535D. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2259.

[nandaaja2]

Politically Incorrect Reflection: Denny Ja and its perspective on the issue of Papua

Papua, a province located at the eastern end of Indonesia, has become a public spotlight both at home and abroad in recent years. Issues such as autonomy, violations of human rights, and the struggle for independence have become a hot topic in political discussions in Indonesia. In this context, Denny JA, a well -known intellectual and founder of the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), has become one of the important figures who gave his perspective on the issue of Papua. However, his political views are often considered controversial and “politically incorrect”. This article will review Denny JA’s view of the issue of Papua, as well as trying to provide a critical reflection on his perspective.    First of all, it should be noted that Denny JA’s political view of the issue of Papua is very complex and is often difficult for many people. Denny Ja believes that the special autonomy given to Papua has provided many benefits for the province, including in terms of infrastructure development and economic development. However, he also stressed the importance of respecting human rights and overcoming the problem of violations that occurred in Papua.    In his perspective, Denny Ja also highlighted the struggle for independence carried out by several groups in Papua. He argues that the government must be more open to dialogue and negotiations with Papuan leaders to find a fair and sustainable solution. However, this view is often considered controversial by many people, especially by those who assume that Papua is an integral part of Indonesia and should not be given greater autonomy rights.    However, it cannot be denied that Denny Ja’s political view of the issue of Papua also reflects the complex reality in the field. Conflicts in Papua have been going on for decades and have claimed many lives. Economic development and empowerment in Papua is also far from expectations. Therefore, Denny Ja’s view that emphasizes the importance of dialogue and fulfillment of human rights can be seen as an effort to find a better and sustainable solution.    However, it is important to remember that Denny Ja’s political view only represents one point of view in the discussion on the issue of Papua. There are still many other views that need to be considered, including the views of human rights activists, Papuan separatist groups, and the Indonesian government itself. In finding a more complete understanding of the issue of Papua, we need to recognize the diversity of existing perspectives and try to understand the background and motivation behind each view.    In his conclusion, Denny Ja’s political view of the issue of Papua is part of the controversial reflection and “politically incorrect”. However, we need to respect the diversity of views in this discussion and understand that there is no single view that can describe the complexity of the issue of Papua as a whole. By continuing to open dialogue, listen to all parties involved, and work together to find a fair and sustainable solution, we can contribute to the completion of a better Papuan issue in the future.

Check more: Politically Incorrect reflection: Denny JA and its perspective on the issue of Papua

[captainmdhridoyhossain-blog]

[ad_1] Title: Budget Travel Secrets: How to Explore the World on a Shoestring Introduction: Embarking on an adventure to explore the world need not burn a hole in your pocket. With careful planning and a few budget travel secrets up your sleeve, you can experience the wonders of the globe without breaking the bank. In this comprehensive guide, we unravel the art of traveling on a shoestring, sharing invaluable tips and tricks to help you achieve your wanderlust dreams on a budget. From finding affordable accommodations to scoring budget-friendly flights, let's dive into the world of budget travel secrets. Heading 1: Understanding the Perplexity and Burstiness of Budget Travel Heading 2: Finding Affordable Accommodations: Sleep Smart Subheading 1: Opting for Budget Hotels and Hostels Subheading 2: Embracing the World of Couchsurfing Subheading 3: Exploring House-Swapping and Home Rentals Heading 3: Mastering Transportation: Move Economically Subheading 1: Discovering the Art of Public Transportation Subheading 2: Navigating the World of Ride-Sharing Services Subheading 3: Embracing the Freedom of Backpacking Heading 4: Savoring Budget-Friendly Meals: Eat Smart Subheading 1: Exploring Local Street Food Delights Subheading 2: Grocery Shopping and Picnic Adventures Subheading 3: Unleashing the Power of Food Markets Heading 5: Making the Most of Free and Low-Cost Activities: Experience Smart Subheading 1: Immersing Yourself in Nature: Hiking and Exploring Parks Subheading 2: Unveiling Cultural Heritage: Free Museums and Walking Tours Subheading 3: Embracing Festivals and Local Celebrations Heading 6: Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations: Hidden Gems Subheading 1: Southeast Asia: A Haven for Budget Backpackers Subheading 2: Eastern Europe: Affordable European Exploration Subheading 3: South America: Discovering the Continent on a Budget FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Section: Here are some common queries aspiring budget travelers often have: Q1: Is it safe to travel on a shoestring budget? A1: With proper research and following essential safety precautions, budget travel can be safe and rewarding. Q2: How far in advance should I book flights and accommodations? A2: It is recommended to book flights and accommodations well in advance to secure the best deals and availability. Q3: Are there any hidden fees or charges when booking budget accommodations? A3: While some budget accommodations may have additional charges, thorough research and reading reviews will help you avoid surprises. Q4: How can I save money on transportation within a destination? A4: Utilizing public transportation, walkable routes, and shared transportation options can significantly reduce transportation expenses. Conclusion: Embarking on a budget travel adventure opens doors to diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. By embracing the concept of perplexity and burstiness in your travel planning, you can explore the world without compromising your financial stability. From affordable accommodations to innovative dining options and captivating activities, mastering the art of budget travel will set you free to embark on a journey of a lifetime, all while remaining mindful of your shoestring budget. So, pack your bags, grab your travel bug, and let the adventure begin! [ad_2] #Budget #Travel #Secrets #Explore #World #Shoestring

[harvest-moonie]

cheese part 10

Chris Mercer (September 23, 2005). "Australia lifts Roquefort cheese safety ban". ap-foodtechnology.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2005. Listeria and Pregnancy.Archived February 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 28, 2006. Neupaney, D.; Kim, J.; Ishioroshi, M.; Samejima, K. (1997). "Study on Composition of Nepalese Cheeses, Yak Milk and Yak Cheese Whey". Milk Science. 46 (2). Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017. Nair, Anooja; Choden, Dechen; Pradhan, Monika (April 21, 2022). "Chemical composition and microbial quality of Datshi and Zoety , unripen cottage cheese of Bhutan". Food Science & Nutrition. 10 (5): 1385–1390. doi:10.1002/fsn3.2715. ISSN2048-7177. PMC9094472. PMID35592292. "How to Make Ema Datshi-the National Dish of Bhutan". Inspiria Knowledge Campus. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017. Allen, Barry; Allen, Silvia. "Mozzarella of the East (Cheese-making and Bai culture)" (PDF). Ethnorêma. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017. Buckman, Rebecca (2003). "Let Them Eat Cheese". Far Eastern Economic Review. 166 (49): 41. Archived from the original on September 23, 2005. Retrieved September 25, 2005. "Frequently Asked Questions about Halal Foods". Toronto Public Health. Archived from the original on November 24, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2005. Mauseth, James D (2012). Plants and People. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 432. ISBN978-0-7637-8550-5. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2020. "Cheese label". Virtualroom.de. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Hui YH, Meunier-Goddik L, Josephsen J, Nip WK, Stanfield PS (2004). Handbook of Food and Beverage Fermentation Technology: Food Science and Technology (Marcel Dekker), Vol 134. CRC Press. pp. 392–93. ISBN978-0-8247-5122-7. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2020. Komada, Yoko; Okajima, Isa; Kuwata, Tamotsu (2020). "The Effects of Milk and Dairy Products on Sleep: A Systematic Review". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (24): 9440. doi:10.3390/ijerph17249440. PMC7766425. PMID33339284. Extance, Andy (December 16–19, 2015). "Brie encounter". New Scientist. 228 (3052–3053): 69–70. Bibcode:2015NewSc.228...69E. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(15)31866-2. Oates, Caroline (2003). "Cheese gives you nightmares: Old hags and heartburn". Folklore (London). 114 (2): 205–225. doi:10.1080/0015587032000104220. S2CID161962480. Mosley, Dr. Michael (2020). Fast Asleep: Improve Brain Function, Lose Weight, Boost Your Mood, Reduce Stress, and Become a Better Sleeper. Atria Books. ISBN978-1982106928. dictionary.com. "Article to Cheesed". dictionary.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.

[mariacallous]

Some lawmakers in Congress are urging the Biden administration to help give Ukraine a concrete path to NATO membership at the 31-nation alliance’s annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, next month, as Kyiv and Eastern European nations have already begun to try to build momentum for the yearslong bid. 

In a letter sent to U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday and obtained by Foreign Policy, 13 members of Congress from across the aisle and in both chambers, including the leaders of the bipartisan Helsinki Commission, urged the administration to “take a forward leaning position” at the NATO summit to give Ukraine a “concrete, near-term path” to NATO membership “as soon as conditions allow.”

It’s a sign that Congress is becoming increasingly resolute on the idea that Ukraine’s economic recovery and long-term European security could hinge on Ukraine’s NATO bid, which has been largely dormant since Russia’s war with Georgia in 2008. 

“Russia could continue to be a threat to Ukraine, a disaster for European peace, and a challenge to U.S. interests around the world,” the lawmakers wrote to Biden. “Ukrainian membership will also be a powerful expression of our shared values and solidarity with a democratic, open society that has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the unendurable.”

Ukraine was first given a path into the alliance 15 years ago, at NATO’s 2008 Bucharest summit, where members pledged that both Ukraine and Georgia would “become members of NATO” but offered no concrete guarantees, including the so-called membership action plan (MAP), which allows existing members to review proposals to expand NATO. Politico reported last week that the Biden administration may be willing to drop the MAP requirement, perhaps in connection with the upcoming Vilnius summit. 

But Biden is not willing to go that far in public yet. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on Saturday, Biden said his administration would not “make it easy” for Ukraine to enter NATO, hinting that the MAP was still on the table. Ukrainian military units have undergone extensive reforms since Russia’s lightning invasion of Crimea in 2014, including changes to the military’s medical corps, tactical and schoolroom reforms, and more extensive English-language training, and some Ukrainian troops have even tested themselves against NATO combat standards. Yet it is not clear how the entire Ukrainian military would stack up. 

“During the war, they’ve been moving at a double-fast speed toward NATO standards because they’ve been operating more and more NATO equipment,” said Camille Grand, a former NATO assistant secretary-general. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has even gone as far as to call Ukraine a “de facto” member of NATO that will aim to implement at least 30 percent of the alliance’s military standards by the end of 2023, though experts are more skeptical. 

“If you look at it from a MAP perspective, it needs to be the whole force,” Grand said. “It’s not only a few units that operate under NATO standards.”

Still, there remains momentum to bypass the typical process. Finland entered NATO this year without undergoing the MAP procedure, and Sweden, if it clears political hurdles set forth by Turkey and Hungary over its bid, also will have skipped the process. Some Western leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, have gone further, calling for NATO nations to provide Ukraine a “path” into the alliance and Israel-like security guarantees in the interim, setting up the potential for an inverse of the Bucharest dynamic in Vilnius, with France pushing for Ukraine’s entry into NATO while the United States demurs.

“We don’t have time,” said Jim Townsend, a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense. “Once the fighting comes to an end, all of a sudden you’re in this never-never land. The sooner we get [Ukraine] into NATO, the better. If not, you’re condemning them to this gray zone.”

And Congress is convinced that the alliance has a lot to learn from Ukraine. “Counting Ukraine as an Ally is also squarely in the Alliance’s self-interest: Ukraine in NATO will be a premier military power and the only European state to have faced Russian forces on the field since the end of the Cold War—and won,” the lawmakers wrote. Though the lawmakers acknowledged that establishing a date for Ukraine to join the alliance may be out of reach politically at the Vilnius summit, they called an achievable pathway to membership and robust security commitments the “minimum outcome” that should be expected of the meeting. 

But the talk of security guarantees has left Western officials stuck in difficult discussions about how, even if Ukraine joins NATO after Russia’s full-scale invasion is spent, the alliance’s mutual defense clause, known as Article 5, might apply to Kyiv. “Nobody is seriously considering Ukraine joining NATO now, in the middle of a war,” Grand said. “Imagine we end up with a bit of a frozen conflict. How does that work?”

Congress is getting increasingly bullish on Ukraine’s NATO bid as it also looks to push the Biden administration to send the last major Western weapons system to Ukraine that has been on Kyiv’s list for more than a year: long-range weapons. The House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to mark up a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday led by Republican Rep. Michael McCaul that calls on the administration to transfer Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine. But with the possibility of Western fighter jets getting into Ukrainian hands no longer a pipe dream, NATO membership has become the top priority. 

“It’s not about specific weaponry we would ask for next,” said Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, which advises the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “It’s about Ukraine being very vocal about NATO membership.”

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 17, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 18, 2023

In an NPR piece yesterday, Bill Chappell noted that “the war between Israel and Hamas is being fought, in part, through disinformation and competing claims.” 

Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas’s leadership team currently in Qatar, told Ben Hubbard and Maria Abi-Habib of the New York Times that Hamas’s goal in their attack of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists crossed from Gaza into Israel and tortured and killed about 1,200 people, taking another 240 hostage, was to make sure the region did not settle into a status quo that excluded the Palestinians. 

In 2020 the Palestinians were excluded from discussions about the Abraham Accords negotiated by then-president Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner that normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain (and later Morocco). More recently, Saudi Arabia and Israel were in talks with the United States about normalizing relations.   

Al-Hayya told the reporters that in order to “change the entire equation and not just have a clash,” Hamas leaders intended to commit “a great act” that Israel would respond to with fury. “[W]ithout a doubt, it was known that the reaction to this great act would be big,” al-Hayya said, but “[w]e had to tell people that the Palestinian cause would not die.” 

“Hamas’s goal is not to run Gaza and to bring it water and electricity and such,” al-Hayya said. “This battle was not because we wanted fuel or laborers,” he added. “It did not seek to improve the situation in Gaza. This battle is to completely overthrow the situation.”

Hamas media adviser Taher El-Nounou told the reporters: “I hope that the state of war with Israel will become permanent on all the borders, and that the Arab world will stand with us.”

Hamas could be pretty certain that Israel would retaliate with a heavy hand. The governing coalition that took power at the end of 2022 is a far-right coalition, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to hold that coalition together to stay in power, not least because he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.   

Once it took power, Netanyahu’s government announced that expanding Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank was a priority, vowing to annex the occupied territory. It also endorsed discrimination against LGBTQ people and called for generous payments to ultra-Orthodox men so they could engage in religious study rather than work. It also tried to push through changes to the judicial system to give far more power to the government. 

From January 7 until October 7, 2023, protesters turned out in the streets in huge numbers. With the attack, Israelis have come together until the crisis is resolved.

Netanyahu’s ability to stay in power depended in large part on his promises that he would keep Israelis safe. The events of October 7 on his watch—the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust—shattered that guarantee. Polls show that Israelis blame his government, and three quarters of them think he should resign. Sixty-four percent think the country should hold an election immediately after the war. 

Immediately after the attack, on October 7, Netanyahu vowed “mighty vengeance” against Hamas, and Israeli airstrikes began to pound Gaza. On October 8, Israel formally declared war. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the country’s retaliation would “change the reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years,” and on October 9 he announced “a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed…. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.”

Israel and the U.S. have strong historic and economic ties: as Nicole Narea points out in Vox in a review of their history together, the U.S. has also traditionally seen Israel as an important strategic ally as it stabilizes the Middle East, helping to maintain the supply of Middle Eastern oil that the global economy needs. That strategic importance has only grown as the U.S. seeks to normalize ties around the region to form a united front against Iran.

For Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and other envoys, then, it appeared the first priority after the October 7 attack was to keep the conflict from spreading. Biden made it very clear that the U.S. would stand behind Israel should Iran, which backs Hamas, be considering moving in. He warned: “[T]o any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don’t.”

The movement of two U.S. carrier groups to the region appears so far to be helping to achieve that goal. While Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon and Yemen’s Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Israel since October 7, Iran’s leaders have said they will not join Hamas’s fight and are hoping only to use the conflict as leverage against the U.S.

Militias have fired at least 55 rocket and drone strikes at U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since October 7 without killing any U.S. soldiers. In retaliation, the U.S. has launched three airstrikes against militia installations in Syria, killing up to seven men (the military assesses there were not women or children in the vicinity) in the third strike on Sunday. The U.S. keeps roughly 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 troops in Iraq to work with local forces to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State.

At the same time that Biden emphasized Israel’s right to respond to Hamas’s attack and demanded the return of the hostages, he also called for humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt and warned Netanyahu to stay within the laws of war.

Rounds of diplomacy by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who flew to Israel and Jordan initially on October 11 and has gone back repeatedly, as well as by Biden, who has both visited the region—his second trip to a war zone—and constantly worked the phones, and other envoys, started humanitarian convoys moving into Gaza with a single 20-truck convoy on October 21. By early November, over 100 trucks a day were entering Gaza, the number the United Nations says is the minimum needed. Yesterday the Israeli war cabinet agreed to allow two tankers of fuel a day into Gaza after the U.N. said it couldn’t deliver aid because it had run out of fuel. 

The U.S. has insisted from the start that Israel’s military decisions must not go beyond the laws of war. Israeli officials say they are staying within the law, yet an estimated 11,000 civilians and Hamas fighters (the numbers are not separated out) have died. Gaza has been crushed into rubble by airstrikes, and more than a million people are homeless. That carnage has sparked protests around the world along with calls for a cease-fire, which Israel rejects. 

It has also sparked extreme Islamophobia and antisemitism exacerbated by social media. In the immediate aftermath of October 7, Islamophobia inspired a Chicago man to stab a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy to death; more recently, antisemitism has jumped more than 900% on X (formerly Twitter). On Wednesday, Elon Musk agreed with a virulently antisemitic post on X. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates responded: “We condemn this abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms, which runs against our core values as Americans.” Advertisers, including IBM and Apple, announced they would no longer advertise on Musk’s platform.

While calling for humanitarian pauses in the fighting, the Biden administration has continued to focus on getting the hostages out and has rejected calls for a cease-fire, saying such a break would only allow Hamas to regroup. In The Atlantic on November 14, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who negotiated a 2012 cease-fire between Hamas and Israel only to see Hamas violate that agreement two years later, explained that cease-fires have only kicked the can down the road. “Israel’s policy since 2009 of containing rather than destroying Hamas has failed,” she said.  

Clinton called for the destruction of Hamas on the one hand and “a new strategy and new leadership” for Israel on the other. “Instead of the current ultra-right-wing government, it will need a government of national unity that’s rooted in the center of Israeli politics and can make the hard choices ahead,” she wrote. 

Central to those choices is the long-neglected two-state solution that would establish a Palestinian state. Biden and Blinken and a number of Arab governments have backed the idea, but to many observers it seems impossible to pull off. Still, at the same time Clinton’s article appeared, King Abdullah II of Jordan published his own op-ed in the Washington Post  titled: “A two-state solution would be a victory for our common humanity.”

“[L]et’s start with some basic reality,” he wrote. “The fact is that the thousands of victims across Israel, Gaza and the West Bank have been overwhelmingly civilians…. Leaders everywhere have the responsibility to face the full reality of this crisis, as ugly as it is. Only by anchoring ourselves to the concrete facts that have brought us to this point will we be able to change the increasingly dangerous direction of our world…. 

“If the status quo continues, the days ahead will be driven by an ongoing war of narratives over who is entitled to hate more and kill more. Sinister political agendas and ideologies will attempt to exploit religion. Extremism, vengeance and persecution will deepen not only in the region but also around the world…. It is up to responsible leaders to deliver results, starting now.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[whatisonthemoon]

On the Unification Church in Japan and its political (KCIA) origins

Excerpted from the FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW, pp. 19–22 - an article by John Roberts

In Japan...The Unification Church is known variously as SEKAI TOITSU KYOKAI, TOITSU GENRI, OR GENRI UNDO, with numerous variations. The main adjuncts or manifestations of the Church are the KOKUSAI SHOKYO RENGO (International Federation for Victory over Communism of IFFVOC), which is essentially the Japanese chapter or counterpart of the World Anticommunist League/Asian People’s Anticommunist League (WACL/APACL): and the Genri Group under which various student activities are conducted.

In a top position is Professor Juitsu Kitaoka, a leader of the United Nations Association and member of several pro-American rightist organizations. He is described as a violent anti-communist advocating rearmament...Kitaoka is a long-time associate of Dr. Tetsuzo Watanabe, a former film tycoon whose ideas are no less violent.

Organiser of the APACL in Japan, Watanabe became international president of the WACL/APACL, the IFFVOC’s alter ego. Watanabe was closely connected with US Army intelligence and maintained relations with prominent McCarthyites in the U.S.

GENRI leaders, by their own admission, have been collaborating with the KCIA, and their movement worked in alliance with other organizations, notably the centrist SOKA GAKKAI and ultranationalist groups such as underworld boss Yoshio Kodama’s Youth Thought Study Society, and of course the IFFVOC, established jointly by Moon and gambling czar Ryoichi Sasakawa in 1967...Later, however, under president Sasakawa, a more presentable line-up of complaisant politicians, businessmen and scholars was mustered.

The IFFVOC was based originally on Sasakawa’s Federation of Motorboat Racing Associations...It appears that the IFFVOC serves Sasakawa as a private police force for his motor-boat courses...Sasakawa’s remarks indicate that he considers it as patriotic militia in reserve for political crises, similar to Hitler’s brownshirts and the uniformed militarist party that Sasakawa, a self-proclaimed fascist, organised during the 1930s.

...the Moon Machine established the World Peace Academy (WPA) in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The Japan Chapter, set up in 1974, is reported to include among its consultants James Stewart of the Asia Foundation (an old CIA front) and Masahide Kanayama, a paid lobbyist of the South Korean Government and allegedly of the KCIA. One of the WPA’s activities is the International Congress for World Peace, to be held in Japan this summer under the co-sponsorship of the International Cultural Foundation, another Moon front. The WPA seems to have enlisted the active support or participation of the potent Japan Federation of Employers Associations, the Japan Productivity Centre, the Nomura Research Institute and the Mitsubishi Research Institute in its National Goals project for the study of Japan’s strategy in the 1980s.

The Moon Machine in Japan operates a...trading firm known as TOITSU SANGYO (Unification Industries) which raised eyebrows several years ago by importing several hundred shotguns and powerful air rifles manufactured by the Reverend Moon’s munitions factories in South Korea which assemble M‑16 rifles on a knockdown basis under US license and manufacture parts for the same weapons. Significantly, the shotguns and air rifles mentioned above were imported for the militant IFFVOC...

The picture is admittedly no more than an out-of-focus snapshot of the tip of the iceberg. Some of the Japan connections have been revealed or hinted at in the Koreagate investigations, but so far there has been no general expose...However, it has been reported that 200 Japanese right-wing politicians receive financial support from the Unification Church and its affiliates, or directly from the KCIA. This may be an understatement since at least 2,000 prominent Japanese politicians, businessmen and scholars as well as underworld bosses lend their support to Moon’s movement.

It may be recalled that Kishi, once a key figure in General Tojo’s World War II cabinet, became one of the most passionate spokesmen for Dr. Frank Buchman’s MORAL REARMAMENT (MRA) in the 1950s and 1960s. The striking similarities between the moral precepts and secular programmes of MRA and Moon’s church is of interest here because the latter was born as an international movement at the very time when MRA was swiftly declining in Japan. Following the upheaval over the Security Treaty in 1960, which forced his resignation as prime minister, Kishi declared with characteristic hyperbole: “But for MORAL REARMAMENT, Japan would be under communist control today.” Curiously, little heard about MRA after the early 1960s. Instead, there was much bombast about the Asian People’s Anticommunist League, in which Kishi played the same role as elder statesman and spokesman. There are reports that in 1959 or thereabouts Moon played go-between for an alliance between the MRA leadership and the APACL. When the World Anticommunist League and IFFVOC were formed in late 1966 and 1967 respectively, Kishi again came to the fore...

Revelations of the Fraser and Jaworski committees somehow stopped to exposing well-documented Korean depredations in Japan. Perhaps for diplomatic reasons, the US Government preferred to confine its investigation to events that occurred in the US, ignoring the fact that the Korean scandal is trilateral, with operations that involve and affect all three countries.

Also conspicuously absent from the investigation is evidence linking the CIA with the KCIA, its creation, and its grandchild, the Unification Church.

In court of law, the existence of such a link could not be proved but clues are everywhere. One of them is a series of documents (Supplement to Part 4) submitted in the March 1968 hearings of the Zablocki Committee. The concern a William A. Curtin Jr. and the Korean Freedom and Cultural Foundation. Curtin, an Army intelligence colonel, had been attached to the office of the Secretary of Defense. In 1959–60, he served a tour as adviser to the South Korean Army. In September 1960, he made a brief official trip to Japan and South Korea “where he met various ranking Korean government officials.”

His activities until his retirement in 1962 are not specified, but thereafter he devoted his time conning prominent Americans into lending their names or financial suport to the non-existent Korean Cultural and Freedom Foundation (KCFF). This was nominally to promote friendly relations between the two countries in commemoration of the Korean War, but in practice it was used to raise funds for propaganda, suborning of American politicians and funding KCIA operations in Japan and Korea as well as the U.S., according to Department of Justice reports.

The foundation was formally registered in 1964 by Curtain (vice-president) and two American dummy directors. Astonishingly, the two honorary predsidents were REAL presidents — Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower — and the KCCF president was Admiral Arleigh Burke of World War II fame.

The honorary chairman of KCFF was Kim Jong Pil, founder of the KCIA who used the Unification Church as his tool. Serving as vice-presidents were Dr. Yang Yu Chan, ROK ambassador to Washington, and (later) Pak Bo Hi, the Reverend Moon’s right-hand man. The board of directors and advisory board — more than 100 persons in all — is a veritable roster of the American political and financial elite. How Curtin, reported by the FBI to be a dipsomaniac and a sick man (he died in 1965), could have assembled such a brilliant array of supporters is puzzling indeed. Probably, the dignataries did not inquire too deeply into the affairs of the organization whose overt activities included the promotion of the Little Angels of Korea choral group and financial support for the APACL Freedom Centre (APACLFC) in Seoul, Korea, which was also a client of Asia Foundation...

Another project of KCFF was Radio of Free Asia (ROFA), established in 1966 with General Dwight Eisenhower, Admiral Burke, and Ambassador Chang as honorary heads and Pak Bo Hi as executive director. On the advisory council were six senators, 12 congressmen and eight state governors as well as Richard Nixon and Ed Sullivan. ROFA raised political funds for dubious destinations and beamed pro-American propaganda to Asia during the Vietnam War. The US Department of Justice heard many complaints about ROFA...and in 1971 showed signs of investigating it on suspicion of violating the Foreign Registration Act and abusing its privileges as a tax-free foundation.

Through divine providence or other means, Pak Bo Hi secured the legal services of Robert Amory Jr., former deputy director of the CIA and a law partner of Thomas G. Corcoran, an adviser to the CIA and a prominent lobbyist for the ROK and Taiwan. The Justice Department dropped the investigation like a radioactive potato, and the KCFF and ROFA continued their work for the KCIA unmolested until the Koreagate investigation brought them out into the shrivelling glare of public opinion.

These revelations do not tell us who or what is behind the Moon Machine’s brash operations in Japan. However, the Fraser Committee in Washington has been under increasing pressure from some quarters to investigate not only the US angle but also corrupt US-Tokyo-Seoul connections.

Related links below

Yasue Erikawa: An Often Unrecognized Asset

The Imperial Ghost in the Neoliberal Machine (Figuring the CIA) by Koichiro Osaka

On the Unification Church Inheriting the Moral Re-Armament Movement’s Role (and Resources on the MRA)

A Japanese Import Breaking through in Korea - Yasue Erikawa in a FFWPU (UC) publication in November 2009 about working in South Korea. Erikawa on Kook Jin, “"Kook-jin nim is very spiritual, and at the same time, very intelligent. Whom could I introduce to him? It was so difficult to think of a person who could interact with and work with Kook-jin nim…“

“Japanese Bridgehead” - on how the UC gained power in and through Japan

The IFVOC in Japan, and the UC’s Presence in Okinawa

CIA’s Front Organizations: Unification Church And WACL

The CIA in Japan After WWII

On the Unification Church in Japan - excerpted from Moonwebs

IFVOC’s Founding (According to the UC)

On the 1962 Reorganization of the Unification Church as a Political Tool of Japan, South Korea, and USA

The CAUSA Kingdom

The Unification Church and KCIA: Some Notes on Bud Han, Steve Kim, and Bo Hi Pak