GAZA: hiltzaileen eta esperantzaren artean (30) eta Scott Ritter

Azken bolada honetan ikusi dugunez (Israel, AEB eta NATO zale estatu guztiak errudun, Palestinaren genozidioan izeneko sarreretan), onik, deus gutxi espero daiteke NATO-ko estatu kide guztietatik…

Guk GAZA segituko dugu aipatzen.

oooooo

@tobararbulu # mm@tobararbuluhttps://modernmoney.wordpress.com/index/

abe. 18

Exactly right. ALL government spending is taxation.

The government either taxes you directly or, by increasing the money supply, taxes you through inflation.

Segida

Scott Ritter@RealScottRitter

Scott Ritter: Is the US Winning the Worldwide Competition?

(https://www.youtube.com/live/7gn73K5Qqag)

Transkripzioa:

0:05

hi everybody today’s Tuesday January 14th and our friend Scott Rider is back

0:11

with us welcome back Scott thanks for having me let’s talk about what’s going on right now between

0:19

Hamas and Israel they’re it seems that they’re reaching some sort of Ceasar in

0:24

Qatar how do you find the process of these sort of negotiations that are

0:30

going on right now and we don’t know what exactly that would

0:35

be well apparently the impetus behind this negotiation is Donald Trump who has

0:41

put both sides on notice that um that when he becomes president this conflict

0:47

needs to be over um Hamas appears ready to agree

0:54

um in many ways this would be a victory for Hamas even though they would not have achieved um

1:00

you know the statehood that they were looking for when this began on October 7th um they will have emerged undefeated

1:09

um it’ll be tragic I mean the cost paid by the Palestinians and the gazin in

1:14

particular is horrendous and uh the Reconstruction is a nightmare um but the

1:23

death and destruction will end humanitarian Aid will flow in and Gaza will remain Gaza um the talk of

1:31

depopulating Gaza um you know evicting all Palestinians from Gaza turning Gaza

1:37

into part of Greater Israel is over

1:43

um Trump has put tremendous pressure on Netanyahu personally um the problem for

1:49

Netanyahu right now is internally in Israel his far right uh Coalition um

1:56

which you know appears to be built around Ben gavier I think his minister of

2:02

interior are rejecting this and are saying that they will withdraw from the um government and collapse the

2:09

government if um if Netanyahu was to proceed but I don’t think Netanyahu has an option um I I think actually

2:17

Netanyahu if he could bring an end to this conflict and bring the hostages home might be able to cob together an

2:23

alternative Coalition uh capable of governing um that would disenfranchise

2:29

the far right um but in any event uh let’s just be straight up clear about

2:35

this this is happening because of Donald Trump and let this be a lesson to everybody who condemned Trump for you

2:43

know promoting or or for creating what they call the most pro-israeli cabinet

2:48

uh in in the history of the United States uh it might as well have been Israel they said well I think Donald

2:54

Trump just showed the lie to that that at the end of the day Donald Trump puts America first and right now he’s saying

3:01

that this conflict between Israel and Gaza is not good for America it’s damaging America around the world and it

3:07

has to come to an end the genocide must stop um and he’s putting a tremendous

3:13

amount of pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu something that I don’t think anybody expected um when the election uh you

3:21

know when the election results came in we know that Nao is just experienc in

3:30

some sort of internal pressure from Ben G and smotr are they going to resign in

3:36

your opinion I hope so I I’d love to see this government collapse and uh I’d love to see them

3:43

disenfranchised politically so that they were unable to influence Israeli politics they are extreme minority uh

3:51

they they they came into politics because Netanyahu desperately needed to create a governing Coalition so he

3:57

brought them in but um like I said I think to bring it into

4:03

this conflict Netanyahu should be able to Cobble together a um an alternative Coalition um you know that that doesn’t

4:11

include bav and M and these other fanatic right-wing genocide uh

4:18

supporters at the same time you’re witnessing that in Lebanon there are

4:24

some changes important changes in terms of the president the

4:30

prime minister right now and the communication between Hezbollah and these

4:35

people how do you see the situation in Lebanon right

4:41

now well it’s uh it’s an interesting development um you know we see now a

4:47

return you know to the there’s a president in Lebanon now that’s been

4:53

lacking for some time now in general aun is a um strong popular Christian uh

5:00

military man with um who brings about you know who has the Loyalty of the

5:05

Lebanese forces um and he has said that uh for Lebanon to go forward you can’t

5:12

have Hezbollah cannot be this independent militia you can’t in effect have two armies

5:19

um but I want to see how he balances this with um the uh the fact that Israel

5:27

continues to occupy illegally Southern Lebanon in violation of a ceasefire agreement in violation of anything um

5:34

Hezbollah has far more legitimacy when it comes to um being a resistance force

5:39

against Israeli occupation than they do when it comes to projecting um you know

5:47

military power into Israel um and aoun is going to have to step up and tell

5:53

Israel get the hell out of Lebanon that’s the only way he’s going to be able to dismantle Hezbollah is to tell

5:58

Israel get out of Le on and right now I don’t I don’t see that again this might be the next round for um for Donald

6:05

Trump you know once he solves the Gaza problem to send his a negotiator to Lebanon and um and again put the same

6:13

pressure on Israel just tell him to get the hell out I mean it’s as simple it’s the easiest order the United States can

6:19

give get the hell out of Lebanon you don’t belong there get the hell out and then you turn to the Lebanese and you

6:26

say fix the Hezbollah problem and at that point in time I think Hezbollah has

6:31

to redefine itself um not as a resistance movement but as a political

6:38

party uh you know participating in the overall Lebanese statehood experiment um

6:45

I think we’re looking at a time of transition it’s still there’s no Givens

6:50

Hezbollah is still a very powerful force uh but I think there’s a new political Dynamic at play here that’s not to

6:57

hezbollah’s Advantage in ter terms of you know retaining its um its resistance

7:03

capability and if Trump can get Israel with to withdraw from all of the

7:08

contested areas in um in Lebanon including Shiba Farms um I I

7:15

think then Israel gets a major accomplishment which is the end of Hezbollah as a military

7:22

organization the PO like I said there’s getting from where we are to

7:28

that is a long and winding road with no guaranteed you know no guarantees that

7:34

you will get to your final destination but that’s the path that uh right now appears to be opening up and presenting

7:42

itself we know that the main reason of Hezbollah the the existence of Hezbollah

7:48

is the occupation is Israel forces attack Southern the

7:55

southern part of Lebanon that’s why they exist but

8:00

how do you see because without Hezbollah as You’ mentioned they don’t have in Lebanon they don’t have any sort of

8:07

military power to respond in because Israel they cannot trust Israel in a

8:13

long run Israel can attack them any time at any moment and there has to be some

8:20

sort of understanding Mutual understanding because Donald Trump is not going to be the president of the

8:25

United States forever if we assume that he’s going to force Israel is to withdraw from Lebanon and these These

8:33

are huge concerns on the part of Lebanese um I think the biggest concern

8:39

on part of lebanes is peace and stability and economic Prosperity um I

8:44

think the day again if if Donald Trump can get Israel to withdraw from Southern

8:51

Lebanon um I think first of all it’s not going to be the end of Hezbollah it’ll

8:58

be the end of Hezbollah as a independent militia but the he Hezbollah military

9:04

capabilities can be absorbed into Lebanese Armed Forces as you know

9:09

independent autonomous brigades um that are fully capable of you know standing

9:16

up to Israel they’re the most combat hardened forces in Lebanon today um and

9:21

so yeah I like I said it’s there’s no guaranteed outcome here but I do think

9:26

that if you take away the reason for

9:32

Hezbollah to exist that is Israel’s ongoing occupation of Southern Lebanon hezel

9:40

loses legitimacy in the eyes of the Lebanese people if they continue to say

9:45

to to operate in disregard of lebanon’s sovereignty um and remember

9:52

leban heah has made a decision to be a political party uh participating in the

9:58

functions of government um the quickest way to lose credibility as a political party is to you know operate your

10:06

militia in a way that is seen by the majority of Lebanese as um harmful to

10:12

Lebanon as a nation state um I I I think that Hezbollah if the right conditions can be

10:19

met can be led down the path of incorporation into Lebanon in a way that would be acceptable by all parties and

10:27

then you lose the um Israel no longer needs to do overflights

10:33

uh of of of Lebanon and bomb Lebanon and intervene um if if Lebanon if Hezbollah

10:39

withdraws from the axis of resistance um then you know you have the

10:45

potential for peace and stability uh to to break out so we’ll we’ll see I mean

10:51

it’s there there’s a long way to go um but I I think there’s an exhaustion on

10:58

the part of parties um and then the other thing you have to take into account is Syria and the uncertainties

11:06

in neighboring Syria and um how essential it would be for Israel and

11:13

Lebanon and the United States and all parties to be honest to bring stability to Lebanon uh so they can stand up to

11:21

what is likely to become Decades of violent instability in neighboring

11:27

Syria as as you mentioned we cannot single out we cannot isolate these

11:33

problems Scott because the way that hasah was attacking Israel the northern

11:40

part of Israel and yemenis were attacking Israel as we talked they have hit again last night Israel beat their

11:50

missile because of the situation in Gaza here is the the main problem is Gaza if

11:57

they can bring some sort of sanity for the situation in Gaza they they can

12:03

easily talk with these parties which are involved deeply

12:08

involved in the conflict I mean Gaza is the key to the current situation um but remember um

12:17

Hezbollah and Israel were hooking and jabing even before October 7th because Israel’s continued occupation of the

12:23

Shabba Farms which Lebanon views as Lebanese territory um and now Israel

12:29

continues to occupy U Southern Lebanon so even if Gaza is resolved Lebanon will

12:35

not be resolved until which time Israel with withdraws from Southern Lebanon now Israel has withdrawn from sou or Israel

12:42

occupied Southern Lebanon because of hea’s role in creating a northern front

12:48

to assist Gaza and um again if you solve the Gaza problem everything else seems

12:54

to fall in line first of all if you solve the Gaza problem the hoodie will stop firing their missiles

13:00

that was their that’s been their condition all along um and I think Iran

13:05

is looking at a new geopolitical reality as well um

13:12

so I think there’s a great this is why I think Trump is putting so much emphasis on solving Gaza first because then other

13:20

things tend to solve themselves um if you can take

13:25

away the need for Iran to ower of an AIS

13:30

of resistance to support Hamas and its ongoing struggle against Israel um I

13:37

think you’ll find a path that could lead to

13:42

stability um and I think that’s the direction that Iran wants to go as well

13:47

I think Iran I mean there’s some important um conversations that were had recently by the head of the

13:54

irgc uh where he has said you know Iran Iran’s not going to be h Israel anytime

14:00

soon it’s just not on the table um he talked about Syria and the fact that

14:07

that’s going to become an Iranian you know priority that I mean if the

14:12

decision is made that Iran still retains sufficient connectivity to uh Syria uh

14:21

to Elites in Syria that Iran would be able to facilitate some sort of ongoing

14:27

um resistance um but is that really what Iran’s

14:33

priorities are Iran appears to also now have a opening um new front in Armenia

14:40

you know um concerned about you know what aeran and turkey are doing there um

14:46

so and then Iran also has the ongoing responsibility of trying to improve its

14:53

own economic reality uh which isn’t going to be improved if they continue to

14:59

put the you know sustaining an axis of resistance um an active militancy in the

15:07

region um so I I I think again you solve Gaza which Trump appears to

15:14

be you know trying to make his priority and the other

15:20

pieces if they don’t fall in line automatically at least we now can see

15:25

how this could look um you know the orian not which is you know can’t be

15:31

untangled suddenly starts to loosen and you say wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute I got this if we just do this if we just do that doesn’t mean it’s

15:38

going to happen but it means now for the first time you can start to visualize uh things um and this you know I think the

15:46

loser in all this is the Palestinian people because this stability does not

15:56

um bode well for the of a Palestinian State um I think Trump has already shown

16:04

the way that he handled the um you know the Abrams Accords when he was president the first time that he’s willing to

16:10

sacrifice any realistic statehood aspirations on Palestine and in exchange

16:16

for words that on our paper that mean nothing um because his priority is to

16:22

create a stable region that has Israel peacefully coexisting with its not just

16:29

Arab neighbors but Gulf Arab states Etc and if you can get the I mean it was

16:34

interesting in Israel you had some strategic uh thinkers in in mainstream Israeli National Security dialogue

16:41

saying that um maybe the number one threat to Israel is no longer the Iran project but um

16:48

ottoman Turkey um and that should be the the focus this creates all sorts of

16:54

again potential opportunities going forward

16:59

don’t you think that defining Israel’s borders would be a an important step

17:06

toward any sort of stability in the region because right now they don’t want

17:12

to Define their borders this is this is hugely problematic the only country that

17:19

is not defining their borders which is I don’t

17:24

know what do they have in their mind after all it’s so important when it

17:30

comes they can bring some sort of peace they can put the Syrian the new the the

17:37

the situation between turkey and Israel in a in a in a position that all parties

17:45

would agree but after all Israel is just expanding this mindset of colonialism is

17:50

just continuing in the in the in the head of these people in Israel is that

17:56

possible by the end of Trump’s presidency by this by the end of his term he can force them to Define their

18:03

borders of course he can let’s just again let’s just clear the air here

18:09

Israel’s nothing without the United States Israel is nothing without the United States Israel can do nothing

18:16

without the United States and it’s rare that you get an American president willing to stand up to Israel you know

18:23

Donald Trump may have turned out to have fooled us all taking aund million from ad Widow

18:29

and bringing in all the zionists and surrounding himself with zionists but at the end of the day as I’ve said

18:34

repeatedly none of those people matter Marco Rubio doesn’t matter uh Mike

18:40

Huckaby doesn’t matter Elise stefanic doesn’t matter none of these people matter the only person that matters is

18:47

Donald Trump and for the next four years Donald Trump’s going to do what Donald Trump wants to do he has the Mandate and

18:54

he he has in his mind figured out Washington DC how to make things work

19:00

people can mock him all they want we’re going to get Greenland by the way whether we want it or whether you

19:06

support it or not and everybody at the beginning say n it’s Don we’re gonna get Greenland make fun of Donald Trump at

19:11

your own risk we’re gonna get the Panama Canal make fun of Donald Trump at your own risk and he will tell Israel what

19:18

the hell he wants Israel to do and Israel is going to do it make fun of Donald Trump at your own risk I mean

19:24

there are places where he can’t push I I I don’t think he’s gonna get very far pushing against um Vladimir Putin in

19:32

Russia uh because he doesn’t have the kind of Leverage uh but you know he can bring an into that Conflict by telling

19:41

NATO to pound sand which he’s going to do I mean the his nominee for Secretary of Defense

19:47

today straight up said Ukraine’s not our priority so you

19:54

know what why does NATO exist again my my point is this we have a president now

20:01

who understands what power is and we use that power and he’s operating against

20:07

people who are unaccustomed to this kind of brutal application of American power

20:14

and what I mean brutal I don’t mean violent I’m just saying just straight in your face straight in your face no

20:20

diplomacy this is just straight up in your face you’re going to do this imagine the conversations that are being

20:25

held with Benjamin n yahu right now this isn’t Tony blankin coming in and saying

20:30

I’m a Zionist and I will do this isn’t you know anybody from the Biden Administration coming in and and giving

20:37

Netanyahu you know the opportunity to stand up and and puff up these guys come

20:43

in there as soon as Netanyahu puffs up a pin hits it boom and they’re just straight up with it we will crush you we will destroy you we will take you down

20:50

okay you you will do what we tell you to do that’s a a new sheriff in town um so

20:58

again will it work we’ll see what happens when somebody calls Trump’s

21:03

Bluff I’m always worried about such forceful um you know in-your-face thing

21:08

because if they call your bluff you better be you better kick their ass right now I mean if I’m going to be the neighborhood bully and I go around and I

21:16

and I do the first person steps up to me I have to take him down take him down hard and then turn to everybody else

21:21

said you want a piece of this to let everybody know what the consequences are that’s a dangerous um year I’m not in

21:29

favor of it I’m just saying that Donald Trump may have fooled us all everybody

21:34

who looked at his cabinet and said man this is about making greater Israel and all this no Donald Trump is about making

21:41

America great again in the Middle East is a huge drag on that aspiration so

21:48

he’s out to resolve this issue so that America can disengage instead of doubling

21:54

down it seems that there are two envoys on the part of the United States in

21:59

these talks in Qatar one of them is from the Biden Administration the other is

22:05

from the Trump Administration why the Trump Administration need somebody

22:10

there there’s no bid Administration Envoy no no I mean he’s physically there

22:17

but I could come on you’re at the table and you got a guy a weak president who’s

22:23

brain dead um Tony blinkin who’s already on his Farewell to her Jake sulliv who is unplugged and you got a guy there who

22:31

in a week doesn’t matter who’s incapable putting any pressure on the

22:37

Israelis and then you got the guy in the shadow he doesn’t really count because he’s not with the government but

22:42

everybody’s looking at him they’re all talk Talking they’re looking at him and he’s going to be sitting there going

22:49

no yep he’s the only one that counts he is literally the only one that counts

22:54

Biden will TR take try and take credit for whatever ceasefire if a CE fire is done before Trump can comes in but trust

23:01

me without that pressure being put on the Trump by the Trump U you know

23:08

representative none of this would be happening because Biden is incapable of telling first of all Israel can Outlast

23:14

Biden Biden’s gone in a week in a week he’s gone you can hold your breath for a week

23:21

not really but you know what I’m just saying what what influence can Biden bring to bear none in a week he’s gone

23:29

and then a week plus one day there’s only one voice that counts

23:36

and that’s the one that’s sitting in the corner right now nodding or shaking his head that’s it that’s the only voice

23:42

that matters because he’s connected to the only leader that matters which is Donald Trump the world knows this so

23:50

yeah they’re forget about Biden forget about that

23:55

guy it’s a failed Administration trying to fix failed policy they could

24:01

have had this ceasefire a long time ago if Biden had acted like Donald Trump if Biden had sat down with the Israelis and

24:08

said not not just no but hell no you want bombs you ain’t getting bombs you want spare part you’re not

24:14

getting Speare Parts we’re not doing this we’re not we’re not we’re not doing any of this stop it right now or else I

24:20

unplug everything you’ll collapse before I Collapse that’s a guarantee I will take

24:27

you down that’s all you have to say to him I will take you down when was the last time Joe

24:33

Biden uh you tweeted out uh Jeffrey Jeffrey sack’s uh condemnations of

24:40

Israel if Joe Biden do that Donald Trump just did it it’s about as in your face as it gets

24:48

sort of indicative of what’s going on behind the scenes so yeah

24:53

[Music] no there’s only one Sheriff right now he ain’t wearing the badge but everybody

25:00

knows that there’s two holes in his his co- pocket on January 20th the badge slides right in so are there

25:08

negotiations behind the scene between Iran and the United States I’m talking about the Trump Administration are they

25:15

what are there negotiations going on between the Trump Administration and

25:21

Iranians I think Donald Trump said something interesting he but he said it in the context of Russia he said you

25:26

know I want a meeting with Putin but that can only happen after I become president because I don’t have any

25:34

Authority before then

25:39

so I think what you have

25:46

is public and private declaratory policy taking place

25:52

you can’t call it a negotiation because that becomes a legal isue under the Logan Act

25:58

but let’s say you’re an Iranian official and I’m a trump guy I can sit down with

26:04

you you know by a te and say you

26:09

know yeah I think I you know I think I can

26:16

see a world where um sanctions you know were lifted you know the president said

26:21

that see I don’t have I’m not negotiating I just point to his his previous statements made by the president said you know he put sanctions

26:28

on because he wanted to achieve a result but he also said he could take sanctions off I I see conditions could exist where

26:35

the president could want to take sanctions I I could I could see that and then you might say well what conditions

26:40

could that be I would imagine that we would have to bring back major aspects of the JCP but permanent no Sunset

26:48

Clauses you know your nuclear program has to come under grip because right now

26:53

you’re close even your own statements talk about being how close you are to nuclear capability

26:58

H we’re just not going to that’s not what we’re comfortable with um if that’s the case I see sanctions staying on but

27:05

I could see sanctions lifted if that change see that’s not a negotiation that’s just a discussion about

27:10

possibilities potential you know and the Iranians might say well you know you know this we we’re worried about this a

27:17

push back here d d d yeah I could see that you know but but it’s not a

27:22

negotiation that’s a formal negotiation because neither side is in a position to negotiate but I do believe that there’s

27:30

informal declaratory discussions taking place where policy is being defined um and

27:39

exchanged points of view so that when the first meeting does take place uh it starts from a foundation of

27:47

realism and not you know you don’t end up wasting your time going in

27:53

um you know trying to push policies that aren’t going to be accepted or you know

27:59

get ahead of the game and all that I think there is a dialogue taking place

28:05

so that the first time that they meet um it’ll be a productive session that that seeks to

28:11

move forward I think Donald Trump understands the danger of failure because again we come through

28:18

the you know peace through strength

28:24

posturing I think Donald Trump is very serious about peace very serious about peace and I think that he could be

28:31

reasonable um in in in pursuit of that um but the danger is that if he becomes

28:37

too aggressive in his posture and he gets push back um that if he doesn’t

28:44

stand up to that push back then he’s not seen as being strong and that’s the

28:50

that’s the real danger here so I think Trump is smart enough to allow a

28:55

dialogue to take place that doesn’t get him to the point where he’s forcing the

29:00

Iranians to commit to something they’re not ready to commit uh and therefore he

29:06

avoids being in that trap of well they rejected me I now have to look strong kind of thing he wants the hell out of

29:12

there he doesn’t want to be in the Middle East not like

29:17

this when whenever we talk about the relationship between Iran and the United

29:23

States the country that comes to the mind of the people is Israel because you talk with

29:30

Iranians and I talk with Iranians I talk with the people in the United

29:35

States and both of them are agreeing on that the main problem is Israel and ntho

29:42

which is not willing to have to see this sort of relationship between Iran and

29:47

the United States do you think that

29:52

n has n still has that sort of Leverage to put to not let these people talking

30:00

connecting or maybe improving the relationship between Iran and the United States no he doesn’t have that leverage

30:08

at all and if you know I mean we we see that right now with with the Gaza

30:14

situation um and and the other thing we have to

30:20

understand is Netanyahu isn’t just politically fragile he’s he’s legally

30:26

fragile he has to worry about you know if if benir pulls out and the

30:31

government collapses there’s an Israeli Court ready to snatch him up put him on trial for corruption and there’s a

30:36

hearing about October 7th where he could be found criminally um you know liable for his leadership failures um he’s also

30:46

poor health he just came out of um you know cancer prostate cancer surgery

30:51

stage three um you know he’s not long for this world and um

30:59

he if he was 30 years old 35 years old in good health I’d say man we got a

31:05

problem but he’s he’s a man looking death in the eyes and looking his political Legacy in the eyes and

31:12

understanding that if he doesn’t play his cards right he could be out of office very quickly and um in a lot of U

31:19

you know legal Jeopardy um and you and I and Trump I think Trump knows this and

31:26

Trump is playing these cards um so yeah I don’t see Israel getting in the way of this if if the United States

31:35

doesn’t solve the Iranian nuclear problem that strengthens netanyahu’s

31:40

hand because he can simply play Trump’s words back to his face and you said you

31:45

will never allow a nuclear Iran and yet that’s I know you didn’t do this Biden did it but you have missed an

31:52

opportunity to stop that um but so he he

31:59

you know American failure will Empower him but if if Trump can move forward and get the Iranians and again if any

32:05

Iranians are watching this I’ll just say you guys have to understand that you do have a path out of this um that that

32:13

doesn’t have to end in war and it doesn’t have to be the complete surrender of Iran it just means that

32:18

your nuclear your nuclear program has to come under very stringent control by the

32:24

international atomic energy energy agency forever forever

32:31

um and then I think Trump is willing to move forward and and stop this this

32:38

regime change nonsense um but as long as Iran is talking about the potential for

32:44

a nuclear war then the United States is going to try to apply the Syria plan to Iran sanction it to death break it down

32:50

from within put external power forces on it from the side and eventually it collapses um

32:58

so you know and I know a lot of people when I say this you I know a lot of people

33:04

especially people who are um supporters of the aess of resistance supporters of

33:10

um you know Iran being this strong Nation standing up to everybody um

33:15

people who have called zarif a traitor you know um people who are heavily CR

33:20

critical of the curtain current president um this this rubs them the wrong way but this is a political

33:26

reality this is a new political reality Iran’s not in a good position right now

33:32

they have a potential being in a very good position you know but I think a lot of Hope is being placed on this January

33:39

17th um agreement between Russia and Iran um it’ll be interested to see what

33:44

that agreement spells out you know probably secret annexes and all that kind of stuff but I don’t think it’s

33:50

going to be you know a NATO like agreement with Article 5 U you

33:55

know you know self-defense Collective defense uh protocols uh I don’t think

34:01

it’s going to be that um I think the path is free for Iran to move forward

34:07

with bricks and and things of that nature but it can’t be with the nuclear weapons

34:13

program here is Scott here is what Joe Biden said and this situation The Who Joe Biden who’s

34:22

he I’m joking go ahead here is what he said about this the way that he’s handing the government over to to Donald

34:32

Trump right now in my view thanks to our Administration the United States is winning the worldwide

34:39

competition compared to four years ago America is stronger our alliances are

34:45

stronger our adversaries and competitors are weaker we have not gone to war to

34:51

make these things happen during my presidency I’ve increased America’s power at every dimension inreased our

34:58

diplomatic power creating more allies than the United States has ever had in the history of our nation we’ve

35:04

increased our military power making the most significant investments in the defense industrial base in decades we

35:11

increased the technology power taking the lead in artificial intelligence and other Technologies of the future and

35:17

we’ve increased the economic power building the most dynamic economy in the

35:23

world Scott just look at these four years of Joe Biden been in power in the

35:30

United States two conflict two devastating conflict one in the Middle East and the other one in Ukraine the

35:37

way that he destroyed the economy of Europe and and China was the winner of

35:44

what has happened both in the Middle East and in Ukraine and he’s still

35:50

believing that he put the United States in a better position when while he’s leaving

35:55

Washington yeah it’s a total fantasy spin operation every point he made the

36:01

truth is the exact opposite I

36:06

mean as Mark ruy rightfully said I mean I I love it Joe by in our economy Health

36:13

including the defense base in the you know defense industry and

36:19

not well Ru pointed out the reality that Russia produces in three months through its defense industry what all of NATO

36:26

including the United States produces in a year good job Joe I mean come on that’s

36:33

pathetic uh Asia uh last time I checked it was Indonesia that joined bricks

36:39

Malaysia and Thailand are getting ready to join bricks Philippines is sniffing around bricks we lost Asia we lost it uh

36:47

Japan and South Korea are two political jokes you have a you know a prime minister in Japan who’s very fragile can

36:54

be replaced at a moment’s notice um and you have a president South Korea who’s about to be arrested for impeachment for

37:01

declaring martial law how’s that democracy looking there Joe um Europe

37:07

NATO is over fin he killed NATO because of the Ukraine conflict European Union

37:12

is in similar danger of collapsing um we are more isolated today politically than

37:19

we or diplomatically than we have ever been I don’t know how he’s counting up um you know what we went and made

37:24

diplomatic relations with you know 15 uh Pacific Islands and we’re saying that this represents what um Russia is more

37:33

powerful diplomatic we didn’t isolate Russia uh China the the Prime Minister the yeah foreign minister of China just

37:40

did a very successful Africa tour uh that shows the the role played by China in that region lavro is sort of a

37:47

superstar wherever he goes as opposed to blinkin um our military is a joke a

37:56

joke and

38:01

this country is forever divided because of Joe Biden uh I mean it takes two to

38:06

tango so Donald Trump gets a lot of credit for that too but Joe Biden you know mastered the politics of you know

38:14

divisiveness so none of what Joe Biden said was true all of it’s a lie but

38:20

again I just underscore nobody’s listening to him nobody cares

38:28

he’s not a successful president he’s a man who had a coup launched against him by his own party

38:35

because he’s brain dead uh nobody trusts him nobody believes in him that

38:41

speech in in a week nobody will remember a word said there this isn’t you know

38:47

Eisenhower’s farewell address this is Joe Biden’s just pathetic

38:52

mumbling uh there’s been no successes on the part of the Biden Administration

38:58

none and that’s the reality and what’s so funny that he’s

39:05

talking about in the same talk in in the same speech that he gave he said that

39:11

he’s the only President of the United States that is not handing over recent president of the United States that is

39:16

not handing the situation of Afghanistan over to the next

39:22

living that’s like me saying that uh I’m not handing over

39:28

I don’t know I mean I’m not I’m not handing you my car because I crashed it normally when I when I leave I my job

39:36

I hand you the company car and I say here’s the company car but I’m not handing it two time because I crashed it

39:44

you I crashed because I was irresponsible and incompetent again he’s a joke this is

39:50

why nobody this time next week once Trump sworn in

39:58

nobody will mention Joe Biden’s name for a long time because it’s IR real when Trump

40:04

came in and took over from Obama Obama’s name was mentioned all the time because

40:10

Obama whether you liked him or not was a a competent evil politician but he was

40:16

competent um Joe Biden is incompetent um he’s not leaving anything

40:22

that’s solid everything he leaves will be be swept away by uh by Donald Trump

40:28

there’s no Biden Legacy other than the incompetency of the Biden Administration

40:34

so my guess is that in in 10 days time the only name that’s going to be on

40:39

everybody’s lips is Donald Trump nobody will be saying ah man wish

40:45

we had Joe Biden or you know the Biden thing Biden left him a legacy Biden did this they won’t even be looking back

40:52

it’ll be Donald Trump dictating outcomes that’s the reality

40:58

thank you so much Scott for being with us today great pleasure as always well thanks for having me and um wish me luck

41:05

I’m bringing in uh Anya k for a book tour I’m I’m heading out this is why we’re cutting it short today I have to

41:12

head up to New York City to pick her up at the airport and we begin tomorrow in the Bronx and then on the 19th what are

41:19

you gonna have together tell our audience what you going to have together you and Anya about you’re you’re going

41:26

to talk about your book yeah yeah we have a book called um covering Ukraine and we’re doing uh three events uh we’re

41:33

doing one in the Bronx tomorrow um you can go to Scott r.com if you’re interested in going um the Bronx event

41:39

is a ticketed event it’s at a restaurant uh great Italian Restaurant The Bronx you get a you get a meal you get the

41:46

book and you get Anya and I are discussing the book and discussing Ukraine you know we just said Ukraine is

41:54

going to be one of the dominant topics going forward how to get out of it now you have a chance to uh you know to

42:00

participate in discussion to empower yourself with knowledge and information on uh the 19th the day before the inauguration we’ll be doing a second

42:07

book event at bus boys and Poets at their 14th in v um uh Street location uh

42:13

starts at uh I believe at um 7 um and um

42:21

and then on the 21st in pipy at uh farmers and chefs at Great venue um again a ticketed event you get a world

42:28

class uh meal you get the book and you get the conversation so three events uh

42:34

the 15th the 19th and the 21st um and uh

42:40

you know it’ll be a chance to talk to both of us about you know how this book

42:45

came into being and the thought process behind it into uh into probe deeper into

42:51

you know what we think is going to happen in U in Ukraine going forward so

42:56

if if anybody can make it the Bronx on the 15th Washington DC on the 19th or pipy New York on the uh 21st go to Scot

43:04

r.com and it’ll tell you how to get there good luck Scott thank you so much

43:10

thank you bye

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Scott Ritter/U.S. Tour of Duty@USTourofDuty

You reposted

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Ask the Inspector/U.S. Tour of Duty Report Card 2024, Prognosis 2025

Scott Ritter

Jan 15, 2025

The author addresses the Peace and Freedom Rally, Kingston, New York, September 28, 2024

Thank you!

Your donations helped make 2024 a very eventful and productive year. Your continued donations can help make 2025 just as successful—or even more.

The entire Ask the Inspector/U.S. Tour of Duty team thanks you from the bottom of our hearts.

And if humanity had any sense, they’d thank you as well.

Because your donations helped pave the way for peace between the United States and Russia, and helped avert a nuclear war.

And we plan on doing the same thing in the year to come.

2024 was a year of great trial and tribulation for the Ask the Inspector/U.S. Tour of Duty (ATI/USToD) team. Throughout 2023 we had raised donations in support of a campaign we called “Waging Peace” which got its start in May 2023 when I made my initial visit to Russia as a guest of Alexander Zyrianov, a Russian businessman from Novosibirsk. “Waging Peace” was a campaign designed to address the problem of Russophobia here in the United States—the irrational fear of Russia, born of ignorance, which the US government used to engender support for policies promulgated on the notion that Russia was an enemy of America.

I returned to Russia—again, as the guest of Alexander Zyrianov—in December 2023, and remained through January 20, 2024. This was done with the support of ATI/USToD donations, and the visit played a huge role in advancing the “Waging Peace” mission. There were many highlights of this visit, but one that stood out was my meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic, and my impromptu speech in front of 25,000 fully armed Chechen soldiers where I called for an end to the war in Ukraine and their return to a peaceful life with their families.

The author (left) at a lunch meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov (right), January 5, 2024

I returned from my second trip full of energy and ideas on how to proceed with the “Waging Peace” mission. Alexander Zyrianov and I had agreed that there should be a third “Waging Peace” trip to Russia, this one an expansive journey involving the ATI/USToD team which would last more than 40 days and take us “from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea and Everywhere in Between.” With the help of the generous donations from our supporters, the ATI/USToD team began preparations to bring a documentary film crew with us to capture the experience (which included such planned events as broadcasting ATI from each Russian city/destination we traveled to, and implementing an ambitious “pen pal” program which would help connect Russian and Americans committed to the cause of peaceful coexistence based upon mutual respect for, and understanding of, the culture, values, and history of our two nations. In addition to the planned “Waging Peace” documentary, the ATI/USToD team was planning to delve into the world of self-publishing, where we would release an accompanying book, the publication of which would be timed with the release of the film.

Scott discusses this article and answers audience questions on Ep. 229 of Ask the Inspector.

There were other related projects as well—a unique soundtrack for the documentary which would involve the noted music producer (and a friend of the ATI/USToD team) Malcolm Burn, working with Russian artists, and plans for a “Yalta 2.0” conference on international law, which we were planning in cooperation with the Crimean Governor, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Center for Citizen Initiatives, an American non-profit with experience in Russia.

We spent a great deal of money and invested untold hours of time in preparing for this adventure. Unfortunately, the US government had other plans—I was prevented from boarding my flight out of JFK on June 3 by three armed Customs and Border Protection officers, who seized my passport under instructions from the State Department.

Alexander Zyrianov in pre-trial detention, June 4, 2024

Apparently the “Waging Peace” project, and its underlying mission of defeating Russophobia in America, was too great a threat to the US Government, committed as it was to a proxy war against Russia using Ukraine that was designed to achieve Russia’s strategic defeat.

It appeared that there were similar sentiments in certain circles inside Russia as well—on the same day that the US Government seized my passport, the Russian FSB arrested Alexander Zyrianov on manufactured charges of corruption. While these charges have since been shown to be false, Alexander remains in pre-trial detention because of new charges leveled against him by local Novosibirsk politicians who felt threatened that Alexander’s star had begun to burn too brightly.

The seizure of my passport and the arrest of Alexander Zyrianov was a heavy blow to the ATI/USToD team—many thousands of dollars had been spent in support of a project the fruition of which was now very much in doubt. Undaunted, we regrouped and jump-started a new project, “Operation DAWN,” based upon four basic questions being asked of the American electorate in the upcoming 2024 Presidential election: What would you do to save Democracy, America, and the World through your vote in November? Working together with Gerald Celente, the editor of Trends Journal and the long-time host of an annual peace rally in Kingston, New York every summer, the ATI/USToD team began advocating against nuclear war, and making this opposition a key issue in the upcoming election.

FBI agents after executing a search warrant at the author’s home, August 7, 2024

Apparently, this was too much for the US Government, which on August 7 ordered the FBI to execute a search warrant at my home in Delmar, New York, ostensibly on suspicion that I was acting as an agent of the Russian government, in violation of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) as part of a larger scheme to interfere in the 2024 Presidential election. No charges were filed, but my personal electronics (computers and cellphone) were seized, along with the entire archive I had relied upon to counter the US government’s lies about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Rather than allowing ourselves to be intimidated by such strong-arm tactics, the ATI/USToD team doubled down on our activism, speaking out in defense of our First Amendment right to free speech—and that of others, such as the Uhuru-3—and aggressively pushing forward with “Operation DAWN.”

The author and friends on stage at the Kingston “Rally for Peace”, September 28, 2024.

On September 28, we kick-started the “Operation DAWN” campaign in Kingston, New York, with a four-hour rally that combined music with impassioned presentations dedicated to the cause of peace and saying no to nuclear war. I, Gerald Celente, Judge Andrew Napolitano, and Joe Lauria each delivered powerful presentations which were delivered to an enthusiastic live audience as well as hundreds of thousands of viewers who tuned in to the live-streamed event. I took the opportunity to premier an anti-war music video featuring a song written and sung by my daughter, Patricia, and illustrated by her sister, Victoria, and Victoria’s fiancé, Sam, which was ably produced by Malcolm Burn, who graciously provided his home recording studio for our use. Country music performer Garret Steele entertained the crowd in between presentations, and we were all thrilled by the guest appearance of Roger Waters, who spoke to the crowd live via video before playing a music video he had prepared specially for the occasion.

(from left to right) Danny Haiphong, Russell Dobular, the author and Garland Nixon at the “Operation DAWN” panel in New York City, October 26, 2024

We were just getting started. On October 26 the ATI/USToD team organized a panel discussion/brunch at the Tudor City Steakhouse in downtown Manhattan, which furthered the underlying theme of saying no to nuclear war and which served as the core message of “Operation DAWN.” The event brought together such notable speakers as Judge Andrew Napolitano (“Judging Freedom”), Dennis Fritz and Larry Wilkerson (from the Eisenhower Media Network, which co-sponsored the event), noted podcaster/activists Garland Nixon, Danny Haiphong, and Russell Dobular, independent congressional candidates Diane Sayer and Jose Vega, WBAI radio host Randy Credico, and the hosts of ATI, Jeff Norman and myself, for an afternoon of informed discussion and dialogue.

On election night the author joined Gerald Celente, Joe Lauria and Garland Nixon for a six-hour marathon live panel discussion about the election results and what it meant for the United States going forward.

We followed this up with a post-election, three panel extravaganza, hosted at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, where we gathered some of the top military, political, and social activist personalities in the alternative media world for a major live-streamed event intended to sustain the anti-nuclear war momentum we had helped achieve through the election of Donald Trump. This event was preceded by meetings with congressional members and their staffs, where specific policy options were discussed that could help prevent a nuclear war from breaking out between Russia and the US prior to Trump taking office.

The event poster for the December 6 “No Nuclear War” event held at the National Press Club

The author and U.S. Tour of Duty project director Jeff Norman at the National Press Club

While preventing nuclear war was the primary objective of “Operation DAWN,” it was advanced hand in glove with the cause of defending free speech. The US government’s unrelenting efforts to intimidate me into silence underscored the reality that void of free speech, the “No Nuclear War” platform embraced by “Operation DAWN” would be criminalized by a US government unable and unwilling to engage on this subject based upon the facts.

The FARA argument used by the FBI to justify the raid on my home in August was the centerpiece of a prosecution undertaken by the Justice Department targeting the Uhuru 3 (Chairman Omali Yeshitela, Jesse Nevel, and Penny Hess), a black nationalist group falsely accused of being Russian agents under FARA. While a jury had found the Uhuru 3 not guilty of the charge of being Russian agents, because of muddled jury instructions, they found the defendants guilty of conspiring to be foreign agents of Russia.

Chairman Omali (left) and the author (right) at the sentencing of the Uhuru 3 in December 2024

Given the direct relationship between the Uhuru 3 case and the allegations of FARA violations being hinted at about me by the US government, I took a special interest in the proceedings, calling the trial of the Uhuru 3 the “trial for the United States of America.” We used the ATI platform to talk with Chairman Omali and the other Uhuru 3 defendants, and I participated in a rally in Washington, DC in support of the Uhuru 3. I was also present at the sentencing of the Uhuru 3 in Tampa, Florida, where the judge, realizing that justice had not been served, set down for the defendants an all-probation sentence.

To sum up, 2024 was a year of unfulfilled expectations combined with new opportunities that led to great successes.

In short, I give the ATI/USToD team a solid “A” grade for effort, and a similar grade for results.

None of this could have happened without the generous donations of our supporters and subscribers.

2025 looks to be a year of great opportunity. Not prone to stay idle, the ATI/USToD team is starting the year running, hosting Ania K, my co-author and collaborator for our new book, Covering Ukraine, for a week-long book tour in the United States that will see events in New York City (January 15), Washington DC (January 19) and Poughkeepsie, New York (January 21). The purpose of the tour is far more than promoting book sales—the goal is to use the opportunity of having myself and Ania K on stage together to not only talk about the Ukraine conflict and the prospects for peace now that Trump has been elected, but also the power of collaboration when it comes to alternative media.

INFO/TICKETS

We will continue to promote alternative media collaboration, furthering the “family of podcasts” cooperation that we began last year, which saw podcasts hosted by Judge Napolitano, Gerald Celente, Graland Nixon, Wilmur Leon, Danny Haiphong, Jimmy Dore, Nima Rostami Alkhorshid, Cynthia Pooler, Ania K, Rachel Blevins and others work together to bring viewership to ideas and messages of mutual value. Because of this partnership, the ATI/USToD team has been able to reach audiences that number in the millions, outstripping mainstream media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC.

In the coming year, the ATI/USToD team will look to expand its reach, looking for new opportunities on Telegram and X, and to enter into an exciting partnership with the Eisenhower Media Network.

We will also continue our collaboration with Malcolm Burn, where we have plans for an exciting foray into musical diplomacy.

(from left to right) Patricia Ritter, Malcolm Burn, and the author, in Kingston, New York

We will likewise be working with social activists to improve our outreach capabilities, including an exciting project in collaboration with Jose Vega that will take us into the brave new world of self-publishing.

“Operation DAWN” will continue to be a top priority, where we will hold the Trump administration’s feet to the fire when it comes to preventing nuclear war, while expanding our efforts into arms control and the need for nuclear disarmament.

2025 will also see the “Waging Peace” project resurrected, with plans to travel to Russia already underway. This effort, however, will be difficult so long as my good friend, Alexander Zyrianov, remains imprisoned. The wheels of justice turn slowly, but I remain optimistic that Alexander will soon be released back into the arms of his loving wife, and that we can resume our collaboration on bringing the people of our two nations together in peace.

Alexander Zyrianov (left) and the author (right) in Moscow, January 2024

The year ahead is full of hope and the promise of peace. But this lofty objective cannot be achieved without hard work. The ATI/USToD team is ready to continue to work hard for peace. We expect that the year will be full of challenges, and we are confident in our ability to overcome them all.

But we can only do this with the continued generous support of our supporters and subscribers.

Your investment will not be in vain.

Last year you helped prevent a nuclear war and successfully defended free speech.

This year?

The sky is the limit.

With your help.

Thank you very much,

The ATI/USToD Team
Scott Ritter, Jeff Norman, Ryan Milton, Jose Vega, Jelena K, Alexandra Madornaya, Jon Curl, Adam Marksby and Morgan Blythe.

Jeff Norman, Ryan Milton, and the author with friends

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Tyrone@RelearningEcon

We Basques do need a real Basque independent State in the Western Pyrenees, just a democratic lay or secular state, with all the formal characteristics of any independent State: Central Bank, Treasury, proper currency, out of the European Distopia and faraway from NAT0, maybe being a BRICS partner…

Ikus Euskal Herriaren independentzia eta Mikel Torka

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MMT: Modern Monetary Theory

Understanding how money works so that we can address climate change easily and prosperously plus address AI’s impact on humanity.

Members: https://x.com/i/communities/1672597800385921024/members

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