Scandalous Speech
Scandalized,
Russia and US to hold ‘high-level’ meeting in Munich – Trump Ukrainian representatives are “also invited,” the US leader added The Munich Security Conference is taking place from February 14 to 16 in Munich, Germany. US Vice President J.D. Vance will lead the American delegation, and is expected to meet with Vladimir Zelensky. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the conference is an opportunity for American officials to “lay out a broad path forward” on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, US presidential envoy Keith Kellogg is reportedly expected to make it clear that the US has no intention of deploying troops to protect Ukraine and wants Washington’s European NATO allies to increase their defense spending.
Russian officials have not attended the Munich Conference since 2022, and Moscow has yet to confirm its participation this year or announce the composition of its delegation. https://swentr.site/news/612680-russia-us-munich-trump/
Alex Krainer has been on this for a long time, but his book got banned. Why US-Russia relations matter more than anyone knew? Hegel prophesized, that, America is the land where, in the ages that lie before us, "the burden of the World’s history shall reveal itself." Those ages have begun. President Trump posted a statement on his TruthSocial platform that he had a "lengthy and productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia." Among other things, Trump stated that he and Putin, "each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together."... ..Other commenters said that the US is dominated by the banking cartel of the Wall Street - City of London axis of evil, that these bankers hate Russia and will not allow friendly relations between the two powers to hold. Now we’re getting closer to “Mordor.” The role of the banking cartel has been critical in defining the US-Russia relations, reminding us once more of Lord Acton's statement that, "The issue that has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks."... ..Trusting in the commonality of Russian and American interests, Putin has indeed maintained this attitude even in the face of disapproval on the part of many Russians. One Russian diplomat told Lev Alburt that, “In our government, there is only one man who still believes that Russo-American partnership is possible, and worth aiming for. Because that man is Vladimir Putin the rest of us follow.”
One possible reason why Vladimir Putin might believe in the commonality of U.S. and Russian interest is because he understood that the enemy that has had Russia in its crosshairs for over two centuries now, is the same system, or structure of power that has taken the American people and their government captive, squandering America’s wealth and destroying her prosperity in their drive to build a global empire. This enemy is the global financial oligarchy that has been able to impose control over most nations of the world through their system of money and credit and their central banking franchise... ..This very same financial oligarchy that took control of the Bank of England and set up the Federal Reserve System in the U.S., has today spawned a global central banking franchise that controls most of the world’s central banks. The ultimate owners of this system belong to the same dynastic oligarchy that has over the centuries supported multiple attacks on Russia, from Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), Crimean War (1853-1856), the Bolshevik Coup (1917), Hitler’s 1941 invasion, as well as the 1990s raid conducted under the guise of Shock Therapy transition... ..Perhaps he has resolved instead to build bridges of understanding and cooperation with Russia’s American friends and work together to rid both nations, and perhaps all of humanity, of the money changers for good. If this truly is Mr. Putin’s game plan, and if he finds in the United States true partners and allies in this struggle, we may be so fortunate to witness a new U.S.-Russian alliance.
Gilbert Doctorow, J.D. Vance speech to the Munich Security Conference I urge you to watch Vice President Vance’s speech to the plenary session of the Munich Security Conference earlier today. It was surely the most important speech given at this venue since Vladimir Putin delivered his lengthy criticism of United States hegemonic behavior and the monopolar world in 2007... ..Vance opened by saying that the biggest threat to Europe comes not from Russia or China or other external threats. It comes from within by the antidemocratic instincts and behavior of those in power, who trample free speech in the name of fighting ‘disinformation’ and show no respect for political opposition. His first point of reference was the scandalous overturning of the election results in Romania when the candidate who favors normalization of relations with Russia was said to have received illicit support from Moscow. Vance was directly criticizing the authorities in Romania who refused to accept the verdict of the people when it went against them, and also the authorities in Brussels and elsewhere in the EU who encouraged this anti-democratic behavior... ..Vance’s point is that the military defense of Europe is pointless if the leadership in Europe does not respect the values of democracy and free speech, if it does not accept the validity of those voters who happen to have different interests from the ruling parties... ..In Germany the censorious behavior is seen in the ‘firewall’ of the centrist parties against the supposedly ‘extreme right’ Alternative for Germany party... Germany can put up with Elon Musk campaigning in favor of the AfD for a month or two. If their democracy is so fragile that it cannot stand up to dissonant voices, then there is in effect no democracy to speak of, and nothing to defend by military forces. Vance’s speech was brilliant, very well composed and delivered. The man has to be the very best Vice President of the United States since the days of the Founding Fathers... It was remarkable to be treated to such brave words from a top American official in defense of the people against the authoritarian rulers in Brussels, in Berlin, in Paris. It is hard to see how the usurper Ursula van der Leyen and her whole team of people-haters will be able to hold onto power in these conditions. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/02/14/j-d-vance-speech-to-the-munich-security-conference/
Putin-Trump summit on the way – Kremlin. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has welcomed the US administration’s desire to reach peace in Ukraine It is hard to overestimate the significance of the recent phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. He also noted that the presidents have instructed their teams to lay the groundwork for the summit.
The call on Wednesday marked the first known conversation between the US and Russian leaders since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Trump has since signaled that he is “okay” with keeping Ukraine out of NATO and suggested that it is “unlikely” that Kiev could regain all of the territory it has lost to Russia over the past decade. Trump also noted that the presidents had exchanged invitations to visit each other’s countries... ..At the same time, Peskov would not confirm or deny Trump’s remarks that Saudi Arabia would host a summit between the two leaders. He also did not provide any timeline for a potential Trump-Putin meeting, or when Russian and American work groups could get down to negotiations. https://swentr.site/russia/612646-kremlin-prospects-trump-putin/
February 13, 2025: Rare U.S. military jet arrival in Moscow sparks questions A U.S. Air Force Gulfstream C-37B [SAM080/09-0525] recently landed in Moscow, an event that has drawn significant attention due to the aircraft’s specialized role in transporting high-ranking government and Department of Defense officials, as well as diplomatic delegations. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2025/02/13/rare-u-s-military-jet-arrival-in-moscow-sparks-questions/#google_vignette
Trump refuses to call Ukraine an equal participant in peace talks https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/13/7498050/
Only Ukraine's Zelensky Can Negotiate With Putin, Must Avoid 'Capitulation': Macron https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/only-ukraines-zelensky-can-negotiate-putin-must-avoid-capitulation-macron
Ukraine says it won’t accept US-Russia peace deal reached without Kyiv
Zelensky said it was ‘unpleasant’ that Trump called Putin before talking to him, but tried to play down the significance of the move https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3298600/ukraine-says-it-will-not-accept-us-russia-peace-deal-reached-without-kyiv
High Explosive Drone Pierces Shell of Chernobyl Nuclear Plant At Very Moment Trump Pushes Ukraine Towards Peace https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/high-explosive-drone-pierces-shell-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-very-moment-trump-pushes
(Only Ukraine?) Trump announces Ukraine meeting next week in Saudi Arabia
Contacts on the settlement of the military conflict in Ukraine will take place next week in Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump said. According to him, representatives of Ukraine will also take part in the meeting. He did not name a specific date or the composition of the meeting participants. https://www-kommersant-ru.translate.goog/doc/7499192?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
(Not next week.) Trump to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia on Ukraine US President Donald Trump will see his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia for their first meeting since taking office in January.
Trump’s announcement came after an almost 90-minute phone conversation with the Russian leader, where they discussed in ending the nearly three-year Moscow offensive in Ukraine.
“We ultimately expect to meet. In fact, we expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there, and we’re gonna meet also probably in Saudi Arabia the first time, we’ll meet in Saudi Arabia, see if we can get something something done,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office... ..A date for the meeting “hasn’t been set” but it will happen in the “not too distant future,” the US president said.
He suggested the meeting would involve Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “We know the crown prince, and I think it’d be a very good place to meet.” https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590037/world
Finances are dangerously bad and criminals won't get a say. Musk Fraud Probes May Explain 'Urgency' of Trump-Putin Call on Ending Ukraine Crisis: Ex-DoD Analyst https://sputnikglobe.com/20250212/musk-fraud-probes-may-explain-urgency-of-trump-putin-call-on-ending-ukraine-crisis-ex-dod-analyst-1121561787.html
Zelensky will be forced to hold elections. His term is long expired. Zelensky targets political opposition The Ukrainian leader has implemented asset freezes and media gags against his potential rivals https://swentr.site/russia/612658-zelensky-personal-sanctions-rivals/
Mostly bribed criminals... Panic Grips European Leaders as EU Left Out of Trump-Putin Call https://sputnikglobe.com/20250213/panic-grips-european-leaders-as-eu-left-out-of-trump-putin-call-1121563947.html
Trump wants a deal with Russia – but can he deliver? The two presidents have opened the door to dialogue, and the ‘Investors in War’ are nervous Every face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin during his first term was marked by strong personal chemistry and productive discussions on key global issues. However, each time Trump returned to Washington, those tentative diplomatic breakthroughs were undermined by a political establishment determined to preserve the narrative of a Russian threat. https://swentr.site/news/612654-trump-wants-deal-with-russia/
European NATO ‘fears cost’ of Trump’s Ukraine burden shift – FT Bloc members can’t realistically support Kiev without US help, an official has told the newspaper https://swentr.site/news/612641-eu-ukraine-burden-trump/
Vance Hits Back At Headlines On US Military Action As His Meeting With Zelensky Begins
Just before going into his scheduled meeting with Ukraine's President Zelensky, Vice President J.D. Vance has pushed back against the international headlines which claimed he threatened military action against Russia if it doesn't take a deal to end the war, based on a Friday published WSJ interview. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/vance-warns-us-could-use-sanctions-military-action-if-russia-doesnt-agree-end-ukraine
I presume he got there. Sec. of State Marco Rubio en route to Germany after plane suffers mechanical issue https://abcnews.go.com/US/sec-state-marco-rubios-plane-germany-experiences-mechanical/story?id=118810447
DOGE subcommittee uncovers $2.7 trillion in improper Medicare, Medicaid payments
DOGE subcommittee reveals $2.7 trillion in improper payments since 2003, urging reforms to curb government waste. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2528359/doge-subcommittee-uncovers-27-trillion-in-improper-medicare-medicaid-payments
Treasury Inspector General Launches Audit Of "Fraudulent Payments" Found By DOGE The US Treasury's Department of Inspector General is launching an investigation into "alleged fraudulent payments" found by Elon Musk's DOGE team, and will analyze the past two years of transactions within the government's payment system. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/treasury-inspector-general-launches-audit-fraudulent-payments-found-doge
Evil NED: Trump freezes all National Endowment for Democracy funding – media The US president’s spending cut reportedly leaves the organization unable to pay staff and grantees https://swentr.site/news/612665-trump-freezes-ned-funding/
US govt paid Reuters millions for ‘social deception’ – Musk The billionaire claimed that the agency was running a “total scam” in plain sight https://swentr.site/news/612663-musk-reuters-funds-doge/
Biden’s EPA issued $20 billion in green grants. Now Trump’s administration wants that money back https://apnews.com/article/green-bank-epa-zeldin-climate-clean-energy-191b394cda251ef772867369f61f07b7
North Carolina could still use the help. DHS ‘Clawed Back’ $59 Million FEMA Allocated to House Illegal Aliens https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/02/12/dhs-chief-noem-clawed-back-59-million-fema-allocated-house-illegal-aliens-nyc-hotels/
Not clickbait, but a lot of good history on Elon Musk's critical relationships with the MIC: The Pentagon is Recruiting Elon Musk to Help Them Win a Nuclear War https://www.mintpressnews.com/pentagon-recruiting-elon-musk-nuclear-war/289055/
Trump Tells Xi, Putin 'Let's Cut Military Budget In Half' - Says Russia Should Be Back In G7 https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-russia-should-be-back-g7-tells-xi-putin-lets-cut-military-budget-half
Meryl Nass MD noticed that... MSNBC cut the feed for RFK, Jr's remarks at his swearing in ceremony-- The flailing of a dying network and a dying industry of fake news
Dr. Nass, Trump makes RFK Jr. leader of presidential ‘MAHA’ commission to study chronic disease
That document: EXECUTIVE ORDER - Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission
This is likely to actually be important: Trump asks Mel Gibson to clean up Hollywood, his response is perfect: ‘It’s REVENGE time' https://revolver.news/2025/02/trump-asks-mel-gibson-to-clean-up-hollywood-his-response-is-perfect-its-revenge-time/
Trump & DOGE Fire Layoff Bazooka: Targets 200,000 Fed Workers On Probation Thursday afternoon DOGE's crosshairs were aimed at probationary workers because they have fewer protections and no right to appeal. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-doge-fire-layoff-bazooka-targets-200000-fed-workers-probation
14 States Sue To Block DOGE From Uncovering Government Abuses, Slashing Waste https://www.zerohedge.com/political/14-states-sue-block-doge-uncovering-government-abuses-slashing-waste
New "Task Force for the Declassification of Federal Secrets" Announced JFK Assassination and Covid Origin and Epstein Client List Oh My!
Caitlin Johnstone, The IDF Didn't Just Target Hospitals, They Destroyed Individual Medical Machines Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator Caroline Seguin reports that lifesaving medical equipment inside the hospitals in northern Gaza has been methodically destroyed, “smashed to pieces, one by one, to make sure no medical care could be provided anymore.”
“You have to ask: What is the motivation of such action? These machines are made to save people’s lives, mothers, fathers, children,” Seguin writes.
WATCH — Craig Murray: UN Peacekeepers Watch Civilians Massacred What went wrong? Is this Srebrenica syndrome? The author probes UNIFIL Spokesman Andrea Tenenti about what happened in southern Lebanon on Jan. 26. On Jan. 26, at least 22 unarmed civilians in southern Lebanon were shot dead by Israel and 147 wounded in a massacre observed by heavily armed U.N. Peacekeepers who did not intervene. I asked the U.N. the very hard questions which nobody else is asking them.
The civilians were simply attempting to return to their homes in accordance with both U.N. Security Resolution 1701 and the current ceasefire agreement, and indeed UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, has a specific mandate under 1701 to assist displaced people to return. https://consortiumnews.com/2025/02/13/watch-craig-murray-un-peacekeepers-watch-civilians-massacred/
Israeli army tells Palestinians to leave their homes or die
Israeli occupation forces commandeered mosque minarets in Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and used the loudspeakers to demand all Palestinian residents of the camp immediately leave their homes ‘or die’. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250212-israeli-army-tells-palestinians-to-leave-their-homes-or-die/
2 Palestinians, including child, killed by Israeli gunfire, unexploded ordnance in Gaza https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250213-2-palestinians-including-child-killed-by-israeli-gunfire-unexploded-ordnance-in-gaza/
Israeli forces use UN agency health center as detention site in occupied West Bank: UNRWA
This is a new development in the blatant disregard for the inviolability of United Nations facilities,’ says UN agency for Palestinian refugees https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-forces-use-un-agency-health-center-as-detention-site-in-occupied-west-bank-unrwa/3481959
Hamas to release hostages on schedule, adhering to Gaza ceasefire deal Hamas also emphasized that during talks, its representatives stressed "the need to fulfill all conditions of the deal," especially the delivery of substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza https://tass.com/world/1912841
US awaits Arab plan for Gaza, Trump plan remains default option: Washington US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration is giving Arab nations time to present a viable proposal for post-war Gaza, but for now, "the only plan is the Trump plan."
Speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Rubio emphasized that while a ceasefire appeared to be holding, the key issue remained: "At some point, then you’ve got to figure out, okay, what happens with Gaza?" https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/us-awaits-arab-plan-for-gaza-trump-plan-remains-default-option-washington/3481813
Donald Trump has vowed that displaced Palestinians will not be allowed to return to Gaza under the U.S. plan for the region. As part of this, he is threatening to cut aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to accept Palestinians. https://mondoweiss.net/2025/02/trump-says-palestinians-wont-be-able-to-return-to-their-homes-in-gaza-under-his-plan/
Hey, what's happening in Riyadh next week? Saudi Arabia spearheads Arab scramble for alternative to Trump's Gaza plan https://www.yahoo.com/news/saudi-arabia-spearheads-arab-scramble-083959751.html
Prime real estate... Former Turkish PM suggests that Gaza become Turkish territory Turkiye's former prime minister suggests holding a referendum to see if the Palestinians would like Gaza to become autonomous Turkish land until the establishment of a Palestinian state. https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/former-turkish-pm-suggests-that-gaza-become-turkish-territor
U.S. Aircraft Carrier COLLIDES with Bulk Carrier Vessel on High Seas The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) collided with the bulk carrier Besiktas-M off the coast of Egypt yesterday. The Pentagon reports that the collision "did not endanger the Harry S. Truman." https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/news-selections/world-news/u-s-aircraft-carrier-collides-with-bulk-carrier-vessel-on-high-seas
American B-52 heavy bombers arrive in UK as tensions heat up in Middle East https://endtimeheadlines.org/2025/02/american-b-52-heavy-bombers-arrive-in-uk-as-tensions-heat-up-in-middle-east/
Teens Who Eat Ultraprocessed Foods Have Lower Muscle Mass Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) significantly increase the risk of low muscle mass, a key indicator of sarcopenia, by 60% in young and middle-aged adults. Teenagers consuming more UPFs have significantly lower muscle mass and lean body mass due to the lack of essential nutrients like protein. UPF consumption is linked to various health issues beyond muscle mass reduction, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Studies show UPFs increase intramuscular fat accumulation independent of physical activity or body mass index (BMI), highlighting the impact of diet quality. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/teens-ultraprocessed-foods-lower-muscle-mass-cola/
Sudden Infant Death syndrome, "Crib Death", is highly associated with infant vaccinations. Musk must know that by now. 'I was the one holding him': Elon Musk's ex-wife Justine knocks back his claim that he held their dying newborn son in his arms as he died Justine Musk, with whom Elon shares five living children, wrote that it was she and not her ex who held their 10-week-old son Nevada in her arms as he was taken off life support. Nevada Alexander Musk, the couple's first child together, tragically died at just two-and-half months after a sudden infant death syndrome episode. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11478481/Elon-Musks-ex-wife-refutes-claim-held-dying-newborn-son-arms-died.html
State Lawmakers Embrace RFK Jr.’s Health Policies Under the MAHA banner, state lawmakers are working to regulate candy and soda purchases under social welfare programs, remove fluoride from public water systems, roll back state vaccination requirements, and remove ultra-processed food from schools. https://scheerpost.com/2025/02/12/state-lawmakers-embrace-rfk-jr-s-health-policies/
Slow foodie (pictured recently after harvesting broccoli)
It seems to me, and I hope this is the case, that the EU is now in the spiteful strident throes of understanding it has marginalized its own damn self. Perhaps getting a glimmer of the probable fact the the US is not going to let the EU and Zelensky Article 5 the US into war with Russia. Perhaps a hint of understanding that Putin was never going to be a pushover, that they are not going to be able to carve up Russia into five areas governed by EU-selected henchmen. Or whatever their plan was.
At least I hope so. My immediate takeaway from this excellent compilation - who cares what Macron says. Now, back to reading!
Nice broccoli. I like broccoli... and artichokes with lemon and butter. :-) We're having broccoli tonight with some salmon.
Vance made a heck of a speech. I liked it. I'm still skeptical about a serious peace being forged during the next 6 months. We'll see. This war is existential for Russia and she has the upper hand. Will ukraine collapse before a peace can be worked out? The Vance speech is at least a step toward acknowledging certain realities. Hammering out practicalities are always difficult.
"Dyin' is easy. It's the livin' that's hard."
~ Josey Wales
War is easy. Peace is hard.