NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg always reminds me of former ODNI James Clapper. Both men, a little ordinary, had a tendency to say the obvious non-political ordinary thing accidentally, and that would seemingly frustrate the political narrative engineers.

Stoltenberg did it again recently when he was questioned about the horrific and horrible likelihood that terrible Russia would expand their military conflict beyond Ukraine. Surely, given the intensity of the common western narrative, this Russian expansion was only a matter of timing. Nope….

According to the NATO Secretary General, “…we don’t see any direct or imminent threat against any NATO Ally. And therefore, we, of course, monitor closely what Russia does, we have increased our vigilance, our presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, but the whole idea of that is to prevent an attack on a NATO Ally.” {LINK}

What Stoltenberg said was transparently true and confirmable simply by looking beyond the preferred western talking points.  However, no doubt his tracked and monitored cell phone was immediately receiving apoplectic calls from the U.S. State Dept for going off script.

Another transparently true thing is, the eastern Ukraine killing stops as soon as President Trump wins the 2024 general election.

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In the past five years, specifically in the ‘Western’ geopolitical world, there have been two overarching narratives pushed so hard it made us pause, elevate and question the intensity of the push. These are narratives outside the USA domestic front, and specifically attributable to the entire ‘Western’ alliance of nations.

The first was the COVID-19 vaccine demand.  No other modern unity governmental push in modern history was focused so intensely, to the exclusion of all other factors, as the demand that citizens within various Western nations take the vaccine. If you take a breath and look at the issue from the highest intellectual overview possible, everything about that demand was fraught with over-the-top intensity.

The narrative push included threats and action to stop income, threats and action to stop travel, threats and action to stop unvaccinated people from shopping, purchasing goods and from otherwise participating in society.  Literal checkpoints, roadblocks and quarantine camps were established in some nations and some regions within nations.  The push to force vaccine compliance was extreme.

The second overall narrative, again, this is almost exclusively a ‘Western’ government narrative, surrounds Ukraine.

The demand that Ukraine be financially and militarily supported against Russian action is unilaterally intense to the exclusion of all other diplomatic and geopolitical approaches.  However, outside the ‘Western’ governmental view, the perspective toward Ukraine from the non-Western world is completely different; you might even say completely indifferent.

If you think about the triggering scale of the ‘Western’ financial sanctions against Russia, you start to realize the unprecedented nature of the effort; then, when we overlay the futile nature of the outcome of those sanctions, things really appear odd.  In reality, Russia now has one of the fastest growing GDPs and economies in the world, and the newly disconnected national economic strength therein is the exact opposite of what was claimed to be intended.

This reality establishes the elevated question: what is it about Ukraine that creates such a strong and visceral Western government reaction?

That context brings us to the next story.  Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to be leading an effort to pre-position President Trump’s forced adherence to the Western global perspective on Ukraine.

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Yes, indeed the sixty-year-long era of the extended Marshal Plan might actually come to an end if President Trump wins the 2024 election, and Europe can no longer benefit from one-way tariffs and generous USA subsidies. This stark reality is once again the concern for Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Warning that President Trump’s outlook toward a self-sustaining Europe would mean a challenge to the norms of modern democracy, the rotating president of the Union is worried that tailored skinny pants and slim cut suits might soon be selling next to tractor boots and big fur hats.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union presidency on Tuesday warned that the foundations of democracy will be put to the test during the November U.S. election, envisaging a scenario where the longstanding trans-Atlantic alliance could unravel ever more.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo of Belgium, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said that “if 2024 brings us ‘America first’ again, it is really more than ever ‘Europe on its own.’”

De Croo spoke in an address to the EU legislature only hours after former President Donald Trump’s landslide win in the Republican Party’s Iowa caucuses.

His words harked back to the 2017-2021 Trump administration, when U.S. relations with Europe took a nosedive because of near-incessant trans-Atlantic quarrels about trade, security and military cooperation that eroded trust and cooperation.

De Croo said the 27-nation EU should quickly learn to stand more on its own and that in case of a Trump victory in November, “we should, as Europeans, not fear this perspective. We should embrace it.” (more)

Ya think?

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An interesting set of details amid a few reports on Ukraine, with one very interesting White House announcement under section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA).

First, as previously discussed within the year-end National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) there was a supplemental addition of $300 million more for Ukraine.

(VIA CBS) – The Biden administration Wednesday announced a $250 million military assistance package for Ukraine.

The aid package — the final of 2023 — will include arms and equipment, including air defense munitions, anti-armor munitions, ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition, a State Department spokesperson said to CBS News.

“Our assistance has been critical to supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia’s aggression,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, urging Congress to “swiftly” approve further aid to Ukraine. (read more)

Then, there’s something rather interesting….

Remember how we’ve talked about Ukraine being somewhat of a money laundering operation; and the entire series of events being akin to “world war Reddit” without any visible ‘boots on the ground’ war correspondent reporting; and the highly visible structure of the CIA running the operation from Foggy Bottom with the Dept of State controlling the outcomes… Remember all that?

Now, check out this little slush fund:

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Given the nature of U.S. led NATO efforts, this collaborative move by Russia and Belarus is as subtle as a brick through a window.

Joe Biden policy, actually the policy of the US State Dept/CIA, like the policy of Barack Obama before him (same institutions), is contingent upon the targeted nations participating in a great pretending that U.S. moves are not intentionally adversarial.  Unfortunately, the era of pretend foreign policy pressure has ended, but the State Dept and CIA refuse to modify their playbook.

Russia, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, et al, are not pretending.

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The president of Belarus said Monday that Russia has completed its shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to his country, an initiative that raised strong concerns in neighboring Poland and elsewhere in the region.

President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting of a Moscow-led economic bloc in St. Petersburg that the shipments were completed in October, but he did not give details of how many weapons were sent or where they have been deployed.

Tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended for use on the battlefield, have a short range and a low yield compared with much more powerful nuclear warheads fitted to long-range missiles. Russia said it would maintain control over those it sends to Belarus.

Lukashenko has said that hosting Russian nuclear weapons in his country is meant to deter aggression by Poland, a NATO member. Poland is offering neighbor Ukraine military, humanitarian and political backing in its struggle against Russia’s invasion and is taking part in international sanctions on Russia and Belarus. (read more)

All of Eastern Europe is praying for President Donald J Trump.

For most of Western Europe it’s already too late.

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In the world of tracking geopolitical maneuvers closely, particularly as it relates to military intervention, it becomes critical at a certain point to get more deliberate.

Two fronts seem like they are about to open on the geopolitical stage. The first in Yemen, the second in Moldova.  We can watch them unfold together if we begin from the same baseline.

Against the background of the Israeli-Gaza war against Hamas terrorists, the U.S. military is about to begin a large-scale operation in the Red Sea under the auspices of combating Houthi rebels and terrorist attacks.  Against the background of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, we can also anticipate NATO opening a new front using Moldova.

♦ YEMEN – As the U.S. and “coalition partners” begin military engagement against the Houthi rebels, no one in Western media will draw contrast to the State Dept earlier this year sending another $444 million via USAID (a CIA front group) to Yemen.  Factually, the U.S. has spent $5.4 billion, yes that’s with a “b”, in Yemen through the State Dept {link}.

We are now going to begin military operations against elements within Yemen as part of something called “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” a new international effort deal with Houthi threats.”  As this announcement is made, likely tomorrow, ask yourself what we spent $5.4 billion to achieve in Yemen, if we are now forced to use the U.S. military.

WASHINGTON – Top Biden administration officials are actively weighing options to strike back at Houthis in Yemen after the Iran-backed group launched new attacks on naval and commercial ships in the Red Sea on Saturday, according to two U.S. officials.

The Pentagon has in recent days moved the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, to support a potential U.S. response to attacks, said one of the officials, both of whom were granted anonymity to speak about sensitive plans. The military has also provided options to commanders to strike the Houthis, the official said.

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Earlier today Joe Biden threatened U.S. troop engagement with Russian troops if congress doesn’t provide further funding for Ukraine.  As the premise is pushed, a failure to fund the Ukraine war means Russia will move beyond Ukraine into a NATO country.  The premise is nonsense. WATCH:

White House – […] “Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess.  It’s as simple as that. 

Frankly, I think it’s stunning that we’ve gotten to this point in the first place.  While Congress — the Republicans in Congress is — are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for and abandon our global leadership not just to Ukraine, but beyond that.   

[…] “I just did a meeting with the G7, which was one of the issues we discussed — all of the European leaders.  We are prepared to stay with us — stay with Ukraine, and our European friends are as well. 

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Western media will never say it, but what exactly do you think Russia is doing in Africa?  Think strategically.

The headline simply says Finland will close Russian border to stop asylum seekers. Most readers stop there, thinking Russians are trying to escape the horrible Putin.  However, the reality is something entirely different.

…”Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard.”…

Finland joined NATO and suddenly Finland doesn’t want brown people.  Apparently, diversity is no longer a strength.

HELSINKI, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Finland will close its entire border with Russia to travellers for the next two weeks in a bid to halt the unusually large flow of asylum seekers to the Nordic nation, which the government and its allies say is an orchestrated move by Moscow.

Finland last week shut all but one of its border posts to travellers from Russia, keeping open only the northernmost crossing located in the Arctic. But this too would now close, the government said on Tuesday.

Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard.

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Speaking to our CTH audience following direct conversations in the EU, I can assure you that privately it is well known that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is at a designed stalemate. Russia has solidified the western frontlines in Ukraine in exactly the position originally intended. Additionally, the fortifications are of such strategic scale no one in the Western alliance would dare to propose any effort for direct confrontation.

This is the reality on the ground in Ukraine, and if you look carefully at western reporting, you will see indications of the unspoken truth.

Bild reported that inside the German govt, there are leaks about conversations between U.S and German officials. “While outwardly expressing full support for Ukraine, behind closed doors in Berlin and Washington plans are being hatched to force Ukraine into talks with Russia to freeze the war on its current front lines, German newspaper BILD said in a report published on Nov. 24.” {link}

The Biden administration, specifically the Dept of State and CIA are now managing the narrative. The Eastern EU bloc (NATO realists) well understand the dynamic, although you will see opaque indications from traditional western media. However, if you look carefully, you will note one of the indications of this dynamic can be found in the unwillingness of the U.S. to provide logistical support for advanced M1A2 tanks to engage the Russian lines {link}.

[…]  Since receiving its first batch of Abrams in September, Ukraine has likely mixed them with the US-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Cancian told BI.

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Glenn Greenwald and Tucker Carlson sit down and discuss the status of the current “war” in Ukraine.  The subject of the reality around the war comes as a consequence of several media outlets who have begun writing about the State Dept and CIA looking for an exit from World War Reddit.   WATCH:

According to sources who are speaking to NBC News, U.S. and EU officials are gently beginning to talk to Ukraine government officials about what steps might need to be taken to bring an end to the Ukraine-Russia war. Obviously, for those who do not pretend, we all know the decision to end this conflict comes down to the USA telling Ukraine President Zelenskyy to open peace talks with Russia.

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