There is more to the eye in the official photo and video of Indonesia President Prabowo on the phone to President-elect Trump. Australia misses the vital details. (more…)
Category: USA
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It can’t happen here
The novel It Can’t Happen Here, written by Sinclair Lewis was published in 1935 during the rise of fascism in Europe. It tells the story of Berzelius “Buzz” Windrip, a demagogue who is elected President of the United States, after fomenting fear, and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and traditional values. After his election, Windrip takes complete control of the government via a self-coup and imposes totalitarian rule with the help of a ruthless paramilitary force. (more…)
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Gross inequality and economic injustice: How did it come to this?
“Remoteness between ownership and operation … is an evil in the relations between men, likely or certain in the long run to set up strains and enmities which will bring to nought the financial calculation.” – John Maynard Keynes (more…)
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Satellite honours for AUKUS: Joe Courtney’s Order of Australia Award
Joe Courtney, who serves as Congressman for Connecticut’s second district, has received a rather curious honour. It has come in the form of a tribute from a US satellite – some would rightly say annexure or some other subordinate status. A press release from his office on October 22 announced that Rep. Courtney had been “appointed by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO).” (more…)
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On the verge of WWIII?
‘Joe Biden allows Ukraine to use long-range US-supplied ATACMS missiles on targets in Russia, prompting threat of world war’ – so runs the ABC headline of 18 November. Serious stuff, not to be lightly discounted, and yet perhaps what we are seeing is primarily performative politics, viewed through the smoke of uncertainty and reflected in the distorting mirrors of propaganda. In short, whilst the consequences could not be more dangerous, when we unpack the narrative, it seems that, at the moment at least, the situation is not so critical as it might appear. (more…)
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Trump’s wake-up call to Australia’s leaders
Trump’s anti-China 60% import tax barrier will weaken China’s economy and is predicted to have flow on effects impacting negatively on Australia’s economy. Will our political leaders now realise that Australia’s involvement in a military war against China for which they are furiously preparing, would have a devastating impact on our economy and Australian life generally as all trade with China would cease in such a scenario? (more…)
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The American-style Cultural Revolution is taking root in the US
Trump’s shocking cabinet picks are reminiscent of what Mao Zedong did after launching the tumultuous Cultural Revolution in 1966. Under his slogan “revolution is no crime; to rebel is justified,” Mao encouraged the firebrand Red Guards and grassroots loyalists to take over power at central and local government levels across the country, writes Wang Xiangwei. (more…)
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America, We are out of your China fight
Australia must leave the China debacle, constructively. In withdrawing from America’s aggression against China, we should offer our diplomacy as a patient bridge between China and the US. That will take time. America will become even more extreme before it considers peaceful coexistence with China. Meanwhile our action will be a moderating influence, as we pick up our own distracted security priorities. (more…)
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The US political system and its capitalist, imperialist agenda has failed
Trump’s victory has exposed, for a second time, the failings of the entire US political system and its pursuit of a capitalist, imperialist agenda. (more…)
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A five-minute scroll
Not being reported? President Xi Jinping gives President Joe Biden boundaries. Jason Clare MP says you can’t bomb your way to peace while a Gaza Psychiatrist shares footage of bodies in Gaza. Peter Garrett calls out AUKUS and Senator Barbara Pocock supports the issues raised by Senator Lidia Thorpe. Footage of Keir Starmer from 2014 on devastation on Croatia reveals a different approach than the British government is showing to Gaza. (more…)
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Trump Redux: what matters to foreign relations
As the novelty of Donald Trump’s win wears off, we have moved beyond the superficialities of the views of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ambassador Kevin Rudd about the Trump agenda and persona. (more…)
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A five-minute scroll
Three times smaller, Israel has dropped the equivalent of three atomic bombs on Gaza, and still they continue unabated, exposing Governments in their complicity and media alike. In New Zealand Māori leaders mobilise on a 1000 kilometre plus walk to Wellington in protest of legislation from the right-winged government. In the US the analysis of the US election continues, Chris Hedges talks about the Democrats and Trump, Bernie Sanders talks about oligarchy. A five-minute scroll. (more…)
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Detaching Australia from the death grip of the United States
Our challenge now is to detach Australia from the death grip of the United States and to pursue an independent future, which we are quite capable of doing. To do so we will need not only to remove the old sycophantic parties but also to root out the US ‘security’ zealots from our own secretive security establishment. They will not go easily. (more…)
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Trump Act II spells the end of the American empire
The re-election of Donald Trump indicates a fundamental change in the United States’ relationship with the world, reflecting a growing lack of confidence in international institutions, and a weariness of global responsibilities, likely leading to significant damage to multilateral organisations. Trump’s characteristically transactional approach and aggressive tariff policies will spell trouble for Asia. The consequences of a second Trump presidency are likely to include increased difficulty in maintaining security cooperation, issues surrounding defence budget financing, economic impacts due to increased tariffs, and further disconnection between the US and Chinese economies. (more…)
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Foolish anxiety in the global west
Around 18 months ago, The Economist applied uncommon energy to advance the narrative that the US economy was in outstandingly good shape. Very recently, we have been instructed by the same influential British weekly that, “America’s economy is bigger and better than ever” [paywall]: Which makes one wonder, what primary anxieties are prompting these distinctive, recurrent expressions of avid admiration? (more…)
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America is a war machine, feeding an Israeli government killing machine
True or False: No one is above the law. (more…)
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“An integral part of China”: America, Taiwan and Elon Musk
The outcome in the recent US presidential election may yet push Taiwan in directions at variance with those advocated in a new article published in the America journal Foreign Affairs, which argues that: “China’s Gray-Zone Offensive Against Taiwan is Backfiring”. (more…)
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A five-minute scroll
Blinken says that Israel has met their strategic goals for Gaza, while Bisan Owda captures Israeli attacks on day 404 of the genocide. President Bident meets president-elect Trump at the White House and Andrew Napolitano reveals the new US Ambassador to Israel. Nury Vittachi reveals a a US interference plan for Cambodia while AAP Factcheck shows Dutton deceiving the media. A five-minute scroll on X reveals news we won’t see in mainstream media. (more…)
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Trump’s America: ecstasy or agony?
Trump’s election victory is not the momentous or unexpected event many have made it out to be. It is, however, a sure sign of a slowly decaying society where frustration, anger and bewilderment are at epidemic proportions. (more…)
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“Be prepared”: The US of Trump 02 is a foreign country
We must recognise that over 50% of US voters have now elected Trump. The almost cult-like MAGA can no longer be regarded as an aberration. Countries like Australia now have to recognise just how this new US increasingly is becoming a “foreign” country.
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Trump: a reality check for Australia
On Tuesday the American people spoke with clarity and determination. They voted for jobs, secure borders and to be able to look to the future in an uncertain world with confidence and optimism. What we know from Trump 1.0 is that he his true to his word. (more…)
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Pro-Israel Democrats brought down their own party
For many years, American politicians have recited and acted in accordance with the “truism” that “no politician ever lost an election by being too pro-Israel.” (more…)
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With Trump victory, is it time to shut Pine Gap?
It’s a time of major events: Donald Trump has again been elected President of the USA and its biggest foreign spy base Pine Gap features in the movie Twilight Time to be screened in Alice Springs on Saturday. (more…)
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The US on the road to fascism: a time to loosen our ties
The fascist trend in America’s politics portends a lasting erosion of the underpinnings of the ties which have bound Australia to its most important ally and provides a powerful reason for us to loosen these ties. (more…)
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When life gives you oranges…
While the result of the US election is bleak in some ways, it may ultimately lead to a more independent Australian foreign policy—one that centres on regional needs rather than simply following American interests.
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If you think the immediate future under Trump is horrific, just imagine the alternative
WTF just happened? is a question being asked around the world after the US Presidential election. (more…)
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Trump victory makes AUKUS a further danger to Australia
Grassroots anti-AUKUS campaign, Labor Against War, has called on the federal Labor government to withdraw Australia from the AUKUS military pact. (more…)
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Who should be the next emperor of the violent global imperium?
As US voters go to the polls on November 5th, they need to remind themselves that when the US elects its next domestic president, it is also selecting the emperor of a violent, global imperium. Choices made over sundry domestic issues have far reaching effects, far beyond local pocketbook or civil rights issues. They determine who lives and dies across the planet, and how much pain, harm and suffering the rest of the world will have to bear. (more…)
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More than 1-in-10 Americans would “take action” to overturn 2024 election results
Close to half of Republicans (46%) and more than a quarter of Democrats (27%) said they would not consider 2024 election results to be legitimate if the other party’s presidential candidate won, according to polling by the World Justice Project. Some of them would go further: 14% of Republicans and 11% of Democrats surveyed said they would take action to overturn the 2024 election based solely on who is declared the winner. (more…)
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Netanyahu has been leading the United States into disaster after disaster after disaster
This is a US operation being carried out by Israel but with complete complicity by the United States and silence by Europe. (more…)