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Apocalypse Now & Forever
Submitted by James H Kunstler via Kunstler.com,
As a political psychoanalyst I find the Super-bowl halftime show the best concise index of how psychotic American culture is becoming from year to year, and the 2015 version signaled a complete break from reality, a nightmare of twerking robots in a hall of mirrors, as if America had utterly surrendered its tattered soul to some rogue motherboard pulsing deep within Dr. Evil’s subterranean palace of sin. Hence it is the perfect analog for understanding otherwise incomprehensible happenings such as the USA’s role in fomenting further chaos and mayhem in Ukraine.
How otherwise to explain things like this morning’s New York Times report that the USA “now supports providing defensive weapons and equipment to Kiev’s beleaguered forces, and an array of administration and military officials appear to be edging toward that position….”
Earth calling New York Times readers: I regret to inform you that this decision was already reached a year ago when we paid for the coup d’état against the elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, after the poor sap decided to not sign up with EU but rather the Russian-backed Eurasian Customs Union. Whoops! You’re so out of here, Bub, State Department Under Secretary Victoria Nuland burbled in a clandestinely recorded phone call to the American ambassador. Will somebody please find Yats! Yes Yats! [UKR politician Arseniy Yatsenyuk] and plug the Bluetooth earpiece of power into his skull!
And so it went this past year with a cabal of the USA, the EU, and the IMF shoveling financial support (billions!), armaments, and surely boots-on-the ground into the Ukrainian morass. Last week, a reporter in eastern Ukraine approached a soldier in UKR army battle garb only to be told, in pitch perfect American English, to “get out of my face.” Say what??? The You-tube clip was seen all over the world and to this minute no agent of the US government has been called to account over it. Like I said, a hall of mirrors.
But anyway, we get a little ahead of ourselves because all this really begs the question: what business do we have in Ukraine in the first place and why should it matter to us that they align with Russia? And more to the point: why is it not transparently obvious that Ukraine is solidly within Russia’s sphere of influence, and has been, really, for more than 500 years, and for an excellent reason that has been demonstrated most recently in Napoleon’s invasion of 1812 and then Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of 1941.
In both cases, Russia owed it survival to the vast expanse of flat geography represented by Ukraine where “General Winter” was able to carry out his own defensive operations of relentless howling wind, snow, sub-zero temperatures, and frostbite that eventually vanquished the invaders. Through most of modern times Ukraine has been under the explicit “protection” of the Russian Czars or has been an outright province under the former USSR. Hundreds of years before that, Kievan Rus was the center of an emerging Russian culture and kingdom that only later picked up and moved to Moscow.
You get the picture: Ukraine has a long association with Russia, a principal association, not always happy, sometimes tragic, but a fact of life and history that the US and its foolish stooges in the EU bureaucracy now wish to challenge for absolutely no good reason. Does anybody who is not whacked out of his/her head on crack, or focused like a laser beam on the gender schism within the Kardashian Klan, remember when the US ever challenged the Soviets over Ukraine? No. And for the excellent reason that we accepted the relationship for reasons stated above. So, whose idea is it now that we should start World War Three over this remote region where so many other reckless adventurers came to grief? And what, by the way, do our people mean by “defensive weapons?” Are not most modern weapons designed to work both ways? Anyway, I see the list includes “anti-armor missiles” (i.e. tank-killers) and “drones,” the latter presumably guided by comfortable American military gamers effortlessly targeting pixelated “bad guys” between Slurpee gulps and taco bites, not exactly American Sniper style.
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You're a Who fan, I take it.
500 Years?
Try a milenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_the_Great
http://ajitvadakayil.blogspot.com/2015/01/vladimir-putin-hero-of-free-wo...
Do you not read William Engdahl?? Are you so completely unaware of the neocon policy and grand strategy for global hegemony as so clearly outlined in works such as Full Spectrum Dominance? You're hand-wringing over events as if they are fundamentally inexplicable and purely chaotic, when in fact, they make perfect sense and were readily predictable --and were-- some years ago. True, they are also symptomatic of accelerating psychic decay in the world, but get a grip. Sniping over the WAY things are vs. WHY they are, is utterly pointless and, ultimately, even counterproductive. Habitually outraged indignation posing as information has been well-known to be caused by a braincloud.
Don't bother talking strategy with them, Pullmyfinger. The only strategy Zero-Hedgers know is: BUY MOAR GOLD!!!
This shows us how good the 'brainwashing' has worked in the American people. This is the greatest sheeple-nation under food stamps. RIP America.
as a political analyst blablabla . what a kunt....
Mr. Kunstler. Thank you once again! I too was revolted by the half-time show; so thoroughly dissapointed that thousands of labor hours and millions of dollars were spent on 15 minutes of circuses.
Its so great to see you writing here, as I read The Long Emergency a few years before finding ZH in the midst of the Lehman event.
Your writing has been hugely important in my life, and its great that i get to thank you here.
Hope your enjoying winter in GF.
Spent last night as I have for the past 5 years of Super Bowels working at the local soup kitchen. Frigidly cold so only about 2/3's of the regular head count. Typically I get another male to help run the Pearl Diving Station but last nite no show. Instead got a retirement age honey to assist first time have worked the dishwashing room with one went well but longer effort than usual. Lots of regulars but also a decent count of newbs. Lots of young men dressed in shorts and light shirts remember I said frigid. Wife working the dining area told about several men that were there the entire 3 hours we were there. They had no heat and were enjoying the warmth. NO TV for the diners, just decent fare and a warm place to enjoy it. Turned on the tube when we got home in time to see the Seahawks brain fart the game away. Glad I missed the orgy of American consumerism yet again. The slow collapse continues on course the longer we survive the more the looters loot. The more perverse our society becomes and the more delusional our ideals and dialogue becomes.
I really despair over what we have become and hope for the future continues to desinigrate.
That is a sad commentary right there, and how true it is!
I commend you for your sacrifice. Thank you.
That being said, my wife and I spent last night reading with the tv off. I cannot stomach the propaganda. It is relentless, and until you really realize it, it dominates your very soul. Come on sheeple, a bunch of steroid infused men running around in tights making YOU feel like it’s worth living life? Just like Rome before the fall….I refuse to participate
My dream is to see Slayer play the song Supremacist during the half time show. After hearing the song with the lyrics displayed on every screen in the stadium and at home, I wonder if the idiots would finally get it.
Slayer- the greatest band ever.
Slayer- Supemacist
Crushing all your worthless goals
I define control
Your pain's my fucking ecstasy
So putrid is my world of tyranny
To accentuate your desperation
Flesh from bone I'll rip and tear
I hate the fact that we breathe the same air
Helpless as I dominate
I won't celebrate
Until you've all been crucified
I can not rest till everyone has died
I can't stand the victim in you
Infecting everything that I do
I will eradicate
Obliterate depopulate
Divine atrocious suffering
Cleansation of the weak
Supremacy
Pissing on your faith
Incinerate God's whore
Perpetual is my reign
I will eat your soul
Must maintain control of the weak
Must maintain control of the weak
Must contain the minds of the free
http://www.lyricsmania.com/supremist_lyrics_slayer.html
oh, hell will save it for you.
I like Tool for this better:
"Ænema"
Some say the end is near.Some say we'll see Armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will.
I sure could use a vacation from this
Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of freaks
Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call L.A.
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona Bay.
Fret for your figure and
Fret for your latte and
Fret for your lawsuit and
Fret for your hairpiece and
Fret for your Prozac and
Fret for your pilot and
Fret for your contract and
Fret for your car.
It's a bullshit three ring circus sideshow of freaks
Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call L.A.
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona Bay.
Some say a comet will fall from the sky.
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by fault lines that cannot sit still.
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dip shits.
Some say the end is near.
Some say we'll see Armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will cause
I sure could use a vacation from this
Stupid shit, silly shit, stupid shit...
One great big festering neon distraction,
I've a suggestion to keep you all occupied.
Learn to swim. [3x]
Mom's gonna fix it all soon.
Mom's comin' round to put it back the way it ought to be.
Learn to swim.
Fuck L Ron Hubbard and
Fuck all his clones.
Fuck all these gun-toting
Hip gangster wannabes.
Learn to swim.
Fuck retro anything.
Fuck your tattoos.
Fuck all you junkies and
Fuck your short memory.
Learn to swim.
Fuck smiley glad-hands
With hidden agendas.
Fuck these dysfunctional,
Insecure actresses.
Learn to swim.
Cause I'm praying for rain
And I'm praying for tidal waves
I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.
Mom, please flush it all away.
I wanna see it go right in and down.
I wanna watch it go right in.
Watch you flush it all away.
Time to bring it down again.
Don't just call me pessimist.
Try and read between the lines.
I can't imagine why you wouldn't
Welcome any change, my friend.
I wanna see it all come down.
Bring it down
Suck it down.
Flush it down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCEeAn6_QJo
dark and creepy
you like?
The words friend, the words. Captures the spirit perfectly. Mother's (nature) gonna make it rain...wash it all away.
The values we have, suck. They can exploit us because we let them. The world will not end without a super bowl. Or lattes, or manicures, or...any of the shit we hold dear that does nothing of value for anyone except pump deception and bull shit.
but the world will have an end
for that is nature
with the help of man
i know there is something more
even though the present does not look like it
Tool has always been hit and miss with me but I didi enjoy that. However some poster posted this clip from YouTube a while back and It solidified how fucked we really truly are. Get ready to be pissed as I was and don't have anything of value in the vicinity of your viewing.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NzspsovNvII
"Defensive weapons" to Kiev. Yeah, right. Whatever you say, warmongers.
If I knew how to delete this comment, I would. My apologies for not reading the entire article before posting my comment. Mea culpa.
Just another illuminati whore subverting the culture. The sick fucks behind it laugh all the way to the central banks.
Fawk, I didn't bother to watch it either. BFWT (Big Fucking Waste of Time) or BiffWAT. Had brunch with the family at a friend's small restaraunt that serves the killer Carnitas, then went around to the building in the back, to my shop, where my long-time bro and I finished putting an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator in my '74 Corvette Stingray, that ain't worth a whole lot, because of the lack of chrome bumpers for that year, but I really don't care if it has chrome bumpers or not. JK would probably gnash his teeth at the sight of it, Happy Motoring and all, but fuck him. It's a factory four speed car, highly fun to drive and shifting through the gears, the shifter makes the exact same sound as a Remington 870 shotgun: 'Shlack-chuck' and that gives me a warm little fuzzy. We had a beer and whatnot, toasted my buds handiwork on his first set of stainless steel fuel lines and all was good. Beat watching the Super Bore and ugly twerking little beyatches (can't figure out, how Cyrus is a celebrity, what a skinny, skanky skunk, she is).
Article seems to be click bait for those who lick Puutie's Pootie.
As noted, the relationship with Russia has been 500 years of tragedy for Ukraine. The little kleprocrat Yats was dedicated to continuing that relationship since it resulted in rewards from Putin. The decision to join the EU was made by the population of Ukraine. Yatsie made his own decision and brought on his deserved demise as ruler.
It must give the Puutie lovers a tingle in the leg to be able to support another communist military attack of a neighboring country.
I would rather watch Katy than some old 60's band
She did a great job last night! This is a young woman that knows how to manage her brand well, besides my girls love her! What else matters?
The biggest shame occured when Seattle decided to lose the game.
Unbelievable!
yes, it was terrible blunder for Seattle
will be remembered as the stupid bowl
what a waste
I am recommending that they check their balls.
I didn't watch 1 minute of that tripe.
I kissed a girl and I liked it. Poetic justice for Katy Perry's fundamental Christian parents.
Justice?
Lets check in with Katy later on
see how that turns out
check out Rusty's link on page one.
that be her fate ya'll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhMcvWpKBpg
Circus for the proles.
Nothing like "prep" keeping those pencils extra sharp and ready for the "big exam"!
I think those no. 2's that Russia's packin ain't no joke!
Sure hope "Barry's" ready!!!
OK, I have to ask all of you who think that was a wildly inappropriate halftime show...
What would you consider appropriate? Don't say "not having the Super Bowl".
Lawrence Welk? No wait, for this crowd, a good speech from Fidel.
sock puppet channel
Christian here, but frankly, I wasn't paying much attention.
What I did see reminded me of psychedelics from old acid trips back in my college pre-saved days. That was enough for me.
Bloody hell, lighten up. Sometimes a half-time show is just a half-time show.
And just to piss off FSB Tyler and his merry band of Putin fluffers, let's give the Ukrainians some nukes to compensate them for giving that batch they returned to the Russians after the USSR broke up in exchange for a "security guarantee". How about a couple dozen W80's?
James Kunstler, what's a "political psychoanalyst"?
Creditors 19k miles round trip away,retained me to try to deal with a fast revolving bipolar debtor for purposes of picking the right time that he was not mentally incapacitaed for executing contracts to recover debts and/or secure assets in low 9 figures. About 42 law firms with median 250 lawyers were involved.
In his manic stage he did "A half time NFL Show" on his debtors -- charging performers to perform at the Superbowl. He billed banks for lending him money and billed suppliers for selling to him. Last time I looked it worked for a decade at least.
Creditors maybe need psychoanalysts to control their mythomania/OCD clients and lawyers changing and charging interest rates, terms of lending agreements and overbilling of sales.
Anyway, this was the best part of the Super-bowl halftime show for me for the NFL owners and NFLPA doing unto performers as they have been doing unto student athletes, their universities, legislatures and conferences for generations.
Can one imagine the uproar if it had been a duo of 2 bois singing "I kissed a boy-and I liked it and I went south of the border...."
I watched every second of the supor bowl, inluding pregame and postgame.
Greatest moments of my life.
I now crave sugar water, beer that taste like piss, chubby black haired girls, deflated balls, dodge jeeps, gmo doritos, big titted blondes, a lotta insurance, and a bunch of other stuff that makes me sleepy now that its over.
This kuntsler guy is the gratest, though. Top notch.
Are you retarded Kunstler?
The majority of Ukrainians have voted for association with the EU.
Moscow doesn't like it.
Tough
It is not any of Moscow's business what occurs in Kiev policy-making circles, and it has no right whatsoever to intimidate, invade and steal parts of Ukrainian territory, and steal its navy, you dopey fucking clown.
If UN recognized Ukraine, or Kuwait, want their UN recognized legal territories back from an armed invader, just what fucking business is it of yours?
NATO's vital interests are DEFINITELY at stake here for Putin and his predecessors have stolen other substantial parts of weaker neighboring countries before in the past 25 years, and if he does any more of it, there will be open warfare with modern heavy weapons.
I'd say that is definitely the military and geopolitical business of NATO and its commitments to NATO integrated eastern European states.
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
Of which Washington is a key member state of that alliance. You aer either in the alliance and mean what you say and do what you say, or you re not.
You should do some reading on Merkel's recent speeches on this topic, because Germany intends to fully enforce the sanctions, for as long as necessary, and to escalate them as necessary, to put an end to Putins's behavior, or else demolish the Russian economy.
Which ever outcome occurs first.
That is the expressed German Foreign policy, and other key part of the expressed German foreign policy is they fully intend to maintain strong links and constant talks with Moscow to encourage a change of actions, not just words. They are leaving the door open to an amicable resolution.
(So don't get the idea that Merkel talking to Russia or offering proposals aimed at resolution amounts to a German capitulation and split from the US in the werkes, like that dope Jim Willie is putting about - think again Gjackass, strategic imperatives trump corporate interests and wish lists - it's not going to happen that way)
So get your facts straight and quit crying like a reactive unrealistic bitch-slapped hysterical spineless childish vacillating coward.
Dear Element:
If Washington believes what goes on in Ottawa, Mexico City, London, Berlin, Ankara, New Delhi and Tokyo policy making circles, not to mention policy making circles in every nook and cranny of the planet, is its business, surely Moscow has a right to be concerned with what goes on in the Russian-speaking city of Kiev, especially in view of the fact that ever since the end of the Cold War, Washington has been seeking to dragoon Ukraine into it's globe-girdling hive of compliant states, the better to use it as a club with whicn to beat Russia.
Big powers always want their interests over accentuated and go too far. As I said in a post recently, strategic choices for national survival are always ugly. It's always a painful set of compromises you'd very much rather not to have to make.
The bottom line is that if Kiev wants EU association, and even NATO membership (whoa, there tiger!), and the US and other EU states see a need to provide legal and agreed weapon support to defend a State with the right to defend itself against invasion and undermining, that's their choice. There is actually nothing wrong with the Sovereign State of Ukraine and the States of NATO doing that.
Ukraine is fortunate at this point that NATO are willing and see a clear need to do that, and to impose sanctions to deter Russia, as it's quite a lot of support, and quite a risk. Either states in the area say no to armed foreign invasion, by proxie, if not directly sans shoulder patches, or they'll soon suffer similar, or same. This is always what eastern Europe has understood about what recovered Russia would do to them.
It is this understanding and paranoia of Moscow's possible actions, followed by its tangible actions, not just fears of such, that has lead to the situation that Moscow is in now, where all of its European neighbors are now against it, and certainly not inclined to enter into any Eurasian economic trade zone with the current Russian federation and commonly expressed internal views of Russian nationalists.
I'm mostly aghast how badly Putin's Moscow hierarchy has handled the situation, and everything since. They have certainly bought about the very thing they supposedly didn't want, to an extent that it now looks like they actually wanted the present situation to develop.
It's bizarre.