The mainstream media covered Venezuela non-stop yesterday. They many times mentioned Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President, because Trump stated she is now in charge. They never mentioned that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the torture to death of her father, socialist activist Jorge Rodríguez, by the CIA-backed security services of the US-aligned Pérez regime in Venezuela.
That would of course spoil the evil communists versus nice democrats narrative that is being forced down everybody’s throats.
Nor did they mention that the elected governments of Hugo Chávez reduced extreme poverty by over 70%, reduced poverty by 50%, halved unemployment, quadrupled the number receiving a state pension and achieved 100% literacy. Chávez took Venezuela from the most unequal society for wealth distribution in Latin America to the most equal.
Nor have they mentioned that María Corina Machado is from one of Venezuela’s wealthiest families, which dominated the electricity and steel industries before nationalisation, and that her backers are the very families that were behind those CIA-controlled murderous regimes.
Economic sanctions imposed by the West – and another thing they have not mentioned is that the UK has confiscated over £2 billion of the Venezuelan government’s assets – have made it difficult for the Maduro government to do much more than shore up the gains of the Chávez years.
But that Venezuela is a major production or trafficking point for narcotics entering the USA is simply a nonsense. Nicolás Maduro has his faults, but he is not a drug trafficking kingpin. The claim is utter garbage.
The willingness of the West to accept the opposition’s dodgy vote tallies from the 2024 Presidential elections does not legitimise invasion and kidnap.
Yesterday almost every Western government came up with a statement that managed to endorse Trump’s bombing and kidnap – plainly grossly illegal in international law – and simultaneously claim to support international law. The hypocrisy is truly off the scale. It is also precisely the Western powers that support the genocide in Gaza that support the attack on Venezuela.
The genocide in Gaza demonstrated the end of hopes – which were extremely important to my own worldview – for the rule of international law to outweigh the brutal use of force in international relations. The kidnap of Maduro, the rush of Western powers to accept it, and the inability of the rest of the world to do anything about it, have underlined that international law is simply dead.
In the long list of appalling awards of the Nobel peace prize, none can be worse than the latest to the Venezuelan traitor María Corina Machado, intended actively to promote and bring forward the imperialist attack on Venezuela by the United States.
It takes a great deal of effort to come up with a worse decision than to award Kissinger immediately after the massive bombing of Laos and Cambodia. It was a dreadful award, but it was intended to recognise the putative Paris peace deal and prod the United States towards honouring the peace process. Initially it was a joint award with Vietnamese negotiator Lê Đức Thọ (who sensibly declined).
The Kissinger award was a terrible mistake, but the Committee were seeking to end a war, starting from a willingness to cooperate with unprincipled realpolitik. In the award to Machado, they are deliberately seeking to endorse and promote the start of a war. That is a very different thing.
Similarly the award to Obama was a crazed moment of hope after the despair of the invasion of Iraq. It was a combined mistaken belief that Obama would be better, with a mistaken idea it would encourage him to be so.
I accept that the line I am drawing is a thin one; rewarding the perpetrators of Western aggression is only a short step away from actually encouraging Western aggression. But nevertheless a line has been crossed.
The gross hypocrisy of the morally bankrupt Committee chairman, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, in claiming that the prize is for non-violent action on Venezuela, at the very moment that Trump gathered the largest invasion force since Iraq off Venezuela makes me feel thoughts towards Frydnes that ought not qualify me for any peace prize at all. I feel similarly towards Guterres and all those others abandoning their supposed international role to lick Trump’s boot today.
So what now for Venezuela? Well, on the most optimistic reading Trump’s action was performative. He had to do something to avoid the Grand Old Duke of York jibes after that immense concentration of forces off Venezuela, and he has produced a spectacular that actually changes little.
On this reading, the Americans may be making the same mistake they made in Iran, in believing that decapitation strategy and bombing will spark internal revolution. In Iran, they actually strengthened support for the Government.
As of yesterday afternoon, the Bolivarian government in Caracas genuinely did not yet know what had happened, how far there was collusion in the armed forces in Maduro’s kidnap, and whether they still had the control of the army.
Trump’s plain signal that the US views Rodríguez as in charge, and Trump’s contemptuous dismissal of Machado – the only bright point in an appalling day – might give pause to any in Venezuela expecting active US support for a coup.
To those who claim Maduro was a tyrant, I refer you to the comic opera Guaidó coup of 30 April 2019. Guaidó had been declared President of Venezuela by the western powers despite never even having been a candidate. He attempted a coup and wandered around Caracas with heavily armed henchmen, declaring himself President but just being laughed at by the army, police and population.
In any country in the world Guaidó would have been jailed for life for attempting an armed coup, and I expect in the majority he would have been executed. Maduro just patted him on the head and put him back on a plane.
So much for the evil dictatorship.
By pure chance, on Friday I had texted Delcy Rodríguez about arrangements for travel and accreditation so I could go and report from Venezuela and bring you more of the truth from that country that the media is hiding from you. I made plain I was not asking for financial support. Things are obviously fluid at the moment, but it is still my intention to get there.
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Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN yesterday told the UN Security Council about the British regime’s funding of an anti-government coalition in Venezuela.
Here he is:
https://images.euronews.com/articles/stories/09/60/32/12/828x552_cmsv2_a959d1e0-64ae-51cf-a7d9-f05afef6de4e-9603212.jpg
holding up a printout of this article:
https://www.declassifieduk.org/revealed-uk-foreign-office-has-spent-nearly-half-a-million-pounds-in-aid-setting-up-anti-government-coalition-in-venezuela/
That article is 5 years old, but what else did he say? Were British military special forces involved in this week’s attack and kidnapping?
British company, the Vestey Group, a meat products company owned by the aristocratic Vestey family, had owned ranches in Venezuela since the early 20th century. The Vestey Group (specifically its local subsidiary Agroflora), lost significant cattle ranch holdings in Venezuela during the “agrarian revolution” led by President Hugo Chávez.
The seizures were part of a land reform program initiated under a 2001 law that allowed the government to expropriate “idle” or unproductively used land to redistribute to landless peasants.
Venezuela’s oil boom made farming uneconomic, many farm workers left the countryside for better paid jobs elsewhere. Food production declined and despite having large areas of fertile land Venezuela had to import most of its food. The land reform programme was intended to reverse this but the new small farmers faced numerous problems and production actually fell.
One of the biggest exporters of food to Venezuela is.. the US; $750 million in 2024.
Pears
We need more proof of this than your hearsay. I have seen opposite statements stating that diversifications of the economy was becoming more successful in Venezuela recently as the result of the vindictive and illegal sanctions.
Pears is correct here. According to DoS, Venezuela imported $800M worth of food from the US in 2024. However, at the same time the US imported $173M worth of agriculural products from Venezuela, mostly sea food. Total food imports to Venezuela in 2024 were $3B.
Pears Morgaine
I don’t dispute that there was financial mismanagement in Venezuela. That’s not unique though, look how the UK squandered North Sea oil revenues with Thatcher’s ideological drive in the early 1980s to lower upper rates of taxation in successive budgets.
I go back to what I said earlier though. It’s interesting how European and EU leaders all use the same agreed wording on Venezuela; how there needs to be “a transition of power” in Venezuela, i.e. not a re-run election under their observers, no, it’s got to be a transition of power. That is to say they want to put the opposition in power without any public say on the matter, like some colonial overlords. Probably because they have little confidence Venezuelans would endorse their preferred candidate, be it Machado or anyone else.
@Goose: election is one way of a peaceful transition of power. EU statemets are purposefuly vague – whichever way the transition is achieved, EU members want to have a free hand to recognise or not a particular government.
Ultimately, raison d’état is what matters in international relations; not justice, fairness, or other lofty ideas.
Goose:- There is certainly some parallel with the way the Thatcher government squandered North Sea Oil revenues in the 1980s. They left the economy to ‘market forces’ with the result that it became uneconomic to invest in anything other than North Sea Oil. All but £1 billion of the money was spent on increased unemployment benefits.
The Thatcher government used North Sea oil reserves to maintain the Pound sterling at artificially high levels, making imports cheaper and exports less lucrative to our trading partners and resulting in the manufacturing sector in the UK being laid waste in the ultimate economic “double whammy.” Whole areas of the country suffered setbacks from which they have never recovered. The Square Mile with its much vaunted stock exchange and other financial services providers was the philosophical epicentre of the Thatcher revolution – while Alderrman Roberts considered the stock exchange to be a rich man’s casino, his daughter effectively decriminalised white collar fraud, but North Sea oil provided a larger percentage of GDP in the UK during the 1980s than did the City. North Sea oil went online in 1979, the year of Thatcher’s election, which lead some commentators to forecast that the winners of that year’s election, permanently buoyant with the hydrocarbon bonanza, would never lose another election, and this observer feels that, in a very large part, that prediction came true. Yet even bereft of North Sea oil the years of the incumbency of the James Callqghan government in the UK saw higher economic growth as a whole than did the Thatcher years. The only people to truly prosper from this application of North Sea oil wealth were of the rentier class, as my allusion to Thatcher’s grocer father illustrates, to call her regime Poujadist is an insult to the memory of Monsiuer Poujade, who rooted for small business. Venezuela’s oil reserves and the attendant revenue dwarves those of the UK, and, though sketchy as to the precise details, I recall a Venezuelan leader in the late 1990s saying that his country was :”Drowning in the Devil’s shit,” meaning that the oil industry and its effect on the wider economy and currency was stifling development elsewhere. In the face of this any decent and responsible leader would strive to make the bounty from his country’s natural resources benefit the widest possible spectrum of the population, the statistics provided above by Craig make clear that this was the course pursued by Chavez, and pursued with spectacular success. Maduro could not decisively further this goal, but his government was beset with foreign interference in the form of threats and sanctions, of which the late attack from the US stands as an illegal and outlandish apex
To help to understand US intervention in Venezuela the new National security document spells it out, the US is losing its hegemony all over the world, in Europe it has lost the Ukraine war but still needs its vassals in NATO to contribute 5% of the combined GDP of NATO counties approx $1.5 trillion dollars to its US Military Industrial complex, and at the same time encourage its partners [vassals] to take on more of its own defence. In effect the US, the leader of NATO will lead from behind. From the US point of view, this is wise since they make money from US arms sales to Europe while ensuring the buck stops with its vassals.
In other parts of the world China is the growing threat and must be contained [somehow] US arms sales to Taiwan are increasing and allies in East Asia like South Korea and Japan etc are being encouraged to confront China [like Ukraine was a spear to Russian vitals].
In the middle east US/Israel are lashing out at all Israels neighbors and at the same time ginning up a war with [they think] the last piece on the chessboard, Iran. Good luck with that.
These machinations are led by the US Military Industrial complex [Boeing, Lockheed Martin etc] the financial industrial complex led by the IMF and economic hit men like John Perkins, and the surveillance complex led by Peter Thiel and other Silicon valley billionaires.
All the above make it very difficult for Venezuela [or any smallish country to survive]. The US National Security document recognizes the new multi polar world and is going to ensure its place in the western hemisphere with the new and improved Donroe doctrine. I do not think it will work since Trump will not put boots on the ground in Venezuela and Delcy Rodríguez has come out fighting, she will need help from others, will it come?
Another reason Trump could be escalating conflict in Venezuela and the middle east is to placate Netanyahu, could be in order to distract us away from the Epstein files and the additional million more documents they have found. Who is Bubba?
Agreed – also to distract people from the rising prices of food in the US, thanks to his unhinged tariff regime, and the skyrocketing medical insurance premiums of Americans, thanks to his removal of Obamacare provisions.
“Bubba” is in an email in the Epstein files.
This Don Lemmon video on the release of the Epstein files, you must watch this unhinged MAGA woman going off the rails, this is hilarious, she also wants to know who Bubba is, thinking it could be MelaniaTrump when in fact it is Ghislaine Maxwell’s horse. 5 mins in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbc8WX_e0-k
bubba was a nickname applied during his presidency to bill clinton
My starting point would be when Chavez was President. He nationalised and the US disliked that move. Quite credibly he improved the living standards of the ordinary Venezuelans. That was his ‘crime’.
The US retaliated by imposing illegal sanctions. They seized all of CITGO’s ( Venezuelan gas distributors based in the US) assets and even confiscated the Venezuelan Embassy. They kicked Venezuela out of the SWIFT system. The UK assisted by seizing Venezuelan gold that Chavez had lodged with the Bank of England. Now, the US blockades traffic in and out of Venezuela.
Now, the blame for economic hardship is all placed on Chavez and Maduro and their ‘socialism’ without factual reference or legal considerations.
The kidnapping of Maduro is patently illegal – but might is right.
I leave it at that for now.
According to a Guardian report the UK did not recognise the legitimacy of Maduro’s election, and that is why (at the request of the US) the transfer of the gold to Venezuela was blocked. The UK recognised the leader of the opposiiton Guaido as interim head of state, but with Maduro the de facto ruler, the blockade continued. Maduro’s successor, Delcy Rodriguez has condemned this as “piracy”, but IMHO the UK will likely not release the gold before it recognises a regime in Caracas as legitimate. it may take a general election with validation by respected observers like the UN and the Carter Center (who were not satisfied with Maduro’s election) to accomplish that.
M.J.
Consider – Guaidó had absolutely any electoral credibility – so where does UK gold seizure derive its legitimacy from?
As I understand, the UK’s gold seizure derived its legitimacy from not recognising the legitimacy of Maduro’s election. It had recognised the legitimacy of Guaido’s election, so if Maduro had stepped down and Guaido has assumed office, I believe the gold would have been duly released.
Therefore the best thing for Venezuela now may be for Delcy Rodriguez to call a general election immediately, let exiles like Machado return safely, and invite UN observers (and Carter Center people) as monitors, and do everything by the book where the recording of votes is concerned.
“and do everything by the book where the recording of votes is concerned.”
and turning a blind eye to blatant electoral malpractice in favour of the US’s preferred candidate, as in Romania and Moldova. In any case, if they use electronic voting, there is no chain of custody, so the result can be whatever the current powers that be want it to be. Let’s face it, the US, the UK and the others are never going to recognise an election that produces a Socialist government.
M.J.
“As I understand, the UK’s gold seizure derived its legitimacy from not recognising the legitimacy of Maduro’s election. It had recognised the legitimacy of Guaido’s election, so if Maduro had stepped down and Guaido has assumed office, I believe the gold would have been duly released.”
Read and think about what you wrote..
“… [The UK] had recognised the legitimacy of Guaido’s election, so if Maduro had stepped down and Guaido [had] assumed office, I believe the gold would have been duly released …”
What makes you think the UK would not have already used the gold for its own or other purposes or transferred it to another party while waiting for Maduro to leave or be removed?
“…What makes you think the UK would not have already used the gold for its own or other purposes”
UK stores over £250 billion worth of other countries’ gold (around 5,000 tons), and London’s credibility lies in safeguarding it. £3 billion isn’t worth the total loss of credibility that would ensue.
The U.S. doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of President Maduro’s election because the millions of dollars we spent for his opposition failed. We’ve been at war with Venezuela for decades because they nationalized their own oil, and that is Utterly Forbidden in the unwritten international law that says: ALL THE WEALTH in the Universe BELONGS TO US, signed, The Rich People.
Anyone can “not recognise the legitimacy of someone else’s election”. And indeed, if one looks at the matter through scientific eyes, what kind of proof would be “good enough”?
Everywhere, the rule seems to be that people trust those with whom they wish to make common cause, and pretend to suspect those whom they wish to depict as “antagonists”, “adversaries”, or downright enemies.
In the past century straightforward conquest has gradually become less and less profitable and even feasible. The Americans introduced the more subtle, unobtrusive, plausibly deniable technique of infiltrating their own people (or their paid servants) into “the commanding heights” of national economies and governments. Then they could sit back and enjoy steady and substantial “revenue streams” under colour of law.
While many other posts are important to such a strategy, control of national governments is of course very desirable. (In Russia today, the West lacks such control but still makes great progress through people like Nabiullina and the oligarchs). To gain control of a government, one can either stage an openly illegal “colour revolution” as in Ukraine, or alternatively arrange to “win” elections after discrediting the legitimate incumbents and candidates.
The USA, copying the UK in its palmier days, excels at rapidly switching between two modes. One is the idealistic mode: the USA is the City On A Hill, the hope of mankind, fundamentally different from all the old, corrupt nations, the home of freedom and democracy. When that doesn’t get the desired results, Americans are capable of switching to the opposite extreme: “we have the power, we will take what we want, and what are you going to do about it?” (The Athenian position in the Melian Dialogue).
It can be confusing, if you aren’t following matters very closely, to see both propositions being advanced in rapid succession – as right now.
British state elections have never had democratic legitimacy, perhaps we should have a coup d’helicopter?
Looks like Jeremy Corbyn dodged a bullet by losing the LP leadership.
“STOP: The Secretary of State Mike Pompeo just promised ‘Jewish leaders’ in the United States that he would stop Jeremy Corbyn coming to power here,” tweeted former British MP George Galloway. “Is this normal now? Is this what we’ve been led to? Is this good for Jews? For Britain? Really?”
“They did it in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Now the US government wants to overthrow democracy in Britain,” tweeted The Guardian’s George Monbiot. “Still waiting for a UK government spokesperson to express their outrage. Hello???” https://caityjohnstone.medium.com/uh-what-did-pompeo-mean-when-he-vowed-to-push-back-against-corbyn-8aa668c5416d
England to keep Venezuela’s gold, which is illegally held in the Bank of England – Trump’s minion regime following in his footsteps.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/britain-to-keep-venezuelan-gold/ar-AA1TFNY7?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=695d5323e45b459fbe9cb2e4ea663ee1&ei=14
How would members here react to a US annexation of Greenland? (I think that we are all opposed to Trump’s invasion of Venezuela?).
Obviously it would be disastrous for the current “Atlantic alliance”.
But would it be a Good Thing?
And if not what should W Europe and Canada do about it?
If anyone here knows Denmark well or has contacts who know it well, I’d be interested to hear whether there’s any kinda Trump-Kushner effort inside that country. This would be more important info than pronouncements by Donald Tusk, who’s doing little more than PR for weapons companies. Certainly if Denmark invoke Article 5 of the NATO treaty, then yes it’s the end of NATO. But what if they don’t? Denmark isn’t compradore-free. If it were, it wouldn’t be in NATO in the first place. But note well that even the end of NATO doesn’t mean e.g. the closing down of Fylingdales (where the USA almost certainly keeps some nukes), Menwith Hill, or the CIA’s London station. Similar statements could be made about Germany etc.
I very much doubt that Trump would simply invade as the US did in Iraq. I suspect that time and effort would be spent generating a popular desire in Greenland to become part of the US amongst the Greenlanders and a desire amongst the ruling elite in Denmark to be shot of Greenland. All it would take would be gold, lots of it, in the right pockets. There are so few people in Greenland that they could all be given what to them is a large sum of money and it would still be fiddling small change to the US.
All it would take would be gold, lots of it, in the right pockets.
You really think the Greenlanders are so venal? How much would it take to bribe you to become a loyal Trumpist?
One does not really need that much gold because you only need to bribe some of the political elites, the mass media, and the police/security/army leadership. Worked well in Ukraine, though failed in Georgia. Most likely, the attempt to organize gay parade in Tbilisi was the wrong move. No money in the world could help you with this.
Pears Morgaine
Remember when recently you claimed you want to see any politician who takes bribes be jailed, especially those bribed to shill for foreign countries? Not just a Reform nonentity who took bribes from Russia.
Why did you refuse to answer the obvious question of whether your firm principles applied to government ministers bribed by the Israel lobby?
It’s a new year, can we finally have your answer?
“You really think the Greenlanders are so venal?”
Not all of them, but not all of them need to be bribed. As you well know, bribes come in other forms than the well-stuffed brown envelopes. As a nation, the British sneer at that form of bribery, so ungenteel. The favour-for-favour form of bribery practised by them is so much more civilised. As for venality, you might think that the British would not be so venal either, but if the success of the Tory plan to bribe the electorate by selling them houses at undervalue is anything to go by, you might begin to doubt it.
The water bottling company in Greenland accepted investment from Trump’s friend, and the local Greenlander CEO of the company is married to a government leader. The population of Greenland is only 57,000. They thought the investment would support the nation’s economy. They had been looking for investors to expand their market for the finest bottled water in the world. Strings are attached to the investment agreement
J K Redux
The question should be:
What can they do about it?
Answer – very little apart from whinging.
MARK M CUTTS
January 6, 2026 at 22:02
Well yes.
That schadenfreude was the answer that I expected.
I hoped to hear some more positive replies.
One obvious suggestion (from an LBC caller I think) is for the European (and Canada) armies to conduct “exercises” in Greenland at the invitation of the Greenland and Danish governments.
If the US are willing to attack the Danish army (who lost men assisting the US in Afghanistan) then the world has changed….
They wouldn’t have to attack the Danish army – just ignore it. You can be sure the Danes wouldn’t fire on Americans.
They will do as they have done with Maduro’s kidnapping and the Gaza Genocide — frame it as entirely legal and another Good Thing for the world.
This is who we are.. this what we are.
How many more times before you finally believe them?
Yes, I think that’s correct. It could be spun as a move to counter the alleged threat from Russia and China: securing a NATO flank, so to speak.
Our BBC is already trying to normalise a US seizure of Greenland. So too today’s joint UK/US hijacking of a vessel in international waters.
“It’s okay, all of this is completely normal and extremely respectable!”
See Max Blumenthal’s devastating destruction of the charges against Mr Maduro: https://thegrayzone.com/2026/01/05/indictment-maduro-cia-network-witness/
A theory I have heard that sounds plausible is that lousy communications in the Trump camp are to blame. Mr Trump tells someone to kidnap the Maduros and find some charges on which to imprison them. Other, much more junior, people give that the old college try, unaware that the task is literally impossible. It’s Mr Trump who should have known that, or been advised of it. But through incompetence, impatience, illness, or senility, he didn’t.
Thanks Tom, an outlet vilified for promoting disinformation by Our BBC and other respectable truthtellers.
For the USA to take over Greenland by force, apart from being an act worthy of Hitler taking over the Sudetenland, could be an environmental disaster. No doubt the motive, as with Venezuela, would be that Trump and his capitalist cronies covet the mineral wealth of the territory. Once he seized it it would be ‘drill, baby, drill.’
It would be the end of NATO for sure. The Russians would be very happy, and “Comrade Krasnow” might merit a special gold medal in Moscow if he retired there.
Whether it would turn the UK against the USA, bearing in mind the commitment of the PM to the national interest, I’m not certain. Could it lead to a take-over of the whole North Atlantic – Canada, Iceland, Ireland and the UK, by the US? Now there’s a question!
M.J. said “Could it lead to a take-over of the whole North Atlantic – Canada, Iceland, Ireland and the UK, by the US”?.
I doubt it (and obviously hope not).
The combined population of the listed States is about 110 millions.
The number of occupation troops needed would be impractical.
Iceland on its own (if a seizure of Greenland succeeds) is certainly a potential option.
“The number of occupation troops needed would be impractical”.
The USA gave up occupying subject nations long ago for just that reason. Coups d’etat would be much easier to carry through (in Canada and the UK at least) than in Ukraine or Syria. Arguably, they have already been completed successfully although most of the broad masses haven’t noticed. But if the newspapers and TV didn’t tell them, how would they know?
Trump has said several times that he wants to make Canada the 51 state.
In January he was referring to Prime Minister Trudeau as Governor Trudeau.
Most Canadians are taking it rather seriously.
They’ll probably call it deplorable same as the Danish lackeys of the Folketing.
I would certainly welcome such development. This move will likely kill NATO as we know it, cut the umbilical cord between Europe and the US, and distract EU leadership from helping Ukraine. And if this does not happen, the world will finally learn that Europe is run by a bunch of clowns.
It is not much more than 1,000 miles from Greenland to Russia’s Murmansk area, which contains many very sensitive naval and air bases. American military strategists would certainly love the opportunity to get that much closer. Greenland is also well placed to overlook the Norwegian and Barents Seas.
Of course there are many other motives. Greenland is enormous; its total land area of over 2 million square kilometres would place it 12th in area among the world’s nations, and about one fifth the size of the USA, Canada, or China. There must be untold mineral riches under the ice. If Washington can’t (yet) grab Russia’s mineral resources, maybe Greenland would be enough to be going on with until it can.
Of course all such considerations are mere speculation unless the US government acts on them. If it does, it will be a clear sign that the world has returned to the 19th century, and that international law is dead and buried. As far as the West is concerned, at least. No doubt the BRICS and others will continue to observe it and to pay due respect to all nations – except, perhaps, those that actively perpetrate piracy on the high seas.
More than 200 years after the Tripolitan War which inspired the reference to “the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine anthem, it is now the USA that is a pirate nation.
Glenn Greenwald explains why people change from being anti interventionists and viscerally defend Trumps campaign promises not to regime change governments in the future, then suddenly turn into warmongers. He shows Lindsey Graham almost having an orgasm alongside Trump explaining his stance on Venezuela, Colombia,Cuba and Greenland.
“Deranged Warmongering FREAK” Lindsey Graham Gets His Neocon Wish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekLY21sIa40
In Bertrand Russell’s autobiography he describes, very vividly, the overnight transformation of British public opinion after war was declared in 1914. He and his wife were aghast to find that their closest friends and colleagues, who literally the day before had earnestly agreed that war was worse than any alternative, were suddenly howling for German blood and violently angry with anyone who advocated peace or pacifism. Soon after, both Russell and his wife narrowly escaped death at the hands of an angry crowd. They were rescued because police, who had until then stood by and watched them being physically battered, sprang into action when they learned that Russell was the son of an earl.
“During this and the following days I discovered to my amazement that average men and women were delighted at the prospect of war. I had fondly imagined, what most pacifists contended, that wars were forced upon a reluctant population by despotic and Machiavellian governments. I had noticed during previous years how carefully Sir Edward Grey lied in order to prevent the public from knowing the methods by which he was committing us to the support of France in the event of war. I naïvely imagined that when the public discovered how he had lied to them, they would be annoyed; instead of which, they were grateful to him for having spared them the moral responsibility…
“At that time I was wholly ignorant of psycho-analysis, but I arrived for myself at a view of human passions not unlike that of the psycho-analysts. I arrived at this view in an attempt to understand popular feelings about the War. I had supposed until that time that it was quite common for parents to love their children, but the War persuaded me that it is a rare exception. I had supposed that most people liked money better than almost anything else, but I discovered that they liked destruction even better. I had supposed that intellectuals frequently loved truth, but I found here again that not ten per cent of them prefer truth to popularity”.
Human nature does not change.
@ Tom Welsh
Who were these people? Working class labourers or petit bourgeois little Englanders?
The mob were mostly working class men and women, all sincerely united in their hatred of Germany and sweet reason. But the Russells’ friends were a much more distinguished, highbrow set. Even Russell’s friend and collaborator Alfred North Whitehead refused to see them any more.
You can read about it all in Russell’s autobiography or Caroline Moorhead’s biography – surely still obtainable through any decent library.
It wasn’t just the poor and ignorant who lost their marbles. Trinity College, Cambridge revoked Russell’s fellowship.
Hmmm biography….Not a genre I like much.
Another feature of Venezuelan politics that will not feature in the msm.
After his election on 2024, Maduro proceeded to advance his ideas on participative democracy”, itself a precursor of “direct democracy”. It involved local communes in quite a sophisticated and elaborate process of voting on projects that would benefit their local communities.
“Voters selected from over 36,600 projects proposed in local assemblies. The winning projects will each receive an estimated budget of USD 10,000 from the Maduro government and grassroots collectives will be responsible for their execution.
The Vice Presidency of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) for Popular Councils and Communes reported that among the pool of proposals, there were 6,481 focused on water and sewage systems, 5,136 related to housing, 4,681 focused on road infrastructure, 4,160 on electricity, 3,945 on the education sector and 3,123 aimed at improving health services”.
See Putting the People and their Communes First: A Conversation with José Luis Sifontes (September 27. 2024). https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/putting-the-people-and-their-communes-first-a-conversation-with-jose-luis-sifontes.
“Your Party is of course modelling itself broadly along Venezuelan lines (though without a named leader) and with current calls for members to vote for its CEC leadership. Just supposing the idea of “participative” and even “direct” democracy took off, if the Venezuelan experience if anything to go by, the writing is already on the wall with the British establishment well aligned with Trump’s version of Fascism – let us call it for what it is ideologically.
Spot on, Crispa. Nothing frightens and enrages the establishment more than an attempt to introduce real democracy. They label it “populism”, which is almost the same word as “democracy” except that it is derived from Latin instead of Greek. They warn that only “representative democracy” is safe, because the people are too stupid, ignorant, and emotional to be trusted with any decisions other than which bunch of rich people are to be their masters.
And they call Messrs Putin, Xi, and Maduro “dictators”!
It’s quite a sight to witness Liberals – Centrists and Social Democrats bemoaning the fate of the Western World.
Donald Trump is what happens when governments try to ride two horses at once.
One horse is the keeping of the rich rich – or even more richer.
Two is the pretence that the Social State can still be as it was previously.
Some groups of people gain at the expense of other social groups and it’s usually the poor and lower Middle Classes that pay for the gains of the rich.
As it is in each country and being as some countries are much more powerful than others the same rules apply.
A rudimentary look at the Hierarchy of Imperialists currently should tell you all you need to know.
The US is Top Dog and is in charge.
The Europeans are like faded past it Boxers talking in a bar as to how they have still got it.
The problem is that there is a very dangerous development in the world and that is the BRICs led by China.
Yes – you can obstruct – divert – annoy etc etc the BRICS Project but short of going to a Nuke War there actually is nothing ( in the medium term ) that Trump and the West can do to railroad it.
Democracy has delivered the West to the point of voting for the least worst in all Western countries and the Worst of the Worst delivery is Donald J Trump.
The question for every Democrat now is:
How do we get rid of him?
The silence is deafening – they don’t know how because they don’t know how terrible their contribution to alleged democracy facilitated this Meglomaniac coming to power.
As they say in the media – it’s all on you Democrats.
Your grave and you dug it to keep the left away from power.
MARK M CUTTS
January 6, 2026 at 22:21
Kind of schadenfreude?
Discuss for 10 points;
“Suggestions of Schadenfreude are usually a feeble ripost from the side which has been caught with its pants down.”
On the contrary: Schadenfreude is an almost universal human weakness. Some of us manage to repress it better than others.
Suggestions of Schadenfreude, Tom, not Schadenfreude. You misread.
JK Redux.
No more like Karma:
(in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.
For example if someone in the UK kept voting for Thatcher the Tories and UKIP – the right (at the time) and are feeling’ left behind ‘ now when the right runs most of Europe and the UK they will be buried even deeper.
Consequences of one’s own actions ‘ Karma. ‘
If you wish to see a apt German phrase for all the EU leaders and the UK this one is close:
‘ Sich selbst ins Bein schießen.’- mit einem Maschinengewehr ‘
Grenland next then who knows maybe Plucky Little Belgium.
“Democracy has delivered the West to the point of voting for the least worst in all Western countries and the Worst of the Worst delivery is Donald J Trump.”
Trump and Starmer are both products of the same electoral stupidity – voting for someone because they are not someone else, without stopping to think who you are voting for rather than who you are voting against.
Exactly so, Bayard. I think that at last the elevator has reached the fourth basement.
Voting in British state votes isn’t democratic, ergo you’re blaming the electorate not the electoral system, not fair.
It’s fair to blame the electorate, when it’s them doing something stupid. Voting for someone simply because they are not someone else is a stupid thing to do whatever the electoral system and regardless of whether the voting makes any difference to anything.
Not in an undemocratic system, the voters aren’t the ones who decide.
@Mark – Re the BRICS “project”, people have been talking about introducing a new global currency for yonks. Cf. cloning a mammoth, and extracting an audio record of 18th century bricklayers’ banter from mortar. Talk is cheap.
“The Europeans are like faded past it Boxers talking in a bar as to how they have still got it”.
Lovely, and spot on.
Trump says Venezuela has agreed to let him sell 30-50m barrels of oil
“I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America. This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!”
-Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Beyond parody, isn’t it. Crazy times. How is any of this in line with Int. law?
Wouldn’t be surprised if he next tries to buy the Greenlandic people out with the stolen Venezuelan oil revenues.
Well, Trump needs to show there is some profit here. Otherwise, Americans would be like, “OK, you got this guy Maduro. Why do we care?”
Trump is now talking utter nonsense.
And don’t all his accomplices and sycophants, in the USA and elsewhere, remind you strongly of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”?
No one seems willing to admit that this man is extremely wicked, and probably demented, and possibly too ill to be trusted with the responsibility of public office. He behaves like a retarded child with ADHD, and everyone goes on gravely deferring to him: “Yes, Mr President. Certainly, Mr President. What a wonderful idea, Mr President! Right away, Mr President!”
Stephen Miller, US Deputy Chief of staff when talking with Jake Tapper [CNN] blurted out the truth…”The US President told the truth, the United States of America is running Venezuela, by definition that is true. We live in a world were you can talk all you want about International niceties and everything else, but we live in a world, in the real world today that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, and is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.
By definition, we are in charge because we have the US military stationed outside the country, we set the terms and conditions, we have a complete embargo on all of their oil, and so for them to do any commerce, they need our permission, for them to be able to run an economy they need our permission”
Thank you Stephen Miller you have made the world aware the US do not respect any laws, and will act violently against anyone who dares stand in our way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x9KESQV8aE
Miller talk like a pure fascist. He look like a fascist/nazi too.
Prior to becoming the president Trump spoke out against regime change policies
and just 1 year ago, Trump said in his inauguration speech that he wanted to be a “peacemaker”
WATCH: Saying he wants to be ‘peacemaker and unifier
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-saying-he-wants-to-be-peacemaker-and-unifier-trump-vows-to-rename-gulf-of-america
…since then, Trump bombed 7 nations. A record for a president.
He looks like a gimp.
It’s been only 24 years…
“The aide said that guys like me were ‘in what we call the reality-based community,’ which he defined as people who ‘believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.’ I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ‘That’s not the way the world really works anymore,’ he continued. ‘We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality – judiciously, as you will – we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors… and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.'”
– Ronald Suskind (American journalist) reporting the comments of a White House aide (later identified as Karl Rove) [“Without A Doubt” by Ron Suskind, The New York Times Magazine, 17 October 2004].
The way to stop Trump may be via the Federal Courts, if Congress lacks the will to do so. The UN should pass a resolution in the General Assembly condemning the blockade.
But I think that the correct response of the current Venezuelan government is not to say either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to American demands but to call a general election immediately, and make sure that it is done with undeniable integrity, passing the decision to whoever is properly elected.
Then any leader will have the moral authority that comes from a proper mandate, making loyalty easier to count on and the success of any further ‘special operations’ to kidnap the Head of State much less likely to succeed.
Oh, Yes Please,
catch that ‘plane, we need your spotlight on yet another ‘Crime of the Empire’ in order to guage the overwhelming will of the Venezuelan people, not the overbearing will of the death machine, as seen on tv, ramping up the false consensus for war. It’s a truly perfidious predicament to be in, having to live in a World where the Top Dogs have become rabid, gone feral with no dog handlers or humane slaughterers at hand to restore normality. Where the Hell are the ultimate responders, the Legal Institutions that are supposed to curb excessive power? They’ve become fictional entities.
I remember at the turn of the century it was PNAC, the Neo con project for a new american century that proudly proclaimed ‘We make the history’ before they went off and fucked-up Iraq, since then they’ve never stopped. The gullable UK lends a modest hand in the atrocities, every single intervention an unmitigated disaster that trashes any goodwill that may have lingered in the World for the dissolution of empire.We were shafted by gangsters.Trouble is the empire didn’t dissolve, gobbleisation and neoliberal capital moved in, backed by what’s now a $3 Trillion war machine that needs exercising by those aforementioned Dogs.
My monthly contribution towards your work, although modest, helps to propagate insightful knowlege and that’s worth a fortune! But I fear for your safety as an independent observer and reporter of slender means with no burly security, but hey, you walked through Lebanon with zionist drones buzzing you constantly so you’re no stranger to intimidation and I’m sure you will meet many Chavismos that appreciate your being there and offer you their help. It’s probably the only plus in being from our still colonised nation, we can chime with each others oppression!
Thanks Craig and ‘Bonne Chance’.
“Where the Hell are the ultimate responders, the Legal Institutions that are supposed to curb excessive power?”
Legal institutions – and all other institutions – can do nothing themselves. Laws and constitutions are, at most, writing on paper. Curbing excessive power, and all other physical acts, can be done only by actual specific human beings.
It is excellent when such human beings are guided by laws and constitutions and legal institutions. But the decision whether or not to obey the laws at any moment is in the hands of the individual alone. When enough powerful people have contempt for the law, it becomes utterly powerless.
To put it another way, laws are agreements between groups of people to behave – and refrain from behaving – in certain ways. When enough of those people are disinclined to make any personal sacrifices for the common good, and prefer to act selfishly, laws lose all their power.
It’s a moral issue.
“Let me add, that only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters”.
– Benjamin Franklin, letter to the Abbés Chalut and Arnaud (17 April 1787).
Power. The ICC has an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. ‘You and whose army?’ he can reply. The members who voted to uphold international law in this way have been sanctioned individually. Judges have lost access to PayPal, Amazon, and American banks, and European banks won’t accept them.
ID cards, Palantir embedded in our NHS, and the Donroe Doctrine of American corporation supremacy around the world, are being aggressively rolled out, and implemented, with the likes of Stephen Miller giving us no doubt of the force behind the rhetoric. Losing Nordstream gas has crippled Germany’s economy, as Varoufakis explains.
No surprise that Starmer is quaking in his shoes. The reach back in time, to the architects of this scenario, is in banned books due to the tribal coherence of the actors through generations. The insider writing 50 years ado was Victor Ostrovsky. Maduro made a speech calling for an army to back international law. He claimed that the tribe intends to kill all Muslims in the Middle East and all Christians around the world. The collapse of the international rules based system, and the economic fluency which it enabled, will hollow out national economies. Iran is the first to topple from induced paralysis
Trump is building enormous crypto currency centres in the desert which will consume a lot of energy and water. The web is becoming more intricately controlling of any dissent. Its reach is into the smallest corners. Drones are effectively integrated into the knowledge generated and managed, and fake news is sending a large percentage of easily manipulated people into the strangest fantasy alternative realities.
Thank you Craig for your clarity and impeccable sources. Your courage and integrity are a beacon for humanity. Stay safe.
Watching Labour MPs and the rest of the EU’s lousy puppets refusing to admit that; US broke the law, admit that US kidnapped Maduro or refuse to even condemn let alone sometimes even mention the assault on Venezuela prove how easily these western liberals could slip into an authoritian/dictatorship culture just like that. This type of gaslighting one thought only went on in dictatorships where people are afraid to tell the truth in front of the leader. The same West that laugh how obedient North Koreans are better look themselves in the mirror.
Absurdly, the same EU that are so worried about Greenland are making sure with their total submission to Trump and praise for the attack on Venezuela, that that take over will indeed happen too. Trump have become some fascist leader for the slavish EU. What a pathetic spectacle.
And look how they/media use the US-wage-war-for-democracy/Maduro-was-unelected bs! Unelected?? With that argument Russia have the right to kidnap unelected people like Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen.
The British head of state is unelected.
One of them is, the other was elected by 0.02% of the electorate to do a job which does not include the duties of the head of state..
Apparently the BBC instructed their scribes not to use the words invaded or kidnapped. Obviously, Maduro is just on a holiday in NY.
I have n’t studied the original Grayzone article as as yet but came across the Judge Napolitano interview of Max Blumenthal who has dissected the legal case for Maduro’s arrest and prosecution. https://theduran.com/max-blumenthal-maduro-trial-a-travesty. In short, Trumped up charges. Blumenthal has some very interesting things to say about Rubio and his corrupt role in the whole affair.
Tanker news. Might the British SBS help Trump-Kushner try to seize the (supposedly empty) Russian-flagged oil tanker?
Quite aside from everything else, there are huge propaganda premiums here for all three regimes and their weapons suppliers.
From British regime and pro-regime media:
“Russia sends navy to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces”
“Marinera ship tracker live: Putin sends navy escort as Trump ‘plans to seize’ banned Venezuelan oil tanker. British military are reportedly among Nato forces tracking the tanker”
Russian regime media:
https://rg.ru/2026/01/06/mid-korabl-ssha-neskolko-dnej-presleduet-rossijskij-tanker.html
TASS is citing the lurid and Daily Express-style report in the (London) Times entitled “Fleet of heavily armed US military planes land in England.” “At least 14 Globemasters and two Ghostriders have landed at RAF bases since Saturday as the US builds its military might in Britain after Maduro’s capture”. (The Times article was probably written by an AI program, or even a journalist, that hasn’t been told the difference between “massing” and “amassing”, because it continues, “American military aircraft have been amassing in Britain as President Trump threatens strikes and annexations across the globe.”)
https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/26102337
https://archive.is/Ybh8T
You would have hoped the Russian government’s news agency could do better than rely on the Times.
Still, Trump is obsessed with the sea and events seem likely.
If the MarineTraffic info about the vessel’s location is accurate, it seems to have been treading water mid-Atlantic for a while. This seems unlikely. On the other hand, it’s probably not withing hailing distance of the Port of Shannon as some of my neighbours may well believe.
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:711469
Is it on any other free tracker? I couldn’t find it on VesselFinder or MyShipTracking.
The Ghostrider is a heavily armed C130 Hercules, the C17 Globemaster is a very large transport aircraft, the ones recently arrived at Fairford are thought to be carrying US special forces and their modified Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters. Osprey tilt wing aircraft have also been spotted at the base. It sounds like a lot of firepower to take down one unarmed tanker. The Russians are said to have dispatched a submarine but they’re not going to be able to do much against that many aircraft.
I can’t find any up to date information on the Marinera, this is four days old and shows the ship making 8 knots. Note that the ship’s draught is quoted as 11 metres which suggests that it is loaded. The impression that it’s empty probably arise from the old library photograph every outlet seems to be using.
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:711469/mmsi:273276460/imo:9230880/vessel:MARINERA
Good catch about the quoted draught. [1] BBC are reporting it’s nearing the GIUK gap, citing MarineTraffic as their source but it can’t be the bog standard free info they’re using.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v0deypjl4o
Could be that the traditional view of the North Atlantic and the importance of the Gap is about to be updated, with the key issue now being whether the US takes control of what it needs to control to stop European NATO (or ex-NATO) powers from assisting Greenland.
Thing is, if it means attacking a Russian ship (or waving hardware in Russian faces) it’s not just a Decline of the West story.
Other Russian vessels are supposed to be on their way as well as the boat.
Russian forces were humiliated to some extent in both Syria and more recently in Venezuela.
Dunno whether there have been any unusual arrivals at Keflavik.
Note
1) Job for Greenpeace if there’s a spill?
From the BBC article cited:
“For now, the UK Ministry of Defence says it will not comment on other nations’ military activities.”
What, even if the activities happen on British soil, e.g. at Fairford? People trust these types to, er, “defend” them?
The MOD is lying anyway, because through Defence Intelligence they have been issuing regular reports on both sides’ military activities in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Perhaps the ascendancy’s “BBC Verify” didn’t catch this blatant porkie, huh?
FFS, Genocide Starmer’s office have said they will “not comment on (…) the uses of British military bases by third parties.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/venezuela-british-north-atlantic-iceland-pete-hegseth-b2896141.html
If you allow one side to use “your” bases to attack another side, you are part of one side and there is no place for the notion of “third parties”. This isn’t a f*cking car insurance claim.
Britain took part.
Can someone explain what rules, (if any) cover US use of UK military bases? Is that use declared to anyone?
One wag on another site likened the US invasion of Venezuela to the original ‘War of the worlds’ movie, [1953 starring Gene Barry]
In one scene a Priest jumps out of a foxhole spewing some ” why can’t we get along ” drivel, and promptly gets vaporized.
https://youtu.be/SEb53LOjT_Q?si=jVdX6t9U5WPOeoR- In today’s world Trump, Rubio, Hegseth and Miller are in those death machines and the rest of us are mouthing vacuous inanities like the Priest. If I remember a heavy rainfall defeated them, it will take more than that to defeat the Empire.
Maduro has been charged with Inter Alia ‘possession of machine guns and destructive devices’, if that is the case, every leader in the world could be kidnapped. Now if they had called those machine guns weapons of mass destruction [WMD] they could have a good case. /S
They could charge just about every 2nd Amendment worshipping ammo-sexual gun-nut in the US too, many of them packing more heat than you might expect in an entire battalion.
https://imgflip.com/i/6n0o29
“Ammosexual” is a great word.
The guy in the photo is displaying a very high degree of autism.
(*Resists urge to go on about smartphones*.)
The chase is over,
US military confirms seizure of Russian-flagged tanker
The US European Command has now confirmed the seizure of the tanker.
In a post on X, it said:
“The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the@DeptofWar, today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions.
In a post commenting on the Bella/Marinera seizure, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said:
“The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT – anywhere in the world.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jan/07/europe-greenland-denmark-us-france-trade-weather-latest-news-updates
It is thought Putin will not be pleased, now that the Ukraine negotiations are at a critical stage it must be assumed that Putin will now settle the Ukraine debacle on the battlefield, also take control of Russian speaking Odessa, making the rump Ukraine a landlocked region forever at the teat of the EU/UK. Serves them right.
Although the most common language in Odesa is Russian 62% of the population are Ukrainian, 28% Russian.
A certain newspaper is suggesting that Trump will allow Putin a free hand in Ukraine if Putin doesn’t object to the US having Venezuela! Very generous of him seeing as neither of them own either country.
The city and port of Odessa were founded by the Russian Empress after her victory over the Turks. So it’s no surprise that the population speaks predominantly Russian.
Incidentally, at one point, a certain Richelieu de Vignerot du Plessis served as mayor of Odessa and governor of all Novorossiya. Although not a direct descendant of the famous cardinal from Dumas’s novels, he was chamberlain to Louis XVI and emigrated to Russia due to the revolution in France. Under Louis XVIII, the French recalled him to head the government as prime minister.
At the beginning of the 20th century, half of Odessa’s residents identified themselves as Russian, 30% as Jewish, and only 9% as maloRussians, aka modern Ukrainians. In terms of population, it was the fourth-largest city of the Russian Empire after St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Warsaw.
The fate of Odessa’s Jews is tragic. In 1941, Nazi troops occupied the city and handed it over to collaborationist Romania. According to Yad Vashem, 99,000 Jews out of 201,000 perished during the occupation from 1941 to 1944.
The fate of Odessa’s Jews is tragic, but well-known. I’d be interested to hear your opinion on where the larger Russian population of Odessa went, so that you now call its population Ukrainians?
It’s not what I call them it’s how they refer to themselves. Demographics change for a number of reasons, it could simply be that several generations on the descendents of the 1900 Russians now consider themselves to be Ukrainian in the same way the children and grandchildren of people who emigrated to the UK now consider themselves to be British.
On May 2, 2014, an old custom was reinstated in Odessa: people whose ethnicity the authorities disapproved of, were burned alive.
I believe people are simply afraid to say anything other than “Ukrainian” when administration officials approach them with questionnaires.
Well perhaps if the people in the Trade Union building hadn’t taken to dropping petrol bombs on the crowd below the fire would never have started.
@ Pears Morgaine: Funny, the Molotov cocktails I saw in the videos of the burning Trade Union Building were flying upwards after being prepared by teenage girls on the ground. Maybe the people in the building had been playing a game of catch?
“62% of the population are Ukrainian, 28% Russian.”
Given that Russians and Ukranians are genetically identical (within the normal variations), that is a completely meaningless statistic. Funny how all those Russians in Crimea suddenly became Ukranians at the stroke of a pen half a century ago.
No genetic difference between Scottish, Welsh and English either so I guess any distinctions between them are meaningless too.
More of a cultural thing than biological.
As you said, in both cases, but especially in Ukraine, your “nationality” is what you choose it to be. If the authorities are making life tough for “Russians” then it’s hardly surprising that lpts of people are suddenly identifying as “Ukranians”. See also “Jews”, “Catholics” and “Protestants” in various parts of Europe in the past.
Pears: Do not repeat Ukrainian propaganda. No molotov coctails were thrown out of the Trade Union building down on the crowds below.
Yuri K
Pears Morgaine and anyone else should watch this French Documentary.
It is very interesting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4E_TlguczA
the Maduro kidnapping was a blatant breach of International law, but that left the Venezuelan government in place. If Hegseth is serious about his claim i.e. “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT – anywhere in the world.”
This would mean a blockade of Venezuelan oil is an act of war, leading to the fall of the government [no oil income] as I have said before Trump has thrown down the Gauntlet, If China/Russia do not pick up oil cargoes from Venezuela with possibly an armed escort, the precedent will be set to disrupt all oil exports to China. Game, set and match to Trump [Caligula].
The US military claims to have boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera tanker in the North Atlantic.
Was Britain involved in this crime, either by direct military participation or by allowing its territory to be used by the aggressor.
If the aggressor regime has control of the ship, I wonder where they will try to take it. Iceland? Britain?
Al Jazeera:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/7/us-attempting-to-seize-venezuela-linked-russian-oil-tanker-reports
TASS:
https://tass.ru/politika/26103299
“At around 3:00 p.m. today, Moscow time, US Navy forces boarded the ship Marinera on the high seas, and communications with it have been lost, reported the Russian Ministry of Transport.”
Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-venezuela-oil-deal-angers-china-pushes-prices-down-2026-01-07/
“Russian military vessels were in the general vicinity of the operation”
“General vicinity” sounds like something from Monty Python.
The British regime has now admitted it took part in the US action against the Marinera on the high seas. The regime’s defence minister John Healey says the ship had a dodgy “history”. Ooh-er! This kind of sh*t talk suggests they either had about 5 minutes to prepare the speech or else they DGAF. If they drop any lower they’ll be sending micromessages to Elon Musk’s service containing lots of capital letters. Expect a response from Russia whether military or diplomatic. Russia can’t just let its ships be seized with impunity by Nappy Boy’s gunmen.
Our news say another ship Sophia is captured in the Carribean sea
https://www-kommersant-ru.translate.goog/doc/8338177?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=wapp
So it seems.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwynjdqgellt
The United States asserts a legal right to implement its own autonomous sanctions globally. Even the controversial secondary sanctions.
Russia has responded to the events, calling the US seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker a violation of maritime law.
“In accordance with the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the transport ministry said in a statement.
Andrey Klishas, a senior Russian lawmaker, called it an act of “outright piracy”.
Here, Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, said the Government must state whether the move was legal under international law:
“The use of US air bases in the UK to launch this operation places a particular obligation on the Government to show that we are committed to acting lawfully. So the Government needs to state whether this military intervention is legal and who is now responsible for the vessel.”
I’d expect Craig to chime in, with his knowledge. Seems to me this is a dangerous escalation.
Re outright piracy
Tom Welsh said the Washington crew are straight out of “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2026/01/venezuela-and-truth/comment-page-2/#comment-1092016
Please note, the comment is dated January 5!
Tom, with this level of clairvoyance, could you please comment on today’s events?
Thank you, Tatyana. I have actually been saying similar things for years.
As Goose has just mentioned, and many others have said, “The United States asserts a legal right to implement its own autonomous sanctions globally”.
The US federal government ignores all laws, treaties, and even its own constitution and asserts that the USA is unique, indispensable, exceptional, and entitled. At present only Israel gives itself similar pride of place, although it goes a little further by regarding all Gentiles as subhuman. The US government only regards foreigners as being unimportant and devoid of any human rights; and foreign nations as duty bound to obey the dictates of the USA.
For decades US courts have been laying down the law worldwide, regardless of their lack of standing or jurisdiction. In fact, judging by their deeds and words, they consider that they have full jurisdiction over all humans everywhere. (With the possible exception of Israel – that might be an interesting legal case if it arose, but it won’t because it would bring the matter to public attention).
All that Mr Trump has done differently is to declare openly what US governments have been assuming for over a century: that the USA is the only proper source of authority. Albert Einstein knew not what he did when he initiated the course of events that armed the US government with nuclear weapons. I suspect that in future centuries (if there are any) he will be deemed a worse person than Hitler for that reason.
To respond directly to Tatyana’s question, I think that Mr Trump’s recent acts have forced the issue to the point that other nations will have to unite in deciding how to deal with the US government. Its current behaviour is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to go on.
Brian Red
January 7, 2026 at 16:00
What do you predict that Putin (Killer KGB Boy) will do?
Try even harder in Ukraine?
If he sinks a USN ship the USA will retaliate so mibbes naw.
And I doubt if he has the tech to sink a USN ship.
But Hoo Nose (sic).
Military could be to send forces to Colombia, Cuba, Caribbean, and to protect Russian vessels to draw a line in the sand for Nappy Boy and the burger muncher regime. Diplomatic could be to arrest some spies or to sanction some US or US-friendly criminals and their finances.
Trump’s obviously got it coming to him. Don’t count on him coping.
Dunno why you are talking about Russia sinking a US ship.
No, that would put the Russian forces in the same position of the Septics, fighting a war in a different continent. The Russians cut their losses in Syria and now Venezuela. Carrying on winning in Ukraine matters more.
“If he sinks a USN ship the USA will retaliate so mibbes naw.”
Do you really think even the Donald will start WWIII for one USN or US coastguard ship?
My guess is that The Russians will start shooting down a few of the US drones that patrol above the Black Sea in “international waters”.
Wait, don’t start World War III so far. If we’re going to die, let’s at least find out why it started.
More detail in todays news:
The ship was owned by the Istanbul-based Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises S.A. (the Wall Street Journal reports, citing data from the analytics company Kpler).
The oil tanker Bella 1 was added to the US sanctions list in 2024 as part of measures to counter the financing of the Shiite movement Ansar Allah (Houthis).
According to TankerTrackers.com, the oil tanker Bella 1 has transported a total of 11 million barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil over the past four years via various methods, and an additional 9.3 million barrels via ship-to-ship transfers, primarily to China.
After the US announced a blockade of Venezuela and the seizure of the tankers Skipper and Centuries, Bella 1 abandoned plans to enter Venezuelan waters and turned around near the island of Antigua and Barbuda, seeking to leave the Caribbean Sea.
The US began pursuing the tanker Bella 1 (Guyana-flagged) on December 21, 2025.
On December 23 the tanker was sold by its Turkish owner to a Russian company from Ryazan, renamed by the new owner to Marinera, and entered into the Russian register on January 1.
A US Coast Guard ship followed the tanker for several days, even though the US coast was about 4,000 km away and the vessel was in international waters of the North Atlantic.
On January 5, 2026, The Irish Times reported that an Irish Air Force C295 maritime patrol aircraft departed west from Casement Airfield in Dublin to “conduct a maritime security and defence operation,” likely to monitor the Marinera, which was then approximately 600 km east of Mayo, outside Ireland’s exclusive economic zone.
The ship was tracked by American P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft deployed from airfields in Iceland and the UK.
At least one French military aircraft was also dispatched to the area.
On January 7, the vessel was seized in the North Atlantic under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter (USCGC) Munro.
January 7th was Orthodox Christmas in Russia. I hope that today the right people are already at work and we’ll get more information.
“Do you really think even the Donald will start WWIII for one USN or US coastguard ship?”
Not for that, but for the blow to his own ego.
The USA was more than happy for Israel to attack the USS Liberty and murder american sailors. Some also say america was more than happy for Israel to kill JFK and destroy the WTC. Whether Russia would be treated so generously is doubtful.
@JK – Putin is KGB Man. Trump is Nappy Boy. Trump is clearly mentally deranged and unfit to hold any office of responsibility. Putin is KGB through and through, but that’s not comparable.
When did “dodgy” become a technical term of maritime law?
UK and France ready to send peacekeeping troops, PM tells House of Commons. But this will only occur if there is a cease fire in Ukraine.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/07/mps-would-get-vote-on-troop-deployment-to-ukraine-says-keir-starmer
The problem with Starmers point is that Russia will not allow a cease fire unless the fundamental causes of the war are solved first. Which I remind you ‘No NATO or member of NATO troops will be allowed in Ukraine’ Putin has stated this many times, therefore, if, in the unlikely event of a cease fire, and UK, French troops etc are introduced to Ukraine, they would be immediately attacked and we would be at war with Russia, if there is no cease fire then Russia will achieve its aims on the battle field, in either scenario Russia will achieve its aims, there is nothing the coalition of the willing can do, they can of course send troops and guarantee a war with Russia.
War with Russia is the ultimate aim of this British talk now. Possibly even Ben Wallace has twigged.
The captured ship is being led to Scotland!
Wow!
More news
https://aif-ru.translate.goog/politics/world/piratstvo-v-lyuboy-tochke-mira-ssha-zahvatili-rossiyskiy-tanker-v-atlantike
—
“The first tanker to be captured was the Marinera, which had been evading pursuit for two weeks. Formerly known as the Bella 1, the tanker was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for transporting Iranian oil. On December 20, it departed the coast of Venezuela under the Panamanian flag. As The Wall Street Journal reports, the tanker was empty. A U.S. Coast Guard vessel attempted to intercept it in the Caribbean Sea
…
On January 7, the vessel was sailing in the North Atlantic, approaching the coast of Iceland. It is approximately 4,000 kilometers from the US coast. Western media reported that a Russian submarine was approaching the tanker to escort it. Before the warship could come to its aid, US military personnel landed troops on the Mariner by helicopter. The captured vessel is being taken to Scotland.
At the same time, reports emerged that another vessel had been seized by the Americans in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela. This was the tanker Sophia, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. According to documents, the vessel belongs to a Chinese company.
…
US Secretary of War Hegseth stated that the US detained the Russian tanker because it had ties to Venezuela. He also stated that the blockade of Venezuelan oil would continue ‘anywhere in the world’.
…
the Americans could still comply with international law if they released the empty tanker after inspection. However, there are already reports that it is being taken to British territorial waters for further investigation. This would constitute a serious diplomatic incident.
But judging by the comments of the US authorities, they are seriously considering confiscating the tanker based solely on a US court order. Under international maritime law, this constitutes piracy. “
Lots of jibber jabber, but nobody is prepared to talk for peace, sadly, the lunatics have broken out of the asylum.
Today we had a show of Marham idiots training attack loops and dog fighting right above Norwich city market.
You could not hear a dog barking or the music from two buskers, or the lorry refersing sounding an alarm to standers by,. How come they can do this above urban cornubations?
All these war hawks should be challenged to go; bto the first wave for their hatred of allies who once fought with them against nazis, they seem to all love these oafs now.
“How come they can do this above urban cornubations?”
Thatchler
“UK and France ready to send peacekeeping troops, PM tells House of Commons.”
It would be funny if the British troops arrived in Ukraine to find that the French had thought better of it.
I am old enough to remember France offering to send troops to help out in Romania in 1989.
Macron and Starmer and the rest of the crew know the score very well. It is because they realise that Russia will not agree to a ceasefire that they are publishing all these detailed plans for that contingency. They can safely assume that it will never transpire.
I imagine Putin will be under a lot of internal pressure to respond to the western yapping dogs. Up ’till now Putin has responded in a measured, sensible manner befitting of a leader of a major world power. He may not be able to hold back some of the more reactionary members of the russian government for much longer. Then we will all have problems.
The current situation proves that Trump and the USA cannot be trusted one iota and that international law does not exist other than in the minds of the deluded.
For now, the situation looks, pardon my French, like they ran a dick over our lips. It’s a Russian idiom, please excuse the rudeness.
There will certainly be hotheads demanding immediate retribution, there will also be sober minds unwilling to escalate the situation.
You can’t stop people from expressing their opinions; there will be heated debates, but what’s more interesting is actual action. In my experience, some kind of “deal” is most likely.
On a point of interest, I noticed another Russian has died mysteriously in a fall, this time in Paris. The sanctions must be having a more deleterious effect than I thought. Clearly, Russia is running out of 7th storey windows.
You mean, he died just like James le Mesurier?
And James Forrestal and many others.
Come on, it was just another suicide. People commit suicide all the time, especially at this time of year. In the UK they usually shoot themselves twice in the head (to make sure) and then zip themselves into a bag.
I shouldn’t smile, but I do. (Rather grimly).
When we all start making jokes like that and smiling at them, we shall (I think) understand Russians a little better.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called the US attacks against Venezuela “extremely concerning and deserving of condemnation.”
The ministry released a statement on Saturday, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump that the US had “successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela.”
The statement said that “it is particularly important to prevent any further escalation, and focus on seeking a resolution through dialogue.” It added that Russia stands ready to assist in these efforts. The ministry expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, saying that “Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own future without destructive external interference, particularly of a military nature.”
Americans not the only people who don’t do irony.
What, the Russians invading Ukraine in emulation of the Seppoes invading Ukraine?
Who are the “Seppoes”, Squeeth? Genuine question.
“Septic tanks”.
I do not endorse the sentiment.
Septic tanks (seppoes) rhymes with Yanks.
“Americans not the only people who don’t do irony.”
Looks like the Russians are a dab hand at sarcasm, though.
In my very limited experience, the Russians lead the world in the use of irony and sarcasm. But I think their government also understands that some things are too serious for humour of any kind at all.
We mostly notice irony in how people describe things, notice hypocrisy or absurd. The thing itself may be too serious for humor, it’s correct.
It’s sad to read the words.
“…the end of hopes – which were extremely important to my own worldview…have underlined that international law is simply dead”
In context of your related experiences and views, your intention to visit Venezuela is not, I imagine, taken lightly.
The presenters on BBC Breakfast this morning led with ‘the US using the military to *aquire* Greenland’:
BBC’s OUTRAGEOUS Greenland Reporting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrxRQWxUYPs (Owen Jones 9mins 24secs)
The US on Wednesday revealed that it also planned to retain control of all sales of future crude production from Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. The US energy secretary, Chris Wright, said the US would take payment for the oil and use the proceeds “to benefit the Venezuelan people”. -Guardian
How is this remotely defensible or tolerable? What has Venezuela done to be lumbered with this wannabe colonial overlord sat on them, taking control of their natural resources?
What is so broken in US politics, than the big two parties and judiciary can’t say to the executive that it’s not only illegal, it’s just wrong.
The US can’t take or retain control of Venezuelan oil without the consent and cooperation of the Venezuelan government. Delcy Rodriguez should call a general election immediately. A government that has a popular mandate can tell the Americans to get stuffed, or they’ll have a VietNam on their hands if they attempt a full invasion.
M.J.
January 7, 2026 at 23:15
Yep that would be a smart move.
But maybe she has been bought?
The most recent rumours were paddling back and saying, she was not in the know.
I have no clue of course.
But any scenario seems possible. Including her telling the truth.
JK Redux
It will take more than one bribed person to get Donald’s oil flowing.
There is talk (Trump ) and then there is reality on the ground.
Many people are guessing I don’t know what will happen next.
Could be Civil War – could be Guerilla War could be Russian actions – could be China actions
could be anything.
One thing is for sure there is always a rection to a action.
Physics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
i will wait and see.
The MSM may rely on ‘ Truth Central ‘ because they are lazy and incurious.
Most people in the real world don’t.
Thank goodness.
The Chinese have huge investments in Venezuela, they also buy a lot of oil. When China was threatened with a tariff of 500% they immediately hit back with a proposal to limit its sale of rare earths to the US, threatening US production of missiles and other high tech. The US then had second thoughts and brought the tariffs down dramatically.
The US will target other Latin American states, for instance China stopped importing soy beans from the US, and bought huge quantities from Brazil instead, causing chaos in the US farming industry. The rest of the world must act to reverse this colonial takeover of the energy producing and Geo political regions of the world, otherwise the Empire will eat us all.
M.J.
In practical terms, how could she do that? Elections cost money, do Venezuelan authorities have access to their own financial resources, or is it all frozen?
Assuming it’s possible and the people rallied behind her – as is likely – and she was genuinely victorious, the US wouldn’t recognise the result. Trump didn’t even recognise Biden’s win in the U.S.’s election, remember. Insisting to this day, it was a stolen election – warranting outside intervention, by his own logic?
Maybe a few S.American countries would send election observers to monitor and validate. But the UN wouldn’t participate, fearing Trump’s reprisals, nor would European countries, or the EU, with the possible exception of Spain perhaps?
You assume US politics is broken, but maybe this is exactly how TPTB want it to work. A number of people are getting very rich on the back of all this chaos, and it ain’t the man in the street.
The two big parties in the USA seem to approve thoroughly of all Mr Trump’s aggression – as they did Mr Biden’s.
Congress is supposed to deliberate, but I don’t hold out much hope that it will risk unpopularity.
The judiciary is the last hope – and I never thought I would see myself say THAT.
I don´t believe this but:
Does Craig have any info on the Russian embassy in Israel allegedly being evacuated?
“(…)
The Russian army is urgently evacuating the staff of the Russian embassy along with their families in Israel and returning them to Russia. This is the third flight by Russia in the past 24 hours to evacuate its embassy in Israel.
There are some news that Russia has been informed of apparently.
(…)”
https://xcancel.com/DailyIranNews/status/2008865020277346687
Perhaps Iran has told them what will happen if Israel attacks Iran again. With enough big missiles, who needs nuclear warheads? Oreshnik is evidence of that.
Besides, there is no point having an embassy in Israel. The Israelis are gonna do what they’re gonna do, and they won’t pay any attention to anyone else.
Paul Craig Roberts has it right, he claims the US will not stop its provocations and thinks it is time for Russia to act, I agree with him and I think Trump has lost his mind, I think many around him think so to, but they are afraid of what Caligula could do. Russia,China and Iran have to consider what to do with such a madman without triggering a nuclear war. He certainly cannot be reasoned with, but failure to act would only be seen as a sign of weakness and encourage more provocations.
“Stephen Miller, President Trump’s Jewish deputy chief of staff and architect of Trump’s agenda, is the administration’s voice on American foreign policy. The Jewish voice that speaks for America has announced that it is the “formal position” of the United States government that Greenland belongs to the United States and that no country can prevent Washington from annexing the Danish territory.
Miller questioned Denmark’s claim to Greenland and said that “nobody is going to fight the US military over the future of Greenland.” In other words just as Israel can seize Palestine, Washington can seize Greenland, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, Iran and any other country that it wishes.The blatant and unapologetic announcement that Washington intends to annex Greenland should make it clear to the Kremlin that there is no possibility of arriving at a peaceful settlement with Washington. If the Kremlin still believes otherwise, the Kremlin has transformed itself into an insane asylum”. https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2026/01/07/what-became-of-americas-peace-president/
“Russia,China and Iran have to consider what to do with such a madman without triggering a nuclear war”
I think Trump has shown them the way. Given how unpopular he is, how difficult would it be to grab him from somewhere in the US or even to “just drone the guy”. OTOH, never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.
Just came across this when I was on youtube:
Trump’s Masked Secret Police MURDER MINNEAPOLIS WOMAN – Mayor Tells ICE to GET THE F*CK OUT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D59mPgISZrI (Jesse Dollemore 15mins 20secs)
So I just went back on to youtube, and immediately spotted this vid at the top of the recommends:
Trump has HORRIBLE RESPONSE to ICE MURDER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOWeSgtvLtA (Meidas Touch 18mins 21secs)
Trump’s response was a pack of evil malevolent lies! I wonder if the MSM will go with the reality of what actually happened, or with Trump’s totally false version.
And talking of Trump lying – which he does practically every time he opens his big nazty gob of course – I came across the following on All 4 about a week ago, and have been meaning to post it on here. But I just quickly checked to see if it’s on youtube, and it is, posted some three months ago:
Trump V The Truth: Over 100 False President Claims Debunked
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqY8Hq97sUo (Channel 4 – 2hrs 22mins)
Please share far and wide and wake people up to the dispicable murderous malignant psychopathic lying cnut he is.
The FBI has assumed control of the investigation and blocked Minnesota State from accessing evidence. Since the FBI is under Trump’s authority, I suspect that any officer who have misused his authority in shooting a woman will likely not be properly brought to account but rather defended by the Trump regime, which is happening in the media at the moment.
Trump may well be made a lame duck in 10 months time, and even impeachable again. He may, however do much damage before he is stopped, and the events of the last week are just the first examples.
PS. Given the likely motive by the Trump regime to politically to control the investigation and shape its outcome, I predict that
(a) The FBI will not turn the full investigative file over to state officials once their investigation is complete, in order to hinder local officials from bringing a criminal case at the state level.
(b) The FBI will then be suspected of not doing a complete and thorough investigation, and public trust in it will be undermined, given the exclusion of state authorities, especially since confidence in ICE—is already fragile.
(c) This will create pressure for a state level prosecution, despite the difficulties.
(d) It will become a campaign issue in November and make more likely a takover of both Houses of Congress by the Democrats, and make Trump a lamer duck than ever and more liable to impeachment, and his officials more liable to criminal prosecution.
This is starting to sound like the “Anti-Trump Channel”
How about we return to normal service of intelligent debate?
Trump promised to end the US’s foreign entanglements and forever wars, and be an ‘America First’ isolationist president.
Since he seems to be being led by the nose, by the worst of the Neocons in his party, it does matter.
If China blockades Taiwan, or invades, as a result of what he’s doing in Venezuela and elsewhere, seeing that adventurism as a green light, there’ll be a global economic crisis, possibly a worldwide depression. He’s playing a dangerous game with Russia too. They could give Iran the nuclear deterrent; destabilize Egypt and Jordan – the way to hurt the US is through making things hard for Israel. Given so many in US politics and the US State Dept seem to care more about Israel than their own country, it’s like the US’s soft underbelly.
ha ha, re Trump’s promises, I suggest this image
https://cs16.pikabu.ru/s/2026/01/08/07/zoxsinyt.webp
The captions say:
Trump before the election – “I’m the only president that didn’t start a war”
Trump after he won – “I’m a psycho! Run!”
This is why Netanyahu courts Putin, with the U.S’s approval. Though why Russia trusts a guy who planted a listening device in No.10 idk? Any leader who invites Netanyahu for lunch should sweep every room in the house for bugs afterwards. Even the CIA and MI6 are wary of Israel’s utterly relentless intelligence gathering drive.
Putin’s supposed ‘private’ chat with Trump, in the car, probably got a tracking device onto him, so that his private residence could be targeted. Remembering Libya when the Gaddafi phones were left on the table in the room next door – and that was decades ago
I doubt it.
Besides, the U.S has Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) via high-resolution imaging (IMINT) that can find anything in Russia, China or Iran. Especially combined with human intelligence sources (HUMINT) on the ground. Have you watched The Agency on Paramount? It touches on this capability. Decent series.
Interesting aside.
You may think satellites render aircraft carriers obsolete, but the ocean is vast, very vast and satellites typically offer only a small aperture on the ocean, because being solar powered they aren’t that powerful. That’s what all the fuss was, over in the U.S..a while back with private briefings. Russia potentially launching a nuclear-powered ISR satellite – the Soviet Union developed nuclear-powered satellites, using powerful BES-5 reactors, long since retired. Today, such a system would be game-changing for locating aircraft carriers, that hypersonic missiles could then target and hit.
The analogy given for current solar-powered ISR satellite limitations was, ‘imagine looking down a drinking straw’. A reactor-powered ISR satellite would be a different beast entirely.
Trump is an obnoxious Psychopath, he cares only for himself and making money for his family and friends, he surrounds himself with Israeli firsters and neocons who fawn over him, many observers think he is a modern day Caligula, he may still appoint a horse [Bubba] to his cabinet although I wager Bubba could not be more of a Sycophant than those fools who surround him now. Every foreign leader knows they must attend to Trumps ego, hence Qatar presented him with a Boeing 747 as a gift to carry his ego in. [the FIFA peace gift etc] have these people no shame?
This Psychologist [Dr Gartner] thinks Trump will not make it to the end of this term because he is showing signs of dementia and he is a malignant narcissist, along with some other very serious traits which we are all well aware of, he thinks what we see of Trump today is the best there will be, it will be downhill from here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OtO-cypKmY
Nothing is ever his fault, for his judgement is perfect – a perfectly “stable genius” to use his own description of himself. In anyone else you’d assume such narcissism had to be meant humorously; but that is Trump’s genuine assessment of himself. It’s as if, in Trump, all the worst traits of humanity were combined : ignorance; greed; lack of empathy; supreme arrogance and overconfidence – loaded into one individual, like a walking example of the deadly sins, to be paraded before the world. America has the best scientists, academics and technological innovations which they’ve given the world. This isn’t a critique of the US per se.
However, Trump can only do what he does because he is enabled by the ‘right’ people: Billionaires, Rothschilds, Adelson, Theil, Ellison, … spot the trend yet ?
Realistic
January 8, 2026 at 09:24
You object to criticism of Trump while (correctly) denouncing Netanyahu?
JK Redux and Realistic.
Well one of them has their hand up someone’s back like a Puppet and a ventriloquist.
At the moment I’m not sure who’s hand is controlling who’s mouth.
Even MAGA are with me on this one.
Looks like Iran next.
The question is:
Who is going to strike first as Iran has changed its military doctrine on not striking first.
Fill up your cars now – the world might be saying tomorrow.
I’m sure the BBC will tell us if anything happens.
Israel ‘ acquires ‘ exploded missiles?’
‘This is starting to sound like the “Anti-Trump Channel”
‘How about we return to normal service of intelligent debate?’
There’s a difference?
Trumpo has done a lot to hold in contempt lately.
There’s been some speculation on here that if the US does this, or doesn’t do that, it is likely to find itself in a war which would prove very costly to it in terms of blood and treasure. And that it might not succeed.
I would caution against taking the above as read because I believe that the crucial element here is the morale of the Venezuelan people and, more specifically, of the Venezuelan military.
Similar predictions were made in the case of the 2nd Gulf War, but the Iraqi military just folded. Evidently, most of it didn’t feel like getting killed or injured to defend the Iraqi President and his government.
It is true that the terrain is different, but it could well be that the same lack of enthusiasm would obtain. In this context, I wonder if it is significant that there are, apparently many Cuban deaths amoung the 100 or so fatal casualties resulting from the American operation. Why was it thought necessary to have a special Cuban guard for the President?
Cubans in Venezuela? Probably for ‘work experience’ since usually not much happens in Cuba. Overseas travel is rare and political alignment rarer. They would have lacked a direct chain of command and their communications were probably compromised. Very shocking and scary for the citizens of Cuba
No, the Cubans in question have been described (by the Venezuelan authorities themselves) as military. In the military compound from where President Maduro was abducted. Died trying to fight off the Americans.
So my question remains : why was it felt necessary to have Cuban guards despite the existence of ample Venezuelan military? As a kind of praetorian guard?
The assumption has to be that Maduro considered the Cubans to be more trustworthy than indigenous troops. Remember, the CIA managed to subvert the respective militaries in Chile and Pakistan, with fatal consequences for the incumbent leaders of these countries: Salvator Allende and Ali Bhutto. As some commentators have noted both on these pages and in the wider media, the success of the US military in kidnapping the Maduros against so little resistance is suggestive that a similar subversion of Venezuelan military and political elites may well have taken place at the weekend
Exactly.
But while there might well have been a certain subversion of the military elites, there is also a case which could be made for saying that the Venezuelan-in-the-street might not wish to die for Maduro either.
Unpalatable as that might be for some foreign activists and commentators.
The choice is not based on being asked to die for Maduro, but for freedom, the two are not necessarily the same !
Stevie Boy
Stop quibbling, you know perfectly well what I’m getting at. Which is that it is possible that most Venezuelans would not necessarily see a continuation of the Presidency of Mr Maduro as a superior kind of freedom.
On Greenland.
Why should it be of any special concern to the UK – or, indeed to anyone in the West/Europe, except perhaps for the Danes – whether the US takes over Greenland, whatever the form of the take-over?
Let’s be honest about it. One of the smallest European countries is in effective charge of 60.000-odd people on a huge landmass. Greenland is a post-colonial colony of a European country at a tie when neo-colonialsim is inconsistent with the Zeitgeist. Denmark, or even greater Europe, is incapable of developing the country for the benefit of its population and would certainly be incapable of defending it against aggression, whether military or economic, by anyone. And, on the human level, one cannot say that the effect of Danish owership (or tutelage, call it what you will) on the indigenous population has been any less damaging than the effect of the colonisers on the American and Canadian Indians or the Australian aborigines. Just as one could ask: what has Ukraine ever done for Europe, and what does Europe own to Ukraine, the same questions could be asked in relation to Greenland.
So, apart from for reasons of simple anti-Americanism, why are we all so fussed?
The threat of force is the end of NATO. In theory. And in principle. Would Russia object to a European only coalition of the willing if NATO was disbanded? Or would Putin just laugh all the way to the red button if Europe didn’t have Trump backing it up?
These are questions that need to be reflected on. Europe and the UK are enmeshed in US systems and plans. Extricating would cause collapse of defences for the member countries which are not unified around a common world view
I disagree. If the US took over Greenland, why should that be the end of NATO? In stead of belonging to one NATO member, it would belong to another ( and the most powerful one). Talk us through the inevitability you seem to be postulating.
By the way, one might ask the same question and pursue the same argument about Taiwan : why should we care? what has Taiwan ever done for us, and what if anything do we owe Taiwan?
The semi conductors will keep flowing, whether Taiwan is absorbed into China or not.
Taiwan is officially recognized by most of the states at the UN including the US as constitutionally part of mainland China. China nor the US recognize Taiwan to be independent. However there are many situations in the rest of the world were states have claims on parts of other states, Many European states have been at war for hundreds of years over borders, the conference at Yalta saw a huge carve up of Europe, would it be wise to open up that can of worms? The world would be plunged into perpetual war.
Taiwan cannot be “absorbed” into China because it is already part of China – a fact that is formally recognised even by the US government.
Absorbed de facto, Tom. Occupied by mainland troops. Run by mainland authorities. Capeesh?
It is of concern because Greenland as an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark is recognized as together with the Faroe Islands one of the three constituent parts of Denmark, as such, no change in the constitutional arrangements of the territory can legally be made without the consent of the Danish parliament, if approved, a referendum would probably be required in Greenland so that the ‘ right to self determination’ can be recognized, as per the UN charter. From a Geo strategic point of view the acquisition by the US would be a tremendous asset, however Greenland will be a tremendous asset to Denmark when all the natural resources are exploited.
The UK went to war over 30 years ago in the Falklands, there 3,500 Islanders were liberated by a UK task force based on the principles I described above. The US annexing Greenland would just confirm the unfortunate state of the ex International law, and its replacement with ‘the rules based order’ i.e. The US makes the rules, everyone else follows, OR ELSE.
I doubt anyone takes the Greenland plan very seriously. It is plainly a high-level Aunt Sally to distract the public from the issue of the CIA’s Venezuela coup and to make British and EU politicians look as if they are discussing something, rather than Venezuela – hence why Greenland re-emerged so prominently on public forums after Maduro was kidnapped. Sadly, this is what politics and journalism has come to these days – pulling the wool over people’s eyes and gaslighting anyone who doesn’t take the various narratives at face value. You won’t see the CIA mentioned much either in the mainstream media, by the way, because our free and fearless journalists aren’t allowed to criticise the US state and don’t allow their readers to either.
I take it seriously. I believe Trump is psycho enough to get Greenland.
They have a military base there. I don’t know if there’s a treaty limiting the number of troops, but Greenland’s population is less than 60,000, and in any case, the US could easily station one armed soldier for every 10 residents and keep them in line.
And what will Denmark do then? What will the EU do?
They won’t be able to call on China or Russia for help, since they’ve prudently damaged relations. They won’t be able to resist, since there’s a US military base in every European country, and the US military has access to absolutely all of their plans and data.
The Danish king have to marry his daughter off to Barron Trump to save face and pretend there’s no coercion.
I think Trump would happily accept monarchical status for his son as a substitute for the Nobel Peace Prize he coveted (remember, I suggested to chip in and give him two. No one listened).
What I’m saying, dear Tatyana, is that why should Trump taking over Greenland be of any importance to any other country, save perhaps Denmark? In the same way as Russia taking over 4 oblasts in eastern Ukraine should not be of any importance to any other country than Ukraine itself.
Tom
I wouldn’t be too sure about that. That is because I believe (1) Trump is serious about taking over Greenland (the way it will be taken over is still be be revealed – there are different ways) and (2) the Venezuela business will soon be forgotten (that is because news is news until new news comes along).
“Why should it be of any special concern to the UK – or, indeed to anyone in the West/Europe, except perhaps for the Danes – whether the US takes over Greenland, whatever the form of the take-over?”
1. Such an act would betoken utter contempt for international law and the UN Charter.
2. It might bring about a direct confrontation between US and Russian armed forces, which so far both sides have done everything to avert.
In view of the possible consequences of such a confrontation, it is not just “of concern” but of vital personal interest to every single member of the human species to prevent it by any and all means.
(And all other species, if you care about them).
I don’t think that international law or UN Charter means much for the US. Today Trump ordered to withdraw from 66 organization, wait for the list, perhaps they publish it soon.
Also, I cannot see what is Russian interest in Greenland? We own much land in the North, so much that we cannot find enough people ready to populate it. Greenland, they have a king, let that king go and fight US.
I don’t think that international law or the UN Charter mean much for any country big and/or powerful enough to ignore and flout them. That of course includes the Russian Federation.
Luis Cunha da Silva
Yep – it doesn’t matter one jot whether it’s Taiwan who knocks out the chips to a waiting world even if the company is called Chinewain.
International Law like the word ‘ Sovereignty ‘ is becoming a dead letter.
Peace Through Strength and what’s our is ours and what’s yours is mine is the order of the day.
Only history will tell us who the Strongest is of course.
If ( a caveat) we are all around to look at history and haven’t been burnt to dust that is.
The deluded belief in international law !
Unusual events with this Mariner tanker. Addition to the morning news:
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2026/01/venezuela-and-truth/comment-page-3/#comment-1092235
the tanker’s crew is reported to be 28 people. The captain and five others are Georgian citizens; Georgian authorities say they are investigating the situation. 2 are Russian, 3 are Indian, and 17 are Ukrainian.
The vessel was initially sailing under the Guyana flag. Trump declared an oil blockade against Venezuela, and when the tanker approached its coast, a US Coast Guard demanded that Bella 1 proceed to a US port. US authorities did not receive confirmation from Guyana of the vessel’s identity.
The tanker’s captain disobeyed, changed course, and also contacted the Sochi port master (a Black Sea city and port in Russia; the harbour master is authorized to issue temporary permits) to temporarily change its registration. As a result, the tanker changed not only its home port but also its name. The crew painted a Russian flag on the vessel.
J.D. Vance described the tanker in an interview with Fox News as a fake Russian oil tanker.
In fact, such a strange, hasty flag change and the predominance of Ukrainians among the crew (and a Georgian captain, too) could have given grounds to suspect a provocation. This could possibly explain why Russian naval vessels were slow to intervene and prevent the seizure, despite news reports of a Russian submarine close to the tanker’s capture.
If I got it right, Mr. Murray mentioned that he has a qualification in maritime law; it would be great to hear his interpretation of the entire situation.
“In fact, such a strange, hasty flag change and the predominance of Ukrainians among the crew (and a Georgian captain, too) could have given grounds to suspect a provocation. ”
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Looking at it from that angle, the affair has all the hallmarks of the Clods In Action. Indeed it could be out of a John le Carre novel.
There is a petition now out to end sanctions against Jacques Baud and to stop EU´s war path.
See here for signing:
https://free-baud.org/
“(…)
This far and no further!
We protest against the unlawful sanctions against Colonel Jacques Baud and the EU’s war policy!
With its latest sanctions package, the EU has sanctioned military historian and former colonel in the Swiss Army and the Swiss Strategic Intelligence Service, as well as a member of the Swiss General Staff, Jacques Baud. Baud is a Swiss citizen and lives in Brussels. He is no longer allowed to leave Belgium, his assets have been seized, his accounts are frozen, and his books may no longer be sold.
Jacques Baud has worked for NATO and the United Nations, among others. He is an impeccable scholar and a man of honor. His books meet the highest standards of scholarly historical analysis. He works with strict neutrality, adhering to the principle that both sides must be heard.
It is not a crime to name the true reasons for the war in Ukraine. It is not a crime to draw readers’ attention to falsehoods and the EU’s and NATO’s own propaganda. It is not a crime to point out the West’s thoughtless cooperation with Ukrainian forces that exhibit dangerous proximity to fascists.
The EU Council of Ministers is destroying the foundations of freedom of expression with arbitrary punitive measures against Jacques Baud and a total of 59 journalists and scientists.
These sanctions are illegal and violate international law because they were not imposed by the UN Security Council. The expert opinion by former European Court of Justice judge Professor Dr. Ninon Colneric and legal scholar Professor Dr. Alina Miron of the University of Angers shows that the underlying legal acts also violate EU law. The EU is using the sanctions list as a tool to silence critics and is maneuvering itself ever deeper into an abyss of lawlessness.
We call upon the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the German Bundestag, the German state and local parliaments, the entire German people and the people in all countries of the European Union to now confront the destroyers of democracy and the warmongers with all their might.
The preamble to the Basic Law obligates Germany to serve peace. Article 5 of the Basic Law stipulates: “There shall be no censorship.” The actions of the EU Commission and the EU Council contradict our Basic Law. We call upon the Federal Government, in accordance with its oath of office, to draw attention to this unlawful process.
We demand the immediate lifting of the illegal sanctions against Jacques Baud, as well as against all journalists, scientists and EU citizens.
We call on the German government and the EU to contribute constructively to peace in Ukraine and to cease all unconstitutional attempts to prolong the war.
(…)”