Beijing's Clampdown on Registered and Underground Churches

The Chinese are really engaged in big clampdown right now. I'm not sure if many Americans are able to figure out why. There is an aspect of this related to Xi Jinping's attempt to consolidate power and assert his authority but there's a larger context too. China is feeling threatened. Trump's moves vis-à-vis Taiwan, trouble brewing in Xinjiang and Western reporting about it, trade war with the United States, uncertainty about North Korea, growing tensions in the South Pacific, confrontations with Japan, a standoff with the Vatican and the list goes on.

John Owen and Oliver Cromwell's Irish Campaign of 1649

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/how-cromwell-s-irish-terror-made-a-bloodthirsty-preacher-teach-tolerance-1.3317531

This article encouraged me. Having embraced Calvinism in the mid-1990's I followed paths that led me to the Puritans and as someone inclined toward Congregationalism I had a special affinity for figures like the theologian John Owen.

Ironies Surrounding Media Coverage of McCain

John McCain has died and has (most likely) gone to hell. But as is so often the case the world doesn't see it that way and they pay tribute to one that served the Beast they all clamour to worship.

Is it not ironic that the so-called 'Liberal' media not only lavishes praise on McCain and calls him a 'war hero' but all seem to forget his record of endless warmongering and militarism? Über-nationalism and militarism are suddenly values of the 'Left'? I guess it could be if you live in the degenerate fantasy world of Dinesh D'Souza but for those who are interested in actual thought, political or otherwise this seems problematic.

Or is it that the American 'Left' doesn't actually disagree with McCain's posturing? The so-called 'Leftist' media has in fact long been a champion of American militarism. On many points it's not 'Left' at all. It is thoroughly Right-wing when it comes to Wall Street and the Pentagon, even while it clamours to support sodomy, feminism and a host of other evils. In so many ways America is an evil empire and in that sense they are right to celebrate the legacy of John McCain.

BND Agents in Kosovo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7744535.stm

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/covert-cock-up-germany-s-failed-spy-mission-in-kosovo-a-593713.html

Is this a 'covert cock-up' as Der Spiegel puts it or is the well known German daily engaged in cover-up and damage control?

I dug these articles up from 2008 because to me they represent reasonably clear examples of the strategy of tension, false flag operations and attempts by the US/NATO (in this case via the Bundesnachtrichtendienst or BND) using terrorism to achieve strategic goals.

Israel's Murder Machine

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/israel-behind-assassination-of-syrian-rocket-scientist-nyt-reports-1.6358886

The US has always tended to obscure its assassinations using proxies and agents that provide government agencies a degree of plausible deniability. And yet many a car accident, suicide and sudden illness are more than a little suspicious... and if there's still some doubt the media will play its part and quickly shut-down any attempts to suggest otherwise.

The US Government and Militant Salafism: An Alliance of Convenience

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2018/0806/US-backed-coalition-cut-deals-with-al-Qaida-in-Yemen

https://astutenews.com/2018/07/27/isis-in-afghanistan-central-asia-faces-risk-of-spillover/

Even the mainstream press is acknowledging the fact that the US is in a functional alliance with Al Qaeda. To qualify, I am not suggesting that there's some kind of coordinated effort or that US agents are giving direct orders to AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) commanders. For years there have been some who have argued for this kind of direct relationship but I don't believe there's much evidence to support it.

Norwich's Byzantium

I am reasonably informed when it comes to the history of the Byzantine Empire and yet that said, its 1100 year history is complex and is worth revisiting from time to time. I've read several books on it in the past but one I've never tackled is Norwich's well known and much acclaimed three volume history.

Ukrainian Fascism

For those following the twists and turns of the Ukraine-Russia saga this piece was helpful in that it provided something of a chronological framework for the fascist movements in Ukraine.

Why did the Washington Post seemingly switch gears and suddenly acknowledge what many in the alternative media have been saying for years? That the Euromaidan uprising was fueled (at least in part) by Neo-Nazis and subsequent to the 2013 uprising (or coup) the Far Right has played a relatively prominent role in shaping the Ukrainian government.

Russians Murdered in the CAR

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-filmmakers-killed-in-africa-were-investigating-mercenaries-close-to-the-kremlin/2018/08/01/8dac1c8c-9589-11e8-818b-e9b7348cd87d_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1a921da290e6

The Anti-Russia machine churns on but unlike most of the mainstream coverage, this story is actually interesting. The UN approved a deal for Russia to sell arms to the military of the Central African Republic. Of course this is spoken of in negative terms by Western mouthpieces like the Washington Post. Without a hint of irony or shame Western media outlets have in light of this story pointed to Moscow as fueling conflicts and warmongering.

Dissident Satraps and Arms Sales

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/07/13/pakistan-chooses-turkish-t129-attack-helos-to-replace-aging-fleet/

The helicopter being referred to is a Turkish variant of the well known Italian Augusta. The Turks have modified the design making it more suitable for operations in Anatolia and the Pakistanis are interested.  Their Bell manufactured Cobra fleet is aging.

21st Century Conscription, Militarism and Exemption

https://gulfnews.com/news/asia/south-korea/south-korea-says-bye-to-mandatory-conscription-1.2243840

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1679867/flight-or-fight-conscription-misery-south-korea

For a few decades it seemed as if military conscription was something that would soon fade into memory, at least for Western nations. Many countries were doing away with it, even the über-militarist United States.

Basically ending conscription had more or less become associated with a host of Western modernist norms and progressive reforms. With the abolition of the death penalty, anti-racism laws and many other forms of legislation we're all too familiar with, the ending of forced military service seemed to be part of the package.

The fact that this trend seems to be reversing is both a cause for concern and a sign of the times.

The Threat of Enforced EU Values

http://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/3692/EU_proposes_to_close_mosques_that_do_not_adhere_to_EU_values

While it is to be somewhat expected and to a degree understandable that the EU would propose banning literature and organisations that promote anti-state violence it's a little troubling to read that they're contemplating closing mosques that 'do not adhere to EU values'.

Congo on the Knife-Edge: Kabila, Bemba and the 2018 Election

https://www.yahoo.com/news/dr-congos-kabila-promotes-blacklisted-generals-army-shake-155235623.html

At this point Joseph Kabila has nothing to lose, he knows everyone is scheming against him. His father was assassinated and while his motives are undoubtedly motivated (at least in part) by self-interest, his departure will also signal a serious change for the DRC.

Nicaraguan Sorrows

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/u-s-government-meddling-machine-boasts-of-laying-the-groundwork-for-insurrection-in-nicaragua/

https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/07/27/homage-to-nicaragua/

The situation in Nicaragua is tragic and yet it is but part of a larger sweep of recent history.

Many of us remember Daniel Ortega from the 1980's and the Contra War which followed in the wake of the Sandinista Revolution of 1979. Ortega led the country from 1979-1990 when he was forced from office.  And yet he made a political comeback, winning the 2006 election and has held power ever since. And yet Ortega II is cut from a different cloth. While still a hero and icon to some on the left, the new Ortega is a figure of compromise and corruption.