Police Support for Fascists and the Right's Counter-narrative Cover

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/12/06/patf-d06.html

https://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-white-supremacists-march-lincoln-182827649.html

Large sections of the media chose to ignore this story regarding an early December fascist militia marching on the National Mall, and others reported it but downplayed it. While the police are identified in some pieces as 'monitoring' the fascist marchers, the video evidence along with testimonials suggest that law enforcement were providing a buffer – a kind of safe-zone for the group to march and to avoid coming into contact or conflict with onlookers, many of whom are clearly appalled.

New Geneva or Anti-Geneva?

https://www.newgenevaacademy.com/master-of-divinity-in-worship-and-liturgy.html

 Stumbling across this reminded me of my days long ago in which I earnestly contended for what I thought of as True Calvinism or the True Reformed faith.

The EU and the Indo-Pacific

https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/opinion/the-eus-role-in-the-indo-pacific-becoming-a-geopolitical-actor/

German parliamentarian and MEP David McAllister speaks for a large section of the European ruling class. There is both an air of opportunism and necessity underlying his commentary – his plea for Europe to expand its interests into the Asia-Pacific region.

US Support for the TPLF

https://jeffpearce.medium.com/ethiopia-the-wests-diplomats-meet-in-secret-to-decide-how-to-help-the-tplf-cb87f2d30777

Pearce's article and reporting in general is obviously hostile to the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The point here is neither to vindicate the ruling Abiy government or to defend or demonise the Tigray leadership. What's salient is the fact that the leaked Zoom video demonstrates a point that I and others have been trying to make – that despite official proclamations of support for Abiy in the past, or neutrality in the present conflict, the West and the US specifically support Tigray goals and their restoration to power in Addis Ababa.

ASEAN and the Russian Navy

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/01/russia-asean-naval-drills/

The move by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to hold joint naval drills with Russia is a slap in the face to China but on a far greater level to the United States which has earnestly sought to court these nations since the Obama era. It sends a clear signal that the ASEAN members are not willing to simply bow to the US, nor are they willing to trust Washington to any quantifiable degree. They're going to hedge their bets and keep all options open – which for the US represents a diplomatic defeat.

The Current Geopolitics of Sri Lanka

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-bags-another-lucrative-port-deal-in-sri-lanka

Sri Lanka has been the focus of a struggle between China and Washington for many years. India is also a player more or less serving or echoing the interests of the United States. India has an interest due to the large island's proximity and the fact that the Hindu Tamil people (a minority in Sri Lanka) have a significant population in India itself. For China and the United States, the interests are economic and strategic.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is known to be pro-China and this was one of the reasons he was forced out as president in 2015. After several years of ineffective rule, Rajapaksa returned to power in 2019 as prime minister under his brother's presidency. Sri Lanka's already suffering economy has taken a beating during the Covid era and 2021 has seen the nation slip into crisis mode.

Turkish Weapons to Ukraine: A Dangerous Game

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/11/16/turkey-baykar-drones-ukraine/

Once again it must be emphasized that the Turco-Russian alliance rests on a very flimsy foundation. Historically the Turks and Russians have been enemies and one of the areas of confrontation (among many) centres on the arc stretching from Southern Ukraine, across the Crimea, to the North Caucasus. The Muslim populations (such as the Circassians) and in particular the Tatar ethnic groups have long found affiliation and identity with the powerful Ottoman state to the South.

An Assessment of GOP Turmoil

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/580418-real-conservatives-must-make-a-choice

At present there are few voices willing to call out Trumpism for its lack of conservative credentials. Abandoning any coherent ideology, the GOP has slipped into a kind of crude self-affirming tribalism centered on the person of Trump himself.

US Federal Reserve Policy and the Turkish Lira

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/turkish-central-bank-intervenes-curb-unhealthy-lira-losses 

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/12/3/lira-crash-slams-turkeys-factories-farmers-and-retailers

The value of the Turkish Lira has plunged and given the country's debt burden, Turkey is facing rapid inflation. President Erdogan has attempted radical measures but some economists believe the sweeping moves have been reckless and have only exacerbated the problem.

The Quirinale Treaty

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/italy-france-to-sign-rome-treaty-aimed-at-changing-eu-power-balance-sources/ar-AAQMqmT

After several years of tensions, France and Italy have stunned some within the political and diplomatic communities with the announcement of the Quirinale Treaty.