Shigeru Ishiba and Japan's Evolving Role in the American Empire

https://reihotakeuchi.substack.com/p/the-new-japanese-prime-ministers

Ishiba who assumed the office of prime minister in October is important because he represents new thinking in terms of Japan's role in the Asia-Pacific and its relationship with the United States. A member of the Far-Right Nippon Kaigi faction (which has a significant presence in the ruling LDP), he seems to represent two tendencies - one, to strengthen Japan's relationship with Washington and build a NATO-type alliance in the Pacific, and two, resentment of US domination and a wish for Japan to re-establish its autonomy and take its place among the great powers.

A Ukraine Miscellany (XX): The End of the Biden Regime

 I more or less dispensed with these 'miscellany' posts in the summer of 2023 due to the ongoing stalemate. There wasn't much to say.

The big events or developments since then are the August 2024 Kursk Offensive in which Ukraine tried to flip the narrative and invade Russian territory. After some initial and yet modest gains the situation turned into another stalemate and now as 2024 comes to a close, they are rapidly losing this captured territory to Moscow.

Croatia Rewarded: LNG Deals and Schengen Membership

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/austria-croatia-bavaria-team-up-for-adriatic-lng-project/

Croatia was quick to sign up to America's suggestion of creating an LNG infrastructure, and now in this new deal with Austria and Bavaria, that capacity is set to double. Croatia is set to become an energy hub for southern and central Europe as LNG can be brought in via the Adriatic.

A Historian of Worth

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/books/stephen-cohen-dead.html

Stephen Cohen was a solid historian who spent most of his career focused on the Soviet Union and Russia. His specialisation gave him a largely unparalleled perspective that proved both unique and critical in the 21^st century as the United States began to take a more aggressive posture vis-à-vis Russia.

The V4, Likud, Aachen and Atlanticism: New Blocs, New Structures

http://www.praguemonitor.com/2019/02/18/babi%C5%A1-travel-israel-joint-v4-summit

https://hungarytoday.hu/orban-discusses-v4-israel-summit-security-cooperation-with-netanyahu/

These events are already old news in terms of the high-tempo news cycle but they passed without proper reflection.

To start with, the V4 countries are often spoken of in relation to anti-Semitism. Far Right parties and politics are active in the V4 and thus it seems strange to many that they would meet in Israel.

False and Dangerous Coverage Surrounding the INF

I have listened to several reports dealing with the US withdrawal from the INF, or Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which was signed by Reagan and Gorbachev in 1987.

Almost all the reports I've heard give only the US side of the story and buttress Washington's claims that Russia is in violation of the treaty and thus since it has been rendered practically obsolete, the US withdrawal only reflects the on-the-ground reality and will afford Washington the legal cover for further production of intermediate range weapons. Russia is clearly made out to be the villain.

But this hardly the whole story.

Atlantic Breakdown in Slow Motion

https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-china/news/eu-and-china-pledge-to-deepen-relationship-despite-trade-tensions/

Even though the EU and China have their own differences the actions of the United States are forcing both entities to look outward. Trump continues to antagonise Europe, driving them toward the pursuit of their own economic, diplomatic and military agendas.

Setting the Stage for the New Cold War

https://www.thenation.com/article/us-double-standards-in-the-new-cold-war/

https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-zealots-mainly-democrats-have-become-a-major-threat-to-us-national-security/

Stephen Cohen is one of the few courageous voices that has broken with academia and has dared to speak out against the Establishment's Anti-Russia narrative. Castigated by some, called a stooge and Russian agent by others, he has stood his ground. The lessons and realities of history are on his side and there's a real comfort in that, especially in the face of storm and assault. Those who study history with open eyes will know great sorrow and frustration. They will often stand alone but having walked the paths of the past... they need not fear the judgment and condemnation of others. They've seen it all before.

The Christian Right and Free Market Orthodoxy

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-utx-idUSMTZSAPEC2EIWOEVW

It continues to surprise me that so many who advocate the free market continue to support Trump. With Sanders on the Democratic side, he doesn't really elaborate his policies. Both populists promote big ideas but seem unable to elaborate on the details. A few people are starting to notice. But one point that Trump does make clear is his economic stance regarding outsourcing, trade deals, tariffs and the like.

TPP, the Internet and the Establishment Agenda

There's such a profound difference in the way the TPP has unfolded in the media vs. what happened when NAFTA was being put together in the early 1990s. There was a lot of resistance to NAFTA and the unions were a little stronger then and able to get the word out, but the educational campaign is paltry compared to what's happening with the TPP. The Internet has opened up a new world in dissent and challenge to the establishment narrative. Of course there's also a lot of false information out there. That's the risk isn't it?