NATO Shapeshifting, Arms Dealing, and Empire

https://natowatch.org/default/2026/shape-shifting-nato-keeps-transatlantic-arms-flowing-loyalty-alms-us-president    

This article provides a different assessment of the July 2026 Ankara NATO Summit than what you'll commonly find in the mainstream media. The website is not anti-NATO in any way shape or form. These are true believers but ones wary of corruption or mission creep. The site exists as a means to promote serious discussion and inquiry toward holding NATO accountable and keeping the alliance (as they see it) on course.

Managing the American Drawdown in Europe

https://www.politico.eu/article/france-orderly-us-military-drawdown-alice-rufo/   

It needs to be remembered that Politico is explicitly a pro-European and thus pro-EU publication. The fact that an American drawdown from Europe is being openly discussed and even advocated - that's noteworthy.

Macron's Latest Defeat

https://www.politico.eu/article/france-germany-next-generation-fighter-jet-project-collapse/

In the grand scheme of things this is a minor story but it points to some of the internal struggles within Europe, which in turn plays out within the larger political spectrum. With the departure of Angela Merkel and in light of Franco-German relations (such as the 2019 Aachen Treaty), Macron stood at the pinnacle of European politics. France was set to re-assert the leadership it believes itself entitled to.

The Assault Weapons Ban and American Guns in Latin America

https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-01-20/carlos-perez-ricart-theres-never-been-a-better-time-for-the-us-arms-industry-than-right-now.html

This article does not affirm what many of us intuitively already know - the US arms industry is experiencing something of a golden age. From sales to the EU (for Ukraine), to client states across Asia and the Middle East, to Latin America - there's a lot of money being made. And as I'm often keen to note - a lot of this blood money flows into the coffers of Christians by means of investment, particularly in mutual funds and 401k portfolios.

But there's another aspect to the arms industry that also constitutes big business.

NATO Spending, Spanish Resistance, and Using Militarism to Enrich the Investor Class and Destroy Social Services

https://www.democracynow.org/2025/6/26/president_donald_trump_nato_iran

I was pleased to find this story touching on some larger questions that the mainstream media tends to downplay or ignore. The question of increased military budgets and militarism go hand in hand with the cutting of social services and tax cuts - some of the key economic planks of Trumpism.

Yakuza Smugglers, Myanmar, and Manhattan

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/09/takeshi-ebisawa-yakuza-leader-nuclear-materials-myanmar

This story is fascinating on several levels and yet there's something rotten about it. Even after reading the 43 page indictment, it doesn't add up.

Israel, Death Squads, and Colombia

https://consortiumnews.com/2024/05/13/the-secret-history-of-israels-role-in-genocide-in-colombia/

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/6/12/chiquita_funding_death_squads_in_colombia

I post this must-read article because I believe it's important for Christians to have a better understanding of what has happened in Colombia and the role of US policy, the US military - and the outsourced role Israel often plays at the behest of Washington.

Boeing and its Place in the US Empire

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/5/2/whistleblower-joshua-dean-ex-worker-at-boeing-supplier-dies

Boeing is too big to fail. As a member of the S&P100, the company constitutes a large and essential component within the stock market as well as the US security apparatus. Boeing builds commercial jets and does billions of dollars in military contracts. In fact it's the second biggest military contractor in the United States (and third in the world).

Bulgaria's New Cyber-Hub

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/09/22/bulgaria-us-funded-cyber-hub/

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/russian-oil-imports-to-eu-via-bulgaria-surge/

America maneuvers and manipulates the politics in other countries and then if need be it will even finance the build-up of their militaries. The US has many tools in its banking toolbox and a lot of them flow through the State Department and Pentagon. 

Expanding NATO into the Indo-Pacific

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/eu-to-press-south-korea-to-provide-ukraine-with-ammunition/

https://www.reuters.com/world/nato-open-japan-office-enable-indo-pacific-consultation-report-2023-05-03/

Led by the United States, NATO is attempting to expand into the Asian theatre in preparation for war with China. NATO is opening an office in Japan, and the US in addition to strengthening ties with Australia, the Philippines and other nations, is preparing to negotiate for new bases in Papua New Guinea.

Western Finance: Feeding on the Chaos

https://scheerpost.com/2023/02/16/zelensky-signs-agreement-with-jp-morgan-on-ukraines-reconstruction/

Profits are on the rise. The railroad industry is booming and Norfolk Southern is buying back stocks to increase their value even as they throw crumbs at the people in East Palestine, Ohio.  Utility companies across the United States and the world are raising prices even amid what are in some cases record profits.

Contextualising US Hypocrisy and Why China has Nothing to Lose in Arming Russia

The hypocrisy of the United States knows no boundaries. We've seen this time and again, but it's still shocking to behold.

The latest episode is with regard to Ukraine. The US is threatening that China would be crossing a red line if it provides lethal arms and other weaponry to Russia. It would be unacceptable.

Spinning Myanmar

BBC's Newshour recently ran a story on Myanmar and the forgotten internal war that country faces, a conflict exacerbated by the February 2021 coup and takeover by the military. Two years later, the news outlet wanted to revisit the story – or so it seemed.

The Ukraine War: A Double Windfall for Western Capitalism

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20230109-macron-s-pension-reform-necessary-changes-to-an-unsustainable-system

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50670613

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/macron-boosts-french-military-spending-by-over-a-third-to-transform-army/ar-AA16z12S

This double windfall for capitalism is most clearly demonstrated by recent events in France. President Macron has announced pension reform. He argues (contrary to the numbers) that the present system is unsustainable and as such he wants to raise the minimum retirement age and expand the contribution requirement resulting in lower payouts for some. The money just isn't there, he argues.

A Ukraine Miscellany XVI: Covering up Ukrainian Corruption and the Black Market Boom

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2022/12/9/russia-ukraine-live-news-west-is-exploiting-ukraine-putin

https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/short_news/weapons-sent-to-ukraine-may-have-ended-up-in-finnish-underground/

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/other/russia-ukraine-war-weapons-coming-into-lake-chad-buhari/ar-AA14IU3y

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/weapons-delivered-to-ukraine-beginning-to-filter-to-africa:

As is often the case, the real story is found in the lack of media coverage. With a few paltry exceptions, Western media continues to ignore reports of weapons bound for Ukraine ending up elsewhere.

The Drone Wars are Here

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-conducts-exercise-preparing-for-first-unmanned-surface-fleet

It seems that about every other military and weapons story is related to drone development. As many things in the world are changing, so is the way of waging war.

A Ukraine Miscellany XIV: No Truth to be Found

As missiles fall on Poland, and there are talks of escalation and retaliation, it's a good moment pause.

A Ukraine Miscellany (X): Clashes on the Russian Frontier and Charges of Torture

The longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has flared up and dozens are dead as a result of skirmishes. The evidence suggests this latest round of violence was instigated by Baku as Armenia is all but broken and still recovering from its serious defeat in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. It is highly unlikely that they would pick a fight at this time – a point even Western academics and commentators are willing to concede.

A Ukraine Miscellany (VIII): Sober and Sound Thinking Regarding Russia and Ukraine

https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/05/27/an-appeal-to-russia-haters/

This article raises several excellent points. The Ukraine War is being utilized by various interests as a means of distraction. The media could make quite a bit of hay out of an analogy with the Yemen War but has instead chosen to ignore it. And while the Ukraine War is highly destructive, the Yemen War has been far worse.

The Stench of Media Moralizing and the Bout Exchange

Finally after many years it sounds like Russia and the US may cut a deal to release Viktor Bout. Back in 2013, I honestly thought Putin might trade Snowden for him but it turned out that Snowden was a bigger deal than initially thought.