Tag: Belt and Road Initiative

Growing Neo-Colonial Instability Points To The Looming Civilizational Collapse Of Most Of The Globe

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

I say “most of the globe” because the 21st century civilizational collapse we’re in the early stages of isn’t going to be distributed evenly. Of course, in the long term the unraveling may catch up to even the most momentarily stable areas; as futurist William Gibson has said, “The future is already here — it’s just not evenly distributed.” Which can apply to the breakdown of peace and order as much as it can apply to the expansion of life-improving technologies.

Growing Neo-Colonial Instability Points To The Looming Civilizational Collapse Of Most Of The Globe

Rapid Taliban advances in Afghanistan have the US military launching strikes to destroy captured artillery and armored vehicles

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

Rapid Taliban advances in Afghanistan have the US military launching strikes to destroy captured artillery and armored vehicles

Related:

US troops ‘will temporarily deploy’ to Afghanistan to help evacuate diplomats

ICYMI: The Pentagon has quietly established two new Afghanistan-linked offices, including its Defense Security Cooperation Management Office-Afghanistan, and the Over-the-Horizon Counterterrorism Headquarters, both based in Qatar. (Tip of the hat to Dr. Jonathan Schroden, who directs CNA’s Countering Threats and Challenges Program.)

– Defense One

The US isn’t going to leave Afghanistan alone:

China emerges as reliable partner for Afghan development

US Fingerprints on Terrorism Aimed At China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

US-led Information War Targets Southeast Asia (and China)

Is China Transforming the World?

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Is China Transforming the World?

From speeches by president Xi Jinping, including the one he gave at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2017, journalists only wanted to retain his support of globalization—that is, his praise of free trade without obstacles—and a denunciation of protectionism. It is clear that the Chinese president was saying that “economic globalization has provided a powerful driving force for world growth, by facilitating the movement of capital and goods, the advancement of science, technology and human civilization, as well as exchanges between peoples.”1. What a sweet song in the ears of the neoliberals! Nevertheless, we should not hide the setbacks and problems, also underlined in this same speech: “Globalization is a double-edged sword.… The contradiction between capital and labor is accentuated.… The gaps between the rich and the poor, between the North and the South, are constantly widening.… The richest [elements] represent 1 percent of the world’s population, but have more wealth than the remaining 99 percent.”2

Related:

MONTHLY REVIEW JULY-AUGUST 2021

U.S. State Dept. No.2 Sherman speaks with Myanmar shadow government + Reuters, UK Gov, & BBC Prepare Ground for Myanmar Intervention

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

U.S. State Dept. No.2 Sherman speaks with Myanmar shadow government

Right out of Gene Sharp’s playbook (#198)!

Related:

Reuters, UK Gov, & BBC Prepare Ground for Myanmar Intervention

Myanmar’s Conflict: America’s Proxy War with China

How US Government Fronts Shape Media Coverage of Myanmar Upheaval, Propagandize for Western Intervention

Sleepwalking into Washington’s Next Regime Change Crisis: Myanmar

[2020] Why tiny Djibouti hosts both China and U.S. military bases – only a few kilometers apart

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Why tiny Djibouti hosts both China and U.S. military bases – only a few kilometers apart

The U.S. opened its military base, Camp Lemonnier, in the East African nation in 2003 and now the biggest base in Africa. It currently has about 4,500 troops stationed in it. Just 12km away from the U.S. base is China’s which was opened in 2017 with around 2,000 military personnel. The decision by China to set up military bases overseas is surprising as it has historically been opposed to the idea.

…

The U.S. established the Camp Lemonnier in 2003 after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. It is home to some 4,500 personnel, some of whom are engaged in secretive missions and targeted drone killings in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, according to the New York Times.

…

The lease of land for military bases has become one of the important sources of revenue for the government. In other words, it is the biggest foreign exchange earner for the country. Washington pays $63 million annually for a 10-year lease of the area while China pays $20 million a year, in addition to other investments. It is therefore not difficult to see why the former French colony will look pass the rivalry that exists between the two superpowers.