The imperial core is continuing the process of self-cannibalization as the interimperial wars between Europe and the US over resource and territorial control continue. Greenland, populated with less than a hundred thousand heavily exploited people, is the newest territory to fall under Trump's gaze. The main draw is the mineral resources present there, of which it boasts nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum, and much more than remains unexplored under the ice. But the ice is melting, and profit must be made. There is an additional element of wanting Arctic territory to counter Chinese and especially Russian interests and aims; Russia is increasingly eyeing the northern Arctic route as an alternative to more vulnerable routes through the Suez Canal or around Africa, and is investing heavily in icebreakers for that purpose.
However, even if Europe possessed the desire to resist American annexations - and they absolutely do not, at the end of the day - they do not even have the ability. Denmark may, to a lesser or greater extent, make angry sounds and talk about national honour or some such, but their military would be trampled underfoot by even the New York Police Department, let alone a concerted military effort by the US. If Trump wants Greenland, he will have it. This will naturally increase the grumbling in Europe about reconsidering the Transatlantic alliance, and that grumbling may, in the medium-term future, as the American Empire continues its decline, lead to meaningful results. But in the short term, Europe shall have to bear whatever Trump throws at them, for they obviously cannot now ally with Russia, who was the natural counterweight to American interests for decades before 2022.
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Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel's destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
So, why would Trump care about a ceasefire? What are his interests here?
Going for a Nobel Peace Prize, which would satisfy the rule of the funniest outcome being true
-Showing that he can get stuff done;
-upholding some promises to special interest groups;
-try to turn Michigan into a red state;
-doing the bare minimal;
All the above
Bragging rights over getting a ceasefire when Biden didn't, while still arming and not really making Israel keep their end of the deal.
I am glad there is an agreement to point at, but same as with Lebanon, I don't trust the IDF to stop the massacre completely.
They are not stopping anything, the ceasefire comes into effect on Sunday and the idf has already intensified the attack according to today’s Dropsite News livestream.
Objectively, Trump pulled the empire’s lever onto Israel this is a fact and it is also a fact that Biden can’t even do that in a year.
People here probably aren’t going to like what I have to say, but I’m gonna say it regardless.
Do you want to know what is it like to be the most powerful in the world? The recent events revolving Trump showed us unequivocally where the power center of the world lies - the US. Trump is simply basking in it maybe because he enjoys that personal ego trip.
Let’s be honest here: the president-elect hasn’t even taken the office yet, and the world already listens attentively to what he has to say.
Tariffs on Mexico and Canada? On China? Leaders around the world literally adjust their policies based on the words coming out of this guy’s mouth. China is now literally waiting with bated breath until Trump takes office so they can finally decide on whether lower their interest rates or not. Imagine that!
Trump says he wants to annex Greenland? The world reacts to it with real policies being drafted as we speak, no matter how outrageous or unrealistic it seems to be.
But it’s all the same with Biden or anyone else in charge. Trump simply made it front and center so everyone is forced to witness the naked reality of what the US empire is really all about.
I know people like to say it’s a declining empire, but until the day when nobody listens to it anymore, it has leverage. A lot of leverage over the rest of the world.
Now Trump says he wants a ceasefire and Israel has to listen. Just like that, on a whim.
This is power. There is no way to deny this.
You could say the same thing, to a much lesser extent of course, about Musk and it would be just as true. He's the richest person in the world, and that in itself is power that can't be denied. Trump as you said is now in charge of the most powerful country in the world, that is power that has to be paid attention to. Same with whoever else becomes the president of the USA or world's richest person. Their power forces everyone else to pay attention.
I was talking about the US itself - with Trump being the upcoming “front man”. People listen to Trump not because he’s rich, but because he is the head of an entire institution of power. Even Elon’s $400 billion is peanuts compared to the country that controls the flow of several trillions of dollar globally every single day. $5 billion dollar transaction every single minute.
Yeah I edited my comment to say to a much lesser extent with regards to Musk, the US financial and military empire is obviously much bigger than anything else at this point in time.
Giving Bibi his payback for being the first world leader to congratulate Biden for his 2020 win.
Not looking weak
I think i understand what you mean, but would you be willing to elaborate for me?
Biden pretended the Americans had no power to stop the fighting. He presented it was all meany Netanyahu and there was noticing little old he could do.
Trump is eschewing that bullshit and just openly reminding everyone who is in charge. Him.
both of your comments have been helpful in putting trumps interests in focus. I appreciate it!
It’s a major PR win for him if he “solves” the “Middle East issue” even by just sweeping it under the rug until it bursts forth again
Yea as happy as I am to see a ceasefire, I feel like this changes the narrative for normies by alot. It's easier to radicalize people when they think both sides don't support them, but people who were solely pro-palestine might see this as Trump actually being on their side. This is all because the Biden administration were genocidal maniacs so anything less in comparison looks saintly. Regardless of what Trump's interest actually are people will just apply whatever narrative they like.
We know even with the ceasefire that American imperialism in the middle east will not end with Trump (I'd be shocked) and I have been wondering what's the proper way to continue radicalizing people without being insensitive.
Yeah he's trying to do the whole Ronald Reagan peace through strength stuff, getting the hostages back so Trump can have his moment in the spotlight.