I have already described the war in Ukraine as “mad”. I used the term in its normal sense (insane) because the Kiev regime was fighting for the Independence and Democracy which only Putin – together with neutrality – wanted; while NATO would remove Ukraine’s independence and EU entry would remove its democracy and constitution. But now it is time to use the term in its military context – Mutually Assured Destruction – as the dangerous rhetoric of nuclear threats gets out of control.

The people who can destroy a thing, they control it. ― Frank Herbert, Dune

Broaching the subject of peace negotiations invites accusations of helping Putin – but that’s misguided

I find it bizarre that I should feel the need to write about this subject—yet again. Over and over, I have pointed out the nature of the integrated global war, domination, and exploitation planetary system. I have been doing this since the 1980s—during my entire career—and still most people do not get it. It does not sink in. Yet this global system impacts everything—right down to our daily lives struggling with scarcity of resources—from healthcare to housing to education to food—that is built into our system.

The Washington establishment is considering a risky and ill-defined intervention in Europe.

This monthly update on the situation in Ukraine for October 2022, by Dmitriy Kovalevich, our special correspondent in Ukraine, marks the end of the eighth month of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

Ukraine Update (Mercouris (Mercouris 11/03/2022)

The absence of any serious effort to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through negotiations is striking. The withdrawal of Russian forces, Ukrainian neutrality, an end to economic sanctions and most importantly a cease fire and legitimate U.N.-monitored plebiscite are all negotiable, though you would hardly know it from the rhetoric of Russia or the West.

There is a concerted effort in the United States and Europe to intimidate, smear, and silence anyone who dares criticize Ukraine’s government or the Biden administration’s policy on the Russia-Ukraine war. The latest example was the decision of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to retract an open letter it had sent to the president just days earlier urging him to give higher priority to diplomacy as a way of ending the bloodshed. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the caucus, offered an explanation that quickly drew derision from multiple quarters. “The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting.”

US midterm elections and Europe’s deteriorating economic situation are likely to influence public sentiment