Thread image created by yours truly, depicting Iran and Pakistan very impolitely not asking whether America, on the other side of the planet, is okay with them transporting gas around.
The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has long been obstructed by American involvement in the region. Iran completed its section of the pipeline quite quickly, but Pakistan has been unable to finish its construction for a decade due to the fear of falling afoul of American sanctions on Iran. The United States has repeatedly tried to pressure Pakistan to give up the project and obtain gas from other countries instead. Recent articles on the state of the pipeline are contradictory, with some stating that Iran or Pakistan have given up on the pipeline while American sanctions persist. Pakistani officials reject this framing, saying that they are still working with Iran to try and get the project completed somehow. Nonetheless, Iran is becoming increasingly frustrated and is threatening a legal battle and a demand for reparations.
Meanwhile, back in Niger, the $13 billion under-construction pipeline connecting Nigeria and other West African countries to Spain and Italy will likely face delays due to the sanctions applied by the West and ECOWAS on Niger. Those following the European gas fiasco will be aware that while Spain and Italy have been impacted by the energy crisis, they have been very busy making deals with African countries to replace their Russian gas, and thus stand a better chance than Germany of making it through the crisis with their industries somewhat intact. The coup has thrown a wrench into their plans, though they can still obtain some gas from northern African countries.
And, last but not least, America tried for years to stop the construction of the Nord Stream pipelines between Germany and Russia, which culminated in them deciding to blow them up late last year.
All in all - the United States really does not like it when countries build up energy infrastructure and gain some independence from them.
Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.
This week's first update is here in the comments.
This week's second update is here in the comments.
This week's third update is here in the comments.
Links and Stuff
The bulletins site is down.
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Add to the above list if you can.
Resources For Understanding The War
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.
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.
Telegram Channels
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
Pro-Russian
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
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.
Last week's discussion post.
Argentina's primary election winner Javier Milei, the ancap, said that if he's elected he'll cut diplomatic ties with China because "they're Communists and I don't deal with Communists". Diplomatic, political and economic suicide, here we go!
Also he said the US and Israel would be "our top allies" if he wins, how original. He also gave names for a possible cabinet and how he's going to reorganize the government: A number of ministeries will be eliminated, state scientific institutions will be privatized (He's on the record saying "What have scientists done for us?, they need to be competitive") and the Central Bank will be "demolished". He mentioned the Ministry of Defense will be under a woman who is known for being a Videla apologist, she claims the last military junta did not carry out a genocide and denies 30,000 people were disappeared, tortured and killed by the state. He also wants a "voucher system" for education, public schools and universities are pretty much gone, instead, the state would give people "vouchers" for them to "spend on educative institutions of their choosing", thus "forcing schools and universities to compete among themselves". And probably his "top issue" is complete dollarization of the economy. His path will be most likely similar to Menem's neoliberal plan, first he'll "fix" high inflation (In the case of Menem it was hyperinflation of the late 80s), this will be seen as very positive by the general population. He'll most likely do this by cutting a deal with the IMF and other foreign entities, they'll let him "reign in peace" for two or four years, in exchange, Argentina will give up it's energy and lithium reserves (among other things, like labor reforms and shit like that), sealing our fate.
We're living in the wildest nightmare. Capitalism has brought this country to it's knees numerous times before, and the "libertarian" solution to capitalism is even more capitalism. I am contemplating more and more just leaving this hollow piece of shit behind and migrate to Spain, at least for a number of years. I just don't feel particularly safe here no more, this is a nightmare scenario, this isn't just your typical right winger taking power and getting kinda obstructed by democratic institutions, these are true Fascist demons taking power and going all in. I'm not sure he'll be able to fully implement his agenda, most likely he'll fail along the way, the problem is that this shit will bring high social tension, economic devastation and a massive drop in quality of life. Do I really want to live through this crap AGAIN? I grew up during the late 90s and early 2000s, I remember the December 2001 riots, I can still hear the echoes of the "Cacerolazos" (people banging pots to protest), I remember my school friends asking me if we could give them spare cardboards to their parents because these could be sold for some money, I remember the endless waves of unhoused people looking for food in the trash (who are more and more visible today) and, of course, I remember the police killing 30+ people during the protests as if this was 1978. No, I don't think I want to live through this again, even less when I'm a target for these lunatics. There is fight in me, but is there any fight in those around me?
Death and Eternal Suffering to all Fascists.
Their election platform is becoming a US vassal?
That election is going to be rigged to high hell by the CIA
No need to rig when most candidates submit voluntarily to the IMF and the US. It's perfection, they get willing subjects without much spending in campaigns, coups and stuff.
Remember if you need help, the mutual aid comm is available if needed.
Thanks
But I'll be fine, I can pay for the tickets and my family in Spain also offered to pay for them. Thankfully housing is guaranteed and there is no need to pay for rent. Only issue is I don't have dual citizenship and I don't hold a Spanish passport, but I have started the process of getting dual citizenship earlier this year, although that takes quite some time to get it done. An option would be going as a tourist and starting the process in person at any of their Civil Registries, I am elegible so it's just a matter of time.
We'll see what the future holds, and I truly appreciate the intention of helping, it is from mutual support where we draw our strength
Depending on where you will go, try to brush up on a regional language
solidarity
Argentinia once again winning the race for stupidest politics on the continent.
When we were in our early 20s we used to cavort in a latam libertarian forum. And even the ancaps thougth he was a moron and a hypocrite. Some of his friends blocked me. I think he maigth have too but im not sure. Its really the silliest timline if he becomes president. Even if its a place like argentina.
I would like to use this oportunity to remind the readers that uruguayan asado is superor to the argentinian one.
Solidarity, comrade. That sounds absolutely hellish and hits way too close to home as someone who is struggling with feeling increasingly unsafe in their own country and has seriously discussed the possibility of moving away in the coming years.