Tag: Big Business

Colombia’s First Leftist President Charts a New Path on Venezuela + Government of Venezuela and Opposition Resume Mexico Talks

Ms. Cat

Colombia’s First Leftist President Charts a New Path on Venezuela

While critics derided the meeting as just another propaganda spectacle for Maduro, Petro has sent a signal to opposition parties in Colombia and the international community, particularly the United States, to rethink its approach if they hope to improve relations and achieve a successful political transition in Venezuela.

Related:

The recognition of Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela will end in 2023, according to two sources close to the opposition

Guaidó’s possible change of status occurs just as the opposition coalition establishes the rules to select the unitary candidate who will compete in the next presidential elections in 2024.

So Biden can support a new interim president for Venezuela.

Government of Venezuela and Opposition Resume Mexico Talks: What Is on the Table? (+Alex Saab)

Still skeptical of Gustavo Petro.

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Anti-China Protests in Thailand: Who is Behind them & Why? Searching for Asia’s “Zelensky”

Ms. Cat

Nov 22, 2022 – As the US proxy war against Russia in Ukraine destroys a nation and destabilizes a region, similar meddling that preceded the 2014 coup in Kiev is unfolding across Southeast Asia and in particular, in Thailand.

Who is the “Zelensky” of Thailand? Documented evidence exposes the Thai opposition as a product of years of US interference all in a bid to pivot Thailand aways from its largest economic and trade partner – China – and transform it into a belligerent proxy against Beijing on Washington’s behalf.

References:

Anti-China Protests in Thailand: Who is Behind them & Why? Searching for Asia’s “Zelensky” (Odysee) via The New Atlas

Previously:

Thailand: US-backed Opposition’s Violence Intimidates Critics, Paves Way for Regime Change

Manchin Wants Deal on Debt, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Ms. Cat

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin [Democrat] said Thursday that Congress needs to deal with the nation’s “crippling debt” by making changes to shore up Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs he said are “going bankrupt.”

Manchin Wants Deal on Debt, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Joe Manchin, speaking at a conference for CEOs, blames the stimulus checks us plebs received for causing inflation! It couldn’t have been the PPP loans, that were forgiven, or the handouts for the Military Industrial Complex every year! 🙄

FYI, Biden didn’t say anything about protecting Social Security from his own party:

“I will not cut Social Security,” the president said. “I will not cut Medicare, no matter how hard they work at it.”

‘I Will Not Yield’: Biden Vows to Fight Any GOP Attack on Social Security, Medicare

What the 2022 Midterm Election Charade Offers Us

Ms. Cat

That neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are offering anything to alleviate the problems working people face is illustrated by their campaign fear-mongering – the former over “fascism” and the latter over “socialists” and “radicals.” No matter which party dominates the midterm elections, do not expect either will herald in fascism or socialism.

What the 2022 Midterm Election Charade Offers Us

Thailand: US-backed Opposition’s Violence Intimidates Critics, Paves Way for Regime Change

Ms. Cat1 Comment

Oct 19, 2022 – The US-backed opposition in Thailand replicates in many ways the violence and intimidation the US sponsored in Ukraine from 2014 onward – just as Ukraine is meant as a proxy against Russia – a US client regime in Thailand would transform the country into a proxy against China.

An alarming incident of violence where a Thai opposition leader publicly assaulted his critic is dangerously being portrayed as “heroic” by Western-sponsored opposition media to encourage further violence and intimidation – creating the same division and destruction throughout Thai society that is currently consuming Ukraine.

Thailand: US-backed Opposition’s Violence Intimidates Critics, Paves Way for Regime Change (Odysee)- The New Atlas

Resources:

The Complete Guide: US Government Role in Thailand’s “Student Protests”

The New Atlas – Why is Washington Backing Violent Mobs in Thailand?

Payback For OPEC+ Cuts? Biden May Press U.S. Companies To Limit Saudi Business, Report Says

Ms. Cat

Payback For OPEC+ Cuts? Biden May Press U.S. Companies To Limit Saudi Business, Report Says (archived)

The Biden administration wants to leverage U.S. companies with ties to Saudi Arabia but without sacrificing regional security efforts, according to the report.

…

The Biden administration will immediately begin scaling back its diplomatic and military activities in Saudi Arabia, at least until OPEC+’s next meeting on December 4, NBC reports, citing an unnamed senior administration official who said the meeting will “be a key test” of how OPEC+ will respond to European Union sanctions that ban Russian oil imports, effective December 5.

…

The OPEC+ conglomerate–a Saudi-led alliance of oil-producing countries, including Russia–plans to curb oil production by 2 million barrels a day beginning in November. The move, characterized by the Saudi government as an effort to stabilize energy markets, is expected to increase global oil prices and raise gas prices. The Biden administration has vowed “consequences” for Saudi Arabia over the announcement, and Democratic lawmakers have urged the president to halt arms sales to the kingdom, but the White House has yet to announce how, exactly, it will retaliate and is not expected to do so until Congress returns from recess after the November midterms.

Strikes & protests in France (and demonstrations in the US)

Ms. Cat

Strikes grow as Macron postpones threat to crush French refinery strike

Related:

French left-wing parties gather protesters to march in Paris, as refinery strikes persist

The French call for NATO exit

MSM was all over the cost of living protests but nothing about the Anti-NATO protests. Videos have emerged of police repression in Paris (at which protest, I’m unsure). Meanwhile, in the US, the Poor People’s Campaign, and allies, held multiple demonstrations to get out the vote (which were mainly covered by local news).