larry johnson joins the gang in wondering what the putin is up to; 

 

I received the following email and question from a friend, a man with extensive experience in the US defense realm, who is a solid analyst. His question is legitimate and I will attempt to answer it. He wrote:

Dear Larry

I read your interesting message. I am at the hospital so I can is only use my phone. Here is my question. If your numbers are correct then how come the Russians seem to be unable to defeat the Ukrainians? They seem to find it difficult to make much territorial progress and now are under heavy pressure in Crimea. I also think they are having major problems defending critical infrastructure including refineries and ports and thus have serious fuel shortages.

In short the Russians are not effectively converting their superiority in supplies into battlefield results and are having difficulty protecting key assets on their territory.

Would be interested in your comments

What does it mean to defeat the Ukrainians? At the outset of the Special Military Operation, the Russians were not intent on conquering Ukraine. In his televised address broadcast at 5:30 AM Moscow time on February 24, 2022, Putin announced the invasion with these words (from the official Kremlin English translation):........more...........

 pcr on the oklahoma city bombing; 

 

The Oklahoma City Bombing

Paul Craig Roberts

Among the many violent events–Ruby Ridge, Waco, 9/11, for example–that never received a real investigation is the Oklahoma City Bombing. On April 19, 1995, the Murrah Federal Building was blown up resulting in many deaths, injuries, and damage to nearby buildings.  The foul deed was blamed on Timothy McVeigh and a fertilizer bomb in a truck parked on the street in front of the building.  McVeigh’s reason was a bit vague.  It was blamed on anti-government ideology and revenge for the federal massacre of innocents at Waco and Ruby Ridge.

When government investigations result in coverups or agenda-serving narratives, independent investigators, and journalists in bygone days when we had them, investigate.  Many have had a go in books and articles at what has become known as the “Oklahoma City Bombing,” and none that I know of have found the official story believable. 

A year ago, that is 30 years after the fatal event, Margaret Roberts published a book:  Blowback: The Untold Story of the FBI and the Oklahoma City Bombing, an indication that researchers remain unhappy with the official story.  You can read a review of the book here:  https://cdm.press/analysis/2025/08/18/the-oklahoma-city-bombing-a-lesson-in-government-lawlessness/  

All of this is old hat to me because I chronicled the “untold story” years ago in my columns.  I did get the attention of the Department of Justice (sic).  My assistant informed me that a honcho from the Department of Justice had called with the message that I was to lay off the Trentadue matter.  I didn’t, and nothing happened.  Perhaps it was too close in time to my positions as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and editor at the Wall Street Journal for the DOJ to turn me into some kind of domestic terrorist. I still had friends in the House and Senate..........more...........

 pcr presents the iran war, resumption causes; 

 

US Breaks Ceasefire, Blames Iran

Paul Craig Roberts

It seems to be the case that Netanyahu is succeeding in having Trump break up the peace negotiations with Iran. News reports are poor because they are subservient to war propaganda.  It seems that what happened is that the US, alleging Iranian attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, attacked Iranian coastal radar sites, Iranian air defense systems and anti-ship missile capabilities, and a large number of Iranian naval vessels.  Iran responded with attacks on US Persian Gulf bases believed to have hosted the US attacks.  Iran, of course, not the US, was blamed for violating the cease fire.  Trump declared the ceasefire to be over, but said talks would continue.  Will Iran continue the negotiations in the face of Trump’s shattering of the Memorandum of Understanding?

During the first quarter of the 21st century Washington has acted for Israel in behalf of the Zionist agenda of Greater Israel.  It appears that the US will continue to serve as Israel’s military force.........https://paulcraigroberts.org/us-breaks-ceasefire-blames-iran/

 

 pcr shows us how the supremes screwed us again;

 

Latest US Supreme Court Decision Places the US in the Hands of the Monied Interests

Paul Craig Roberts

US Supreme Court Expands Its Ruling that Turns Over US Elections to the Control of Monied Interests, such as Big Pharma, Agri-business, the Military-security Complex, and the Israel Lobby.  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/supreme-court-campaign-finance.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20260630&instance_id=178001&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=304508195&segment_id=222321&user_id=e2862097b5a5d4f22d0b82b929ce528a 

Some years ago the Supreme Court ruled that limits on organized interest groups’ contributions to political campaigns was a violation of free speech. This ruling, which has no basis in the US Constitution or in common sense, gave organized money the power to purchase the US government.  And it has.

Not content with this damage to representative government, the US Supreme Court just removed all remaining limits to the ability of money to purchase the government. The majority opinion said:

“Whether the Democratic Party, the Republican Party or other parties, all political parties and candidates going forward can compete equally under the same rules regarding coordinated expenditures and can structure their fund-raising, spending and political speech on a level playing field as they see fit within the law.”

This is ignorant nonsense.  The Supreme Court is saying that the monied interests it has empowered can compete on equal terms.  This competition excludes the American electorate. What the Supreme Court has done is to remove any influence of voters on government policy.  The government’s policy is determined by the money of the interest groups that elects presidents, federal and state representatives and senators, governors, mayors and county commissions.  All American voters are permitted to do is to vote for the candidates financed by vested interests.  Every American vote is pointless.............more.............

 pcr doesn't think much of putin's way of war; 

 

Putin Needs A Red Pill

Paul Craig Roberts

Rasheed and I discuss on The Red Pill Diaries Russian President Putin’s inability or unwillingness to recognize that he is at war and that the war has widened far beyond the Donbas battlefield to deep within Russia. https://www.youtube.com/live/jmUgzYrALYo 

Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s Kremlin spokesman, recently announced that the Kremlin’s policy regarding the conflict with Ukraine is that a political and diplomatic settlement of the situation in Ukraine, and not a military victory, remains preferable for Russia:  “It remains preferable for us to resolve this conflict through political and diplomatic means,” Peskov told reporters.  https://sputnikglobe.com/20260707/political-settlement-of-ukraine-conflict-remains-preferable-for-russia—kremlin-1124409157.html 

Peskov went on to say: “You know that we maintain contacts through working channels with the Americans. And we hope that their efforts to bring the whole situation to a peaceful path of development will be successful.”

In other words, Putin trusts US President Trump’s good will to prevent the Europeans from enabling Ukraine’s continuation of the war and Latvia and Finland’s hosting of nuclear missile bases.  Putin thinks that now that the Russian military is on the verge of clearing Donbas of Ukrainian soldiers, Trump will force Zelensky and Europe to “accept the facts on the ground.”  

John Helmer reports that Putin told Trump in a July 4 telephone call that “the European party of war proceeds from a false perception of the overall situation and developments on the frontline.” https://johnhelmer.net/if-trump-signs-the-nato-statement-to-escalate-the-war-against-russia-putin-must-demilitarize-ukraine-to-the-polish-border-fire-dmitriev-and-nabiullina/  .............watch..............

 one man's take on the various items changed by the iran war. thirteen minutes;

watch........... 

 farage quits in the face of media 'attacks' in seven minutes;

watch..........