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Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke...

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 7, 2025, 5:55 pm

...on New Rules Geopolitics: Refreshing to see them debating at the same table instead of the remote online format:

The Orange Man wants you to be afraid of him, but should you?

Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke join us to examine what’s really happening behind all the bluster.

(2:09) Is Trump serious about Gaza?
(4:50) Trump and American imperial retreat
(18:55) Did Trump trap Netanyahu?
(35:04) Trump and multipolarity

https://nitter.poast.org/NewRulesGeo/status/1887535802626023526#m

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by t <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 7, 2025, 9:19 pm, in reply to "Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke..."

An intellectually stimulating conversation without BS. They more or less zeroed in on all my uncertainties about orange mango and the rest. Highly, highly recommended. Ta.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 6:12 am, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

I thought Professor Marandi was much more persuasive than Crooke who fell into that "4d chess" cope mode that seems to be almost the default for a lot of commentators when it comes to the orange scum bucket.

I thought Crooke was better on the domestic pressure and ticking clock on the hostage deal for Satanyahu but then he goes on about Adelson "not being that bothered about the West Bank" which is directly contradicted by masses of evidence; just because she was dressed in yellow and going on about the hostages which is clearly designed to play to the rabid settler-right in the apartheid state, probably so they will be more likely to join in her West Bank conquest (as if they need any motivation for that).

I can't think of anything too painful, violent or hideous that I wouldn't wish on that murderous maniac (yahoo not Crooke). I hope he ends up being eaten by dogs.

Max's interview with Judge Nap had a better take on donny scumbag and he had evidence for some of the ideas.

Also, Marandi said the truest statement of all during that discussion, "None of us know what's actually going on or what will happen".

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 6:23 am, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

Also, Crooke's last bit on "DEI/Gender" causes for the CA fires is straight MAGA bollocks. Revealed himself a bit there.

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by t <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 2:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

Also, Crooke's last bit on "DEI/Gender" causes for the CA fires is straight MAGA bollocks. Revealed himself a bit there.

I went back to see that again ... Crooke made a strong statement regarding the water not being in the reservoirs, which is mismanagement off the scale during the season of wildfires.

As a footnote he mentioned the gender issue in fire services. Rather than framing it as a MAGA bollocks do you have evidence that this is not true? Also Crooke doesn't talk about gender issues normally ...

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 3:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

They spent 0.3% of the budget on DEI "issues" and there is no evidence that this had any impact on their ability to fight fires. The fact that he was just repeating these MAGA talking points indicates his position. Also, it wasn't a footnote; it got equal billing.

DEI.

https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jan/17/heres-what-we-know-about-la-fire-departments-dei-e/

Reservoirs:

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/jan/17/jd-vance/fact-check-have-some-california-reservoirs-been-cl/

It’s possible that a local reservoir somewhere in the state has been shut down for several years, but we did not find an example, and President-elect Donald Trump and Vance’s transition team did not provide examples when PolitiFact reached out for comment.

Yeh I bet they didn't.

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Also from the LA Times article about the reservoir closed for repairs (link in Politifact article)

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 3:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

Had the reservoir been operable, water pressure in the Palisades would have lasted longer on Tuesday night, said former DWP general manager Martin Adams, an expert on the city’s water system. But only for a time.
“You still would have ended up with serious drops in pressure,” Adams said in an interview Thursday. “Would Santa Ynez [Reservoir] have helped? Yes, to some extent. Would it have saved the day? I don’t think so.”

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

That part of it all is fairly trivial anyway, just demonstrates his political leaning nm

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 3:22 pm, in reply to "Also from the LA Times article about the reservoir closed for repairs (link in Politifact article)"

You will have noted he provided no sources at all for his "Trump's simultaneously playing to may audiences at the same time with every seemingly deranged verbal vomiting", he's such a genuis commentary. Because there aren't any. That was what I disagreed with more than this.

Also, who is that presenter? He's human but manages to sound like an AI commentary. It was very strange.

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Actually should have deleted that nm on the previous subject. Gah. I'm going for a cuppa. nm

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 3:23 pm, in reply to "That part of it all is fairly trivial anyway, just demonstrates his political leaning nm"

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by t <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 3:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

Also, it wasn't a footnote; it got equal billing.

I've just looked it up. His DEI point was miniscule in comparison to water not being available in the reservoirs.

Looking at the big picture, judging by the devastation the fires caused, would one consider that the municipal authorities were prepared? Rhetorical question.

History tells us that US in general has a problem with water management. Think Colorado river basin. Ref LA think Chinatown movie. Usually competing interests between municipal and private (agriculture). This is a different conversation than MAGA talking points.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 4:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

This is a different conversation than MAGA talking points.

Yes, the "big pistachio" farmers for example. He should have had that conversation instead of just parroting "Dei, gender reorganisation". Anyway, as I said, I noted it mostly as it indicates his leanings and the earlier stuff was of more interest and importance even if I disagreed with his Trump analysis.

The Max and Aaron video I posted up top has a more accurate take I think.

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 5:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

Just wanted to say me taking issue with some of the opinions in a video posted by you is just that; not personal. You always seem to post stuff with plenty of meat and plenty to debate and I appreciate it.

The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.

Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation ..

Posted by t <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2025, 7:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Prof. Marandi and Alastair Crooke: Shiny jewel of a conversation .."

Just wanted to say me taking issue with some of the opinions in a video posted by you is just that; not personal.

Of course.

And whilst we debate things, it stretches my grasp on the subject and makes me think. We would be in a sorry state if we were in an echo chamber.

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