Home – Global Blog Forums The Hearty Salon Chronicles of the Apocalypse – 30 Jan 2026

Viewing 43 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #75793
      Periol
      Keymaster

      There seems to be a collective pause at the moment.  The pace of news from the firehose has slowed.  Something is going to break one way or the other.

       

      Link to previous:  https://sovereignista.com/globalsouthforum/topic/chronicles-of-the-apocalypse-28-jan-2026-2/

       

       

    • #75795
      Periol
      Keymaster

      Full Text:

      CENTCOM Force Posture Update — 2026-01-30

      ⚓️ Carrier Strike Group 3 ⚓️

      CSG-3 (USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72) has reportedly moved into the blue waters of the Arabian Sea, putting considerably more distance between itself and Iranian anti-ship missiles. Little surprise here. This is the same position the USS Fraidy Abe assumed during its last deployment to the region in late 2024. (See the full story here: https://x.com/imetatronink/status/1999676851263013072?s=20)

      3 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers accompany the carrier. (96 Tomahawk total missiles)

      There are now 5 additional destroyers, 2 allegedly in the Persian Gulf (those guys are playing with fire), 2 in the eastern Mediterranean, 1 in the Red Sea. (160 total Tomahawk missiles)

      There is also assumed to be 1 Ohio-class missile submarine. (154 total Tomahawk missiles)

      There are also rumors that 1 Virginia-class attack submarine is in the region. (12 total Tomahawk missiles)

      Total Tomahawk missiles: 422 (Tomahawk estimates assume a standard load-out of 32 TLAMs per destroyer.)

      I would still characterize this as a relatively modest array of naval power — especially given the USS Fraidy Abe has now apparently distanced itself from potential Iranian anti-ship fire.

      I find it very unlikely the Fraidy Abe will launch carrier-based airstrikes into Iran from such a distant stand-off position. In my view, CSG-3’s movements in the past several days strongly confirm my longstanding thesis that carriers are obsolete relics of a bygone era.

      Fact is, the Yemeni proved that thesis in 2024-2025.

      On the other hand, US air assets have been considerably augmented in recent days. More tankers, more strike aircraft (including at least one F-35A squadron), more SEAD aircraft (E/A-18 Growlers).

      No credible indication of strategic bomber assets (B-2, B-52, B-1B). But they could appear with relatively short notice.

      It also appears that the US has transferred pretty much all its available THAAD and Patriot systems to the region. They’re obviously trying to prepare as best they can for an Iranian counterstrike — although both THAAD and Patriot had abysmal success during the 12-Day War, and both the US and Israel effectively exhausted their stockpiles of interceptors, which was the primary motivation for them begging Iran for a ceasefire.

      So that’s pretty much where we stand at this point.

      “Negotiations” between the US and Iran have completely broken down — no surprise there, since the US is effectively demanding that Iran prostrate itself and submit to imperial vassalage.

      I figure the fireworks could start as soon as tonight, but it’s also possible that the whole thing gets called off at the last moment.

      Why would they call it off at the last moment? Because the whole thing is nucking futs.

      Sure, I understand that virtually everyone around the world believes the empire can go anywhere it chooses and do anything it wants against any country on the planet — and that “third-world Iran” poses no credible threat to US military awesomeness.

      But I remain convinced the US attacking Iran is an extremely high risk undertaking.

    • #75796
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75797
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75798
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75799
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75800
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75801
      Periol
      Keymaster

       

       

    • #75802
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75803
      Periol
      Keymaster

       

    • #75804
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75805
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75806
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75807
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75808
      Periol
      Keymaster
    • #75809
      Periol
      Keymaster

      This one is bizarre…

      Want to know what AI thinks of the resistance?

      This one straight up tells Will Schryver…

    • #75812
      Periol
      Keymaster

      For some reason I can’t possibly know Elon Musk won’t let this next tweet load, so I took a screenshot.

      https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/2017298779435896963

       

    • #75815
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75816
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75817
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75818
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75819
      Mr P
      Participant

      The file release was probably copied in whole or in part. The removal makes it more damning. Withal, the urgent need of the regime and the named men for a grand distraction suggests to me that the attack on Iran has become more probable, and probably sooner in time.

      • #75822
        Periol
        Keymaster

        Surely they know pulling the files back just brings more attention to them.  I don’t know.  It does make it seem an attack on Iran is likely to cover it all up.

        • #75825
          Mr P
          Participant

          others agree…

          • #75829
            Periol
            Keymaster

            Trump is so predictable

          • #75845
            Periol
            Keymaster

            another theory:

             

            • #75848
              Mr P
              Participant

              Conspiracy theories are meat and potatoes to every prosecuting attorney, they arise from evidence of crime, and facts, and very often lead to convictions. Not every conspiracy is illegal though, as every corporation is actually a conspiracy licensed by the state, every husband and wife  form a conspiracy, the state itself is a conspiracy. Why people use the term as a form of dismissal is a mystery…oh! wait! The conspiracy called “the CIA” promotes this nonsense…anything classified secret is proof of a conspiracy.

    • #75820
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75821
      Periol
      Keymaster

      It’s one big sick twisted club.  And by it, I mean the USA government.

      Here’s the thing.  The wealthy and powerful in the west have always been morally bankrupt.  It’s just that now the truth has come out.

    • #75824
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75827
      Mr P
      Participant

      Seems like team Rus copied the entire file…or at least plenty enough…

    • #75828
      Periol
      Keymaster

      • #75834
        Mr P
        Participant

        Oh drat! There goes the “element of s’prize”

    • #75833
      cronetoo
      Participant

      April 2007 John McCain ‘Bomb, Bomb, Iran’

    • #75838
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75839
      Periol
      Keymaster

      FULL TEXT:  🤔 Will Russia and China Intervene in Support of Iran?

      This commentary is in response to the persuasive and well-articulated analysis I have quoted below, authored by Collingwood @admcollingwood

      His arguments induce me to once against contemplate the “wild cards” of Russia and China in the context of what appears to be an imminent attack on Iran by the US/Israel.

      I have previously argued (see my April 2024 essay in subsequent reply) that a scenario such as now exists will necessarily be regarded by Russia and China as an existential threat to them. I continue to feel this way.

      Venezuela could be sacrificed by both Russia and China. Their long-term strategic objectives are not mortally threatened by its “loss” to the Americans.

      However, I continue to believe Iran cannot be similarly sacrificed — both because of its inherent geostrategic importance, and also its strategic importance to the emergence of the multipolar world for which Russia and China are the vanguards and strongest components.

      Russia and China simply cannot permit Iran to fall, and thereby cede the entire Persian Gulf region to fall under US / Israeli dominance. If they do permit this to happen, it will spell the end of the BRI, BRICS, and the emergence of a new multipolar international order. It will essentially cede continuing global hegemony to the American empire for many more years to come.

      But what can they do about it?

      Well, I would argue they need to do at least these two things:

      1) Formally put Iran under their nuclear umbrella — state explicitly that a nuclear strike against Iran will be regarded as a nuclear strike against them. In other words, they must move decisively to take the nuclear weapons card off the table for the US/Israel.

      2) Provide whatever assistance is necessary for Iran to actually deliver some serious blows against US military power: ISR (satellite) intel comparable to what the US has provided to Ukraine; electronic warfare capability to defeat US SEAD missions; additional AD capability, secure communications, etc.

      Can this escalation be managed such that major war between the US, Russia, and China is avoided? Probably. Maybe. Hopefully.

      But, in my estimation, the risk entailed in the attempt is preferable to the consequences of letting Iran fall to the empire at this juncture.

      <hr />

      Collingwood 🇬🇧

      @admcollingwood

      Let’s accept reality: a US attack on Iran is coming. The Iranians are in turn signalling “if you do, then this time we’ll respond seriously.” This suggests a much more serious conflict, and one would be difficult for either side to exit.

      Why do I think this? We must answer two key questions. Will Trump pull the trigger? Will the Iranians respond seriously this time (which in turn has two components: will they try; will they be able to)?

      We can work through this logically.

      It is clear to the Iranians now that they must have nuclear weapons if they are going to survive. Whether that is acceptable or not to the rest of the world is immaterial (for what it is worth, I am strongly against any proliferation—not just Iran—and strongly in favour of nuclear arms reduction). What’s important here is that this is surely how Tehran sees it.

      There is no chance that any of the major players will take the economic/military foot off Iran’s throat (rightly or wrongly) or that Iran can fulfill it’s strategic ambitions (for good or ill) until they have nukes. The evidence is in already.

      It is also clear to them that they will not be able to develop nuclear weapons unless they have a full air defence suite. This means an integrated system of A2/AD batteries. It would also have to include a modern air force and AWACS to control them. They could get all this as a turnkey solution from China. (Like Pakistan did.) They’d get additional help from Russia.

      There is no way that Israel or the US is going to sit idly for a few years while Iran makes itself a much harder target for some future point where Washington and Jerusalem are faced with a ‘strike now or deal with nuclear Iran in a few weeks’ decision point. (Or while China gains such influence.)

      There are signs that Iran is in the process of building exactly such an air defence.

      Therefore, logic dictates that Washington will want to attack now, while Iran is weak and before it can build an air defence network. Does this logic match reality? Yes. There are obvious signs, per the tweet below, and hundreds like it in the last two weeks, that the US is indeed preparing to attack.

      This suggests the above logical reasoning is correct: the US will strike.

      So, will Iran strike back?

      Previously, for all its bluster, it responded to the US in a deescalatory manner: the bite was nothing like the bark. Given past behaviour is often a decent indicator or future behaviour, why would it be different this time?

      Because it is clear now to Tehran that Israel and the US seek to remove the regime. Israel probably wants balkanisation or better yet a Syria scenario of civil war and thus permanent weakening so that Iran can never again threaten Israel or support anti-Israeli proxy forces. The US would probably be happy with a pliant regime that gave the US leverage over oil and left Israel alone.

      But either way, Iran must recognise an existential threat: the economic sanctions and constant military-intelligence threat mean that the regime knows it cannot last much longer.

      It therefore seems quite likely they will indeed change their behaviour and try to respond seriously.

      Will they be able to? I do not know. I’m not expert enough.

      But the logic very much points towards (1) a US attack and (2) the Iranians responding as hard as they can. This would mean that even if the US attempted a limited, ‘surgical’ strike, the Iranians would respond in a way that demanded a counter response.

      If they are not overwhelmed, that would lead to a serious military conflict that could do serious economic damage to the region and globally (through oil prices).

      My thinking, above, points to such a conflict unless the US attacked in a way that was so symbolic that it demanded a similar response. But such calibration looks near impossible now, and given the US knows everything I know, it becomes doubtful they would try, given it would be much easier to attempt to overwhelm Iran at the start.

      Danger here. Buy gold?

    • #75840
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75842
      Periol
      Keymaster

      Been waiting for this one.  Can you believe they admitted THIS before they admit he orchestrated JFK’s death?

    • #75843
      Periol
      Keymaster

      SCOTUS on the list and at the island too

      • #75850
        Mr P
        Participant

        There have long been rumors about Roberts, and some suggestion in his somewhat illogical opinions that seem to confirm these rumors. Let us recall too the Scalia’s death was, er, strange…the story being that the boy he was “with” at that remote “ranch” objected to something, and killed Scalia by cutting his throat…we need not speculate about the fate of the boy…

    • #75844
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75847
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75849
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75851
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75852
      Periol
      Keymaster

    • #75853
      Periol
      Keymaster

      • #75859
        Mr P
        Participant

        Red flags are so pretty!

    • #75857
      cronetoo
      Participant

       

    • #75861
      Mr P
      Participant

      Comrade Pepe…

      I’ve extensively written about that on Asia Times during the past decade. At the time, Goldman Sachs derivative experts were adamant: if Hormuz is blocked, before or during a full-scale naval war in the Gulf, oil may reach $700.00 a barrel.

      And this will only be temporary – because the entire global economy will collapse.

      Most of all, the blocking of Hormuz would trigger the detonation of the TWO QUADRILLION (caps mine) dollars derivative market – updating the initial, misleading calculation by the BIS (Bank for International Settlements), placed at $700 trillion. Over the years, several Gulf traders, off the record, have agreed with the “quadrillion” numbers.

      Also during the past decade, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff admitted that they do not have the military ability to keep Hormuz open. That remains the case.

      Now cut to clueless little gusano Marco Rubio – bought and paid for by Zionist vulture billionaire Paul Singer, who already profited from the Venezuela operation – talking about  US “force posture” near Iran.

      As 30-40k US troops are “in reach of thousands of Iranian UAVs and ballistic missiles”, it’s “prudent” to have forces to “defend against what could be (Rubio’s own definition) an Iranian threat”. ende

      Zero Hour approaching

      …………..

      whozzin charge of fatboy

      whoz in charge of fatboy

       

    • #75882
      Mr P
      Participant

      Explosion occurs in eight-story building in Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas • FRANCE 24 English – YouTube

      Ahemtink maybe there were some fellas fooling around with 5th column bombs and they “cut the red wire”, so to say…or maybe a gas leak…I’ve seen the results of a gas leak…hoooboy! splinters and charcoal

      Amateur (and actually also expert) Chemistry ‘speriments with ‘splosives can lead to undesirable events.

    • #75886
      Mr P
      Participant

      Heaven send caution? Omen?   RussiaNews 🇷🇺 on X: “🚨⚡THREE suns appear in the Arctic sky — stunning residents in Murmansk, Russia ‘Solar gala’ is an optical illusion when sunlight hits MILLIONS of ICE crystals

      https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/2017543601178481116

       

    • #75889
      siljan
      Participant

      @EyeonPalestine

      Imagine being a child and having to demolish your own bedroom to avoid a $60,000 fine. This is the reality for Mahmoud Al-Joulani in Wadi Qaddum, Jerusalem. “We don’t know where to go,” he says, as his home and memories are turned into rubble by his own family’s hands.

      https://x.com/EyeonPalestine/status/2017274837626994828?t=Knm-YSI2W4mHjT0uBhTSJw&s=19

      https://x.com/i/status/2017274837626994828

       

Viewing 43 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.