More for Mr P – weaponized cargo vessels

We will have another personal interview in January.  Long form written, much care taken, for us and for L’antidiplomico.   I’m background noise, but it is really nice to be able to partially structure the questions and ask a few as well.  I really have respect for the man.

It used to be difficult to get reliable information about Ibrahim Traoré but he now has an active and formal X feed.  It is French, and I just mention incase somebody does not know .,. Just click on the individual tweet to open it, and you will find the translate button on the top left.

Capitaine Ibrahim TRAORÉ 
@CapitaineIb226
 

Fascinating the argument about whether ships can legally be seized.  WS is right, of course.  It is outright piracy, and flags or registration have nothing to do with it.  But what stands out for me is that Sal and the cronies there are so schooled in the empirical thought that it becomes impossible for them to look at the issue with any level of detachment.   They are so schooled in Might Makes Right that they cannot see anything else.  And that, my friends, is empire.  It is not that they are paid, or perhaps they are, or that they are in some way encouraged to hold their views.  It is just what it is.

People always say it is not the US citizenry or the people, but it is the government.  Years ago, I figured out that it is more than the government.  It is an unwillingness, almost an inability, to think outside the lines.  It is like that experiment with little kittens. Put them in a cage where the lines of the cage run only horizontally; eventually, they cannot see anything else, lose perspective completely, and cannot see anything vertical.  So, at least one dimension becomes missing.

Referring to Mr P’s Mom .. I said the same thing to my husband back in 1993, going to the US to live.  It was clear to me at that time.   It is funny with the Epstein files, and I only pick up some commentary here and there … The files with Trump on pics were in the first bunch that was made available, and then a bunch just disappeared overnight – the ones with his fat mug and his hanging onto young girls .. Boom!  Gone overnight.  That dimension just disappeared – nothing to see here.  I saw some commentary today that the release was eventually agreed to, only to waste time, keep people hopeful, and tease and titillate.

I see they trotted Tulsi Gabbard out again to accuse Reuters of false reporting to support the EU and to get the US into war with Russia.  Is there anyone, anywhere, these days, who actually takes her seriously?  The US is itching for a war against anyone.  Oily Pete?  Oh man, I get these nasty pics in my head as to what happens to him physiologically if he thinks there is another war or some more people to kill, and the pic in my head is disturbing.  Something like the Marquis de Sade.

I took this day off mainly, and it was good.  This afternoon we had soft tropical winter rain – a thing of utter joy!

I don’t know if you all noticed that dramatic picture from the shooting at Bondi Beach.  The guy with his face full of blood.  This is what he is.

Very native .. like old timers sitting in the bar and telling stories.

Uhm, I know a little about UNCLOS.  In fact, I can fly any flag I want, even a fun flag or the Jolly Roger.  Insurance is not demanded except in the coastal waters of certain countries to indemnify the country’s infrastructure itself from damage if you cause damage with your boat.

The US has not signed or ratified UNCLOS, so that whole argument about UNCLOS is not relevant and it is a bunch of US’ers that wanna sound clever.  UNCLOS is a difficult legislation.

Under UNCLOS, or not under UNCLOS, the US stole or pirated that vessel and its cargo.  Any sanctions do not give legal protection, as US sanctions are illegal to start with – unilateral coercive measures are unlawful, anyway you cut it, and this is easier to even talk about than the very difficult UNCLOS legislation.  That was international waters, and US laws do not apply because the US does not own those waters.  It was outright piracy on the high sea.  The proverbial Law of Tonnage is the only one that really works, and in this case, the US had more Tonnage (i.e., the one with the greater size or power wins).  In reality, those sailors could have shot the pirates who rappelled down to their vessel.  But sailors are not soldiers, and it would be stupid to do so.  In the seas off the West Coast of Africa, every vessel that is seized there is a result of piracy.

A further x post by Schneider encapsulated the issue though.  “My paramount point in relation to the discussion below is that we are now speeding towards a kinetic war involving seaborne commercial shipping. This is a direct result of the siege warfare (sanctions, etc.) already inaugurated by the empire and its dutiful vassals.”

What really bothers me is making Fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.  The US hid the destruction of a whole country with weapons of mass destruction canard.  It makes me uncomfortable to think what they want to do with that this time.  It is not innocent.

If you get here Mr P .. Starlink is an option.