Links 12/7/2025

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1. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 7:25 am

   FDR was desperate to get us involved in WW2, and despite a number of American ships sunk in the Atlantic by U-boats, public opinion was still very much against it…

   Did he ‘let’ Pearl Harbor happen?

   On January 27, 1941, Grew secretly cabled the State Department with rumors passed on by the Peruvian Minister to Japan: “Japan military forces planned a surprise mass attack at Pearl Harbor in case of ‘trouble’ with the United States.”

   Unlike today’s Ambassadors to foreign countries-often selected based on political perks, Joseph Grew was the real deal~

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Grew

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   1. ilsm December 7, 2025 at 10:11 am

      Watched Ep 2 Victory at Sea on YouTube.

      Six of the 8 battleships bombed at their slip were raised, repaired, modernized and served in the war. Other ships were also repaired. Better sink ships in deep water. Not bombing the dry docks was mistaken.

      Pearl Harbor attack has always been there, I am 75. All the men I knew growing up were veterans.

      Trillions have been spent over last 80 odd years bc “ in part for no more Pearl Harbors”. Good profit.

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      1. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 10:44 am

         Its worth noting that the battleships @ Pearl Harbor were ancient WW1 vintage, and that brand spanking new North Carolina class battleships were launched in 1942.

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         1. JMH December 7, 2025 at 11:22 am

            I was five years old in December 1941.Pearl Harbor is among my collection of early memories. It occurred to me that a person age five in 1775 with a memory of the Battles of Lexington and Concord could have been around for the bombarding of Fort Sumter in 1861. The five year old in 1861could have heard the radio announcement of Pearl Harbor. Now here I sit at 89. Three long lifetimes encompass the history of the United States. Imagine if you will, the child of 1775 in 1861, telling the child of the event in 1775 and that person in old age telling me of 1775 and 1861. That chain of transmission of memory would be extraordinary. WOnder if anything like it ever happened.

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            1. Christopher Mann December 7, 2025 at 11:33 am

               That’s amazing and very good insights! Thanks for sharing.

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2. The Rev Kev December 7, 2025 at 7:46 am

   “Maduro says the real reason for Trump’s Venezuela fixation is oil – is he right?”

   It is and it isn’t. The US keeps piling up troops in this region which caused me a rethink. During the First Cold War the US kept an enormous military force in Europe to deter the USSR but now Trump is winding down what troops are still stationed there. So it may be that Trump is causing a huge force to be now stationed in this region instead of Europe as their priorities swerve to the western hemisphere. Therefore those military forces are just not meant for Venezuela but also Columbia, Nicaragua, Cuba and any other nation that dares to have a socialist or leftist government. After all, those resources there are not going to pillage themselves.

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   1. flora December 7, 2025 at 8:28 am

      Here’s a different take on T’s reason for threatening Venezuela.
      Jimmy Dore with conservative podcaster Stew Peters. utube, 17 minutes.

      Israel Pushing Trump Into War With Venezuela To Silence Maduro!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCv7UvCakR4

      This makes as much sense as anything else, imo.

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   2. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 8:34 am

      Easily the most misspelled country in the world…

      A primer:

      Columbian Cartels are in DC, not in Colombia.

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      1. The Rev Kev December 7, 2025 at 9:24 am

         Stupid spellcheck. I knew the right spelling but clicked on the wrong version. I understand that the CIA is still distraught over losing all those poppy fields in Afghanistan so maybe they want to take Colombia and get some drug production going full time – but for their coffers.

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   3. Victor Sciamarelli December 7, 2025 at 10:05 am

      For anyone interested in US policy toward Venezuela, or other areas, I can suggest the National Security Strategy of the United States of America recently released in late November 2025.
      It’s a 29 page document and of particular interest beginning on page 15, “Western Hemisphere: The Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.”
      It states in part, “We will deny non-Hemispheric competitors the ability to position forces or other threatening capabilities, or to own or control strategically vital assets, in our Hemisphere. This ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine is a common-sense and potent restoration of American power and priorities, consistent with American security interests.”
      The “Trump Corollary” is no doubt, but not exclusively, aimed at China and perhaps Russia. I think the entire document is worth a quick read:
      https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf

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3. ChrisFromGA December 7, 2025 at 8:27 am

   Re: AI “actress”

   Where is a good old-fashioned Hollywood blacklist when we need one?

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   1. The Rev Kev December 7, 2025 at 8:50 am

      Can you imagine the meltdown that those AI techboys will have when they find that people are illegally downloading that AI “Actress” and are using her for pron videos?

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      1. Christopher Fay December 7, 2025 at 9:02 am

         As the Clash sang, “hooray for Hollywood.”

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      2. erstwhile December 7, 2025 at 11:10 am

         pron videos? Good thing that Wuk is on board. The original Spellczech.

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   2. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 8:55 am

      ‘You’re like me, you’re really like me!’

      {with apologies to Sally Field}

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   3. John Wright December 7, 2025 at 11:01 am

      I don’t know if anyone has mentioned the 2002 Al Pachino movie “Simone” about a CGI/virtual actress.

      They used a real actress for the depiction in the movie, but 23 years later, that might be unnecessary.

      Hollywood may have depicted the AI actress a while ago.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_(2002_film)

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4. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 8:30 am

   When Donny comes marching home again,
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   They’ll give him a hearty welcome then
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   The evangs will cheer, the boys will shout,
   The ladies, they will all turn out
   Chorus: And we’ll all feel less gay
   When Donny comes marching home.

   The old church bell will peal with joy,
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   To welcome home our darling boy,
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   The takes a village idiot lads and lassies say,
   With roses they will strew his way
   Chorus: And we’ll all feel less gay
   When Donny comes marching home.

   Get ready for the hyperinflation Jubilee
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   We’ll give the hero three times three;
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   The laurel wreath is ready now,
   To place upon his loyal brow,
   Chorus: And we’ll all feel less gay
   When Donny comes marching home.

   Let love and friendship on that day,
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   Their choicest dogma on display;
   Chorus: Hurrah, hurrah!
   And let each one perform some part,
   To fill with joy the warrior’s heart,
   Chorus: And we’ll all feel less gay
   When Donny comes marching home.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0CLsxAm7fY&list=RDV0CLsxAm7fY

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5. flora December 7, 2025 at 9:04 am

   re: ICE Goons Pepper Spray Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva During Tucson Raid

   US police and ICE train in Isr with the IDF. Bringing IDF tactics home to the US. From The Real News:

   ‘Deadly Exchange’: US sends hundreds of law enforcement to Israel to learn ‘worst practices’ from IDF

   https://therealnews.com/deadly-exchange-us-sends-hundreds-of-law-enforcement-to-israel-to-learn-worst-practices-from-idf

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6. The Rev Kev December 7, 2025 at 9:09 am

   ‘Sharing Travel
   @TripInChina
   CR450, China’s newest high-speed train. 400-450 km/h.😃’

   One smarty pants had a funny reply to that video-

   ‘Jean P. Gelinas
   @JeanPGelinas
   They stole the technology from the US high speed rail network!
   Oh wait…’

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   1. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 9:31 am

      Someday the HST from Chinatown in LA to Chinatown in SF will be completed, just you wait!

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      1. Wukchumni December 7, 2025 at 10:28 am

         For better or verse~
         ~~~~~~~~~

         I’ve waited 18 years for the bullet
         Got me nowhere, wonder when they’re gonna pull it
         I’m tickled to drive now
         I’m a road trip son-of-a-gun

         So hold it right there little choo-choo
         We’re gonna have big fun when it goes to Malibu
         Might be an outlier-the inland route
         It may take forever to complete it, but oh, yes I will

         I’ve waited 18 years for the bullet
         Got me nowhere, wonder when they’re gonna pull it

         It’s a super fast, sure shot, yeah
         It’s a national breakout
         So how come it’s gone nowhere
         Huh, c’mon let’s figure it out

         It’s high on the debt chart
         It’s close to the tip of the top
         But you can’t stop something you start
         It ain’t never gonna stop, never, never entertain that thought

         We got a smash north-south double-header
         If we can only keep it together
         Talkin’ ’bout you Tehachapi
         Talkin’ ’bout you Pixley

         I’ve waited 18 years for the bullet
         Got me nowhere, wonder when they’re gonna pull it

         18 With a Bullet, by Pete Wingfield

         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x35B0XCofeU

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      2. Matthew December 7, 2025 at 11:46 am

         This sentence strikes me as oblivious to the point of absurdity. Why on earth would -any- commercial shipping whatever continue if there was even the vague possibility of a ship being destroyed? Surely just the insurance costs alone would make any commercial venture unviable. Why do these people not consider such obvious facts?
         –
         –
         –
         “The CSIS report reached a similar conclusion: Taiwan can withstand non-military pressure from China, but once the PLA introduces submarines or mines, Taiwan cannot hold alone. In simulations where Taiwan fought without direct U.S. intervention, 40 percent of inbound ships were destroyed, even when Taiwan received Western support.”
         “

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7. Expat2uruguay December 7, 2025 at 9:10 am

   About this link presented today, Sinking Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’: Has the Ukraine war reached Senegal?

   “And in all these cases, they targeted tankers specifically, and they targeted tankers which were involved in transporting Russian oil and oil products.”

   The publisher, France24 limits it’s whodunit speculation to plucky ukrainians targeting Russian Shadow fleet, consistent with the Western narrative.

   The article never once mentions Mali, where that Russian oil is most likely going, and where it is a big part of how Mali is surviving the increased Jihadist JNIM attacks. But considering these unmentioned facts might lead a reader to suspect Western attacks (instead of plucky ukrainians) supporting the overthrow of the Malian government, which has demanded more compensation for their gold and other resources

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   1. The Rev Kev December 7, 2025 at 9:19 am

      From what you say, it seems more likely that it was the French that did it rather than plucky Ukrainians as they would have the most to gain from such an attack. You wonder how the Russians will retaliate and if it will even make the news.

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8. AG December 7, 2025 at 9:13 am

   re: West vs. rest and vocubulary

   paywalled

   Gordon Hahn

   The Western Schism, a Return to American Neutrality, and the New Multipolar Order
   https://gordonhahn.substack.com/p/the-western-schism-a-return-to-american

   A fundamental objection against certain terms, “idealism” and “democratisation” as used in this text, e.g.

   “But, alas, the world again split apart between East (and South, to a certain extent) and West largely as a function of the latter’s abandonment of realism and embrace of a radical idealism driven by ideological beliefs and post-Cold War hubris.”
   
   “On the background of such monumental scale, Ukraine’s people and even Ukraine statehood itself become small sacrifices on the altar of global democratisation and NATO expansion, if this promises the defeat of democracy’s enemies and guarantees humankind’s final march to utopia.”

   (Inlcuding the incomprehensible rise of Fukuyama´s nonsense within academia.)

   The West´s/NATO´s policies have nothing to do with either embracing idealism or democratisation.

   Idealism is in the essence a left leaning egalitarian concept that considers the good in human beings and regards them as rational. That and “democratisation” are exactly what imperialism is destroying or trying to destroy.

   If the West/NATO´s behaviour on geopolitical level has a single intent it is the destruction of achievements such as freedom, liberty and equality (liberté, égalité, fraternité) in countries outside its centre. And if it serves the elites they are willing to fight it even domestically.

   So if we seriously wish to discuss Western geopolitics we should completely abandon such terms as “idealism” and “democracy” or “human rights.” The post 9/11 wars e.g. were a scheme to destroy these very developments outside “empire”.

   6M dead as a consequence are the most obvious fact.

   This too goes for critics such as Hahn, Diesen, The Duran, etc.
   They should stop using this vocabulary because it is not intended in any genuine way. It is PR and lies.

   If they complain about Orwellian Newspek, then they should not ascribe (albeit unintentionally) to the same practice.

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9. pjay December 7, 2025 at 9:41 am

   – ‘Joe Biden Stumbles Over Word ‘America’ In LGBTQ Forum Speech’ – Newsweek

   I thought Caitlin Johnstone’s remarks on Biden’s “award” at this event were quite appropriate:

   “After genocidal war criminal Joe Biden was elected in 2020 I wrote an article titled “Biden Will Have The Most Diverse, Intersectional Cabinet Of Mass Murderers Ever Assembled”.

   “On Friday the Hague fugitive former president was presented with an award at the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference for running “the most inclusive administration in US history.”

   “The US empire is impossible to satirize.”

   Amen.

   https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2025/12/07/sudan-venezuela-and-other-notes/

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10. flora December 7, 2025 at 9:41 am

    From the 2 Due Dissidence guys. Pretty funny. utube, ~16+ minutes.

    Somalis BRILLIANTLY TROLL Israel: MAGA Misses The Joke

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2XIfZbLZPU

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11. mrsyk December 7, 2025 at 9:43 am

    Regarding “The Indian Ocean disaster is a climate tragedy — and needs more attention”. Abrupt, catastrophic climate change is still the biggest elephant in the room as this article specifically details.

    Some countries, such as Sri Lanka, have declared a national emergency and asked for international help. Others, including Indonesia, have not even acknowledged that this is a crisis.

    More, Perhaps one reason for the delays is the sparse coverage of the crisis in the global media, which has failed to portray the vast scale of this catastrophe.

    Which is more likely,

    A) Humanity across the globe comes together in a monumental collaborative effort to effect a successful last ditch effort.

    B) Aliens save us.

    Happy Sunday! I hate this timeline.

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    1. urdsama December 7, 2025 at 10:22 am

       This second option is more likely: B) Aliens cleanse the planet of the cancer known as humanity.

       One species is not worth more than all other life on the planet. Any life that can travel between the stars will surely see who is responsible for the current disaster.

       And yes, I hate this timeline.

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       1. John Wright December 7, 2025 at 11:11 am

          I have mentioned before that fossil fuels may be “dinosaur seeds”.

          Ancient plants/animals deposited “hydrocarbon seeds” that needed to be aged for millions of years and then extracted and burned by a sufficiently advanced life form to recreate the environment in which dinosaurs thrived.

          What a long planning horizon!

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12. AG December 7, 2025 at 9:45 am

    re: Martyanov comment on new US National Security Strategy

    Totally Agree …
    … which is strange because it is from The Telegraph))
    https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2025/12/totally-agree.html

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13. The Rev Kev December 7, 2025 at 9:54 am

    “The American fixation on white Afrikaners in South Africa stretches back nearly a century”

    Hardly an American fixation but more one for the Trump regime. If you asked most Americans, not many would know who the Afrikaners are and maybe half, if asked, would say that they came from somewhere in Africa. Perhaps the seeds for this were planted by Musk who come from there and Trump is using the whole issue as one to beat on the South Africans with. Otherwise there is not much going between the Afrikaners and Americans. Even during the Boer war there were not that many Americans that fought on their side and probably an equal number fought for the British-

    https://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/Century19th/AmericansInTheBoerWar

    In other words, this whole issue is made out of whole cloth.

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14. eg December 7, 2025 at 10:01 am

    “Monetary Privacy: The Last Bastion of Human Dignity”

    The author apparently knows everything about his subject except the only thing that really matters — fiat currencies (ie. the thing he figures his concept of “money” can replace) are an expression of sovereign power. That lots of people misunderstand what “money” is leads to all manner of pointless dead ends, including his own.

    Thus do libertardians go on losing forever and ever in a world ruled by GROUPS of human beings, who fundamentally by biology and anthropology are social animals … 🙄

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15. Emma December 7, 2025 at 10:37 am

    Arnaud Bertrand on Asahi Shimbun’s request for “westerner” content confirming the Japanese biases against Chinese people.

    https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1997544439481290985

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16. TomDority December 7, 2025 at 10:38 am

    This sinking of the shadow fleet….. is there an issue with oil escaping into the water? .. a deep water horizon or a exxon valdez or somthing at scale in regards an environmental catastrophy…. being overshadowed by the ongoing plantetary environmental catastrophy?

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17. raspberry jam December 7, 2025 at 10:57 am

    haute frozen sundae, woo, big deal! (I’m making a lewd hand gesture) I had this mastic ice cream the other day that had some kind of fruit on the bottom. I’d never had mastic ice cream, was surprised that it tasted dense, almost like cheese cake. I think I spent 1 euro and I bet it was way tastier than that gross gold foil travesty.

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18. Hank Linderman December 7, 2025 at 11:17 am

    I’m watching my caloric intake, how many calories in edible gold?

    Asking for a friend.

    Best…H

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19. hamstak December 7, 2025 at 11:46 am

    Here are some initial impressions of the NSS, having read only the first couple of sections in detail:

    – Why now? This seems like the kind of document you would release at the beginning of an administration, not almost 1/4 in. It should not take 10+ months to devise 29 pages. (See “Theory” below).
    – No list of authors/contributors (maybe POTUS mentioned this in the prelude — didn’t read)
    – Lots of generalities, light on specifics (thus far) — implying not a policy, but a political document
    – Lots of superlatives, unsurprising given a certain proclivity for hyperbole
    – More than one reference to “God-given” rights
    – Written at the level of a freshman year Comp. I assignment (e.g., “suck us into”, as in foreign entanglements)
    – Complains of unspecified “elites” — I suppose that the Prez, Musk, Miriam, etc. are not “elites”? Or maybe it is that some elites are more elite than other elites?
    – Comes across a bit as “a kinder, gentler American exceptionalism” sort of groove

    Theory: Trump, facing falling approval ratings but more importantly fractures in his base, has the team assemble this document (heavy input from Rubio, maybe edited by Vance) in order counter to that problem. It is general enough where it will readily interpreted according to one’s biases (the kerfuffle over “de-Europeanization” of Europe, but also “hostile foreign influence” — think Kirk/Tucker). The congressional Republicans, assuming their constituents are not reading the document in full and critically, can selectively cite and interpret parts of it in a manner meant to soothe the base (see, he is sticking to his promises and addressing your concerns!) and reinvigorate support.

    One thing that struck me as a possible conjunction between this document and the 1980 article by Israel Shahak featured in yesterdays links. The “de-Europeanization” of Europe is attributed to immigration. Where is that immigration coming from, at least the variety likely implied (that not being from E. Europe and Ukraine?) The Middle East and Africa — the lands of the Yishma’eli and Kushim (roughly) respectively.

    Click to Edit – 

    

    Here are some initial impressions of the NSS, having read only the first couple of sections in detail: - Why now? This seems like the kind of document you would release at the beginning of an administration, not almost 1/4 in. It should not take 10+ months to devise 29 pages. (See "Theory" below). - No list of authors/contributors (maybe POTUS mentioned this in the prelude -- didn't read) - Lots of generalities, light on specifics (thus far) -- implying not a policy, but a political document - Lots of superlatives, unsurprising given a certain proclivity for hyperbole - More than one reference to "God-given" rights - Written at the level of a freshman year Comp. I assignment (e.g., "suck us into", as in foreign entanglements) - Complains of unspecified "elites" -- I suppose that the Prez, Musk, Miriam, etc. are not "elites"? Or maybe it is that some elites are more elite than other elites? - Comes across a bit as "a kinder, gentler American exceptionalism" sort of groove Theory: Trump, facing falling approval ratings but more importantly fractures in his base, has the team assemble this document (heavy input from Rubio, maybe edited by Vance) in order counter to that problem. It is general enough where it will readily interpreted according to one's biases (the kerfuffle over "de-Europeanization" of Europe, but also "hostile foreign influence" -- think Kirk/Tucker). The congressional Republicans, assuming their constituents are not reading the document in full and critically, can selectively cite and interpret parts of it in a manner meant to soothe the base (see, he is sticking to his promises and addressing your concerns!) and reinvigorate support. One thing that struck me as a possible conjunction between this document and the 1980 article by Israel Shahak featured in yesterdays links. The "de-Europeanization" of Europe is attributed to immigration. Where is that immigration coming from, at least the variety likely implied (that <strong>not</strong> being from E. Europe and Ukraine?) The Middle East and Africa -- the lands of the <em>Yishma’eli</em> and <em>Kushim </em>(roughly) respectively.

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