The Clintons celebrated – but likely disastrous for the world

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Hillary Rodham Clinton was nominated last night by the Democratic Party as its candidate for the U.S. Presidency. She may well win on November 8.

What a tragedy for Western democracy that the leader of what is still called the free, democratic world cannot produce better candidates than Trump and Clinton through a disgustingly commercialized and corrupt political process where candidates like Jill Stein – did you ever hear of that candidate? – doesn’t have a chance because she cannot mobilize the funds.

As a European intellectual with a life-long commitment to peace and democracy, I find little reason to celebrate.

And why the total focus on a few individuals at the top but not the structures that will run them both, such as the Military-Industrial-Media-Academic Complex (MIMAC); the cancer in many societies, including Russia, that President Eisenhower warned the world about in his farewell speech already in 1961?

How short the media memory! Hillary Clinton’s nomination celebrated all over the mainstream press as a victory for the party – preventing it from splitting – and for all women.

But how can people – women in particular – really believe in such genderism: that she will be a better president for the US and the world because she’s a woman? Hasn’t the world learnt anything from the inverse racism:that Obama would be a great presidentbecause he is black?

How blind the media to militarism, war and other violence: Not one media focuses on the Clinton’s well-documented fascination with violence and war.

It’s time to refresh the memory of the Clintons:

Bill Clinton’s record

From 1994 BC broke all promises made by his predecessors and other Western politician to Gorbachev about “not expanding NATO an inch”. He started out in Tblisi, Georgia. I happened to be there, spoke with the U.S. representative to the country and got a sense what was coming. Later too in Yugoslavia.

There is a straight line from that fatal arrogance to today’s Second Cold War in Europe, Ukraine having – predictably – to be the this-far-and-no-longer country of that mindless and reckless expansion that should never have happened.

Continue reading “The Clintons celebrated – but likely disastrous for the world”

Turkey’s coup – Another example of the West’s disintegration

Here is my take on the July 15 coup in Turkey – why it happened the way it did and what is the least unlikely hypothesis – followed by some examples of regional and international consequences this coup is bound to have. And it ends: NATO comes across as a very tired alliance that should have been closed down or re-invented itself 25 years ago … Continue reading Turkey’s coup – Another example of the West’s disintegration

Tyrkiet viser, hvordan de vestlige landes verden er i opbrud

22. juli 2016, publiceret i Ræson

NATO er en gennemtræt alliance. Og den konfliktfyldte fremtid for den store allierede Tyrkiet øger problemerne både for NATO og EU, når det gælder flygtningene og krigen mod IS.

Kommentar af Jan Øberg

Kuppet i Tyrkiet er noget af en gåde, en begivenhed fuld af paradokser. Det vil have enorm indflydelse på mange ting.

Var det bare en gruppe amatører i det tyrkiske militær, der troede at de vidste hvordan man laver et kup? Var hjernen bag kupforsøget den 75-årige Gülen, i eksil i Pennsylvania, der som Erdogan hævder er terrorist med mange følgere i Tyrkiet? Var det måske USA? State Department og CIA, der var blevet trætte af Erdogans politik i forhold til ISIS og Rusland?

Der er mange mere eller mindre sandsynlige og konspiratoriske hypoteser. Selv hælder jeg – uden mindste ekspertise eller adgang til efterretningsinformation – til den teori at det hele var iscenesat af Erdogan selv. Det er af flere grunde den mindst usandsynlige hypotese. Hvorfor?

1. I et halvtimelangt interview Erdogan gav Aljazeera er hans egen fremstilling distanceret, usammenhængende og lidet troværdigt for en mand, der efter sigende var objekt for både et kup og et mordkomplot.

2. Kupforsøget var for dilettantisk til at være udført af USA/CIA’. Også mærkeligt at sikkerhedsapparatet ikke har opsnappet kupmagernes planer.

3. Gülen tror jeg ikke på. Selvom han skulle være en ulv i fåreklæder – hans gerninger og skrifter er udpræget moderate og nok så fredsommelige – sidder man ikke så langt borte så længe og har check nok på de indre forhold i Tyrkiet.

4. Dem, der i nogle få timer, tog magten viste sig aldrig på radio og TV. Det er ellers det første kupmagere gør.

Continue reading “Tyrkiet viser, hvordan de vestlige landes verden er i opbrud”

Fearology and militarism – But the real enemy is us

Published on July 8, 2016, the day of the NATO Summit in Warsaw. It’s the 5th in the TFF Series “The New Cold War” Russia and NATO have offensive capacities and MIMACs (Military-Industrial-Media-Academic Complex) but NATO’s is a much larger potential threat to Russia than the other way around Why does an alliance with such an overwhelming superiority shout and scream and see ghosts on … Continue reading Fearology and militarism – But the real enemy is us

Much stronger than during the First Cold War: Why is NATO so irrational today?

By Jan Oberg

The third article in the TFF series on The New Cold War

We are witnessing a remarkable increase in tension between the US/NATO and Russia these years – and it can not only be explained by whatever we choose to think happened in Ukraine and Crimea. We find a totally new effort on both sides to use social and other media to tell how dangerous “they” are to “us”. There is a clear tendency to “fearology” – to instill fear in the citizens on both sides about the capabilities and intentions of the other side.

We find deeply concerned articles about the possibility of war between the two parties – a quarter of a century after the Berlin Wall tumbled.

Why is the new tension rising in Europe between US/NATO and Russia so manifestly dangerous and – with the exception of the Cuban Missile Crisis worse than during the First Cold War?

On a series of indicators, the political Western world – US/NATO/EU and Christian (Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic with sects) – is becoming weak relative to other players in the global society.

The West has engaged in a series of wars that turned into very costly fiascos – from what followed from Sykes-Picot which turned 100 in May 2016 over Vietnam to the destruction of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria.

The West is still the largest economic bloc and the 28 NATO members cover about 70% of the world’s mind-boggling US $ 1700 billion military expenditures. Africa as a continent, BRICS countries – China in particular – are making progress, also in fields where the West has failed; for instance, China has lifted 400 million Chinese out of poverty in a couple of decades. The wealthy West has done nothing of the sort over centuries but produced a grotesquely, perversely unequal income distribution.

Continue reading “Much stronger than during the First Cold War: Why is NATO so irrational today?”

“Peace, Conflict, Democracy”

The West leaves, a multi-polar world comes Jan Øberg – Video lecture – Part 1/3 Continue reading “Peace, Conflict, Democracy”

NATO’s confrontational policy

On June 15, 2016 I participated in a discussion with Mike O’Hanlon from the Brookings Institution on CCTV America – China’s international TV station in the U.S. with up to 75 million viewers. The discussion was lead by Anand Naidoo.You can watch it here. Continue reading NATO’s confrontational policy

Danskerne vil ikke have nye kampfly!

Politiko.dk fortæller torsdag den 21. april at det står sløjt til med befolkningens støtte til nye kampfly til en anslået indkøbspris på 30 milliarder kroner – eller 5,300 kroner per mand, kvinde og barn i vort land. Opinionsundersøgelsen, foretaget af Wilke for Jyllands-Posten, viser 53% imod, 31% for og 16%, der ikke véd hvad de skal mene. Selv med en antaget stor fejlmargen er der altså ingen … Continue reading Danskerne vil ikke have nye kampfly!

Fredsarbetets nödvändighet…

Föredrag på Nordiskt Fredsmöte – 28:e februari 2016 Continue reading Fredsarbetets nödvändighet…

NATO outdated – Abolish war

Commenting on NATO S-G Jens Stoltenberg’s wish for dialogue with Russia – a bit odd after all the other provocative initiatives he has spearheaded the last good year or so. I felt like saying something more general about this outdated paradigm – and why it is dangerous for us all – referring also to the Russell-Einstein Manifesto of 1955. You may also see it as … Continue reading NATO outdated – Abolish war

Sweden soon at war? Yes, perhaps, if in NATO

It was a few days ago when Swedish Army chief, Major-General Anders Brännström stated in a (leaked) internal document that ‘Sweden could be at war within a few years.’ This is, of course, nothing but ‘fearology’ and very bad judgement. He may be a great soldier but a victim of his own system’s bizarre threat perceptions – always pointing as they do to the Russians. … Continue reading Sweden soon at war? Yes, perhaps, if in NATO

Don’t underestimate Donald Trump

Don’t underestimate him, count him out or think he is crazy.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” half-hour interview with Donald Trump is interesting. He has passion and a very fast mind, he seems to have integrity in the sense that he cannot be bought for money by others and he doesn’t mind having standpoints that conservative republicans find odd or surprising.

He is clearly eclectic and pragmatic rather than a theoretician, ideology-bent politician – and seems to build a lot on his entrepreneur experience and sense of reading people.

His vision – “making America great again!” – may be frightening and wrong and it is based on strength, on military but even more on economic strength.

The interesting thing is that he is much more realistic about the internal and external weaknesses of today’s U.S. than the rest of the political elites and decision-makers in Washington who seem all to be in denial of the empire’s relative decline.

Continue reading “Don’t underestimate Donald Trump”

Nye kampfly – irrelevant og dyrt slag i luften

Utilstedeligt at vi endnu ikke har skyggen af en ordentlig, informeret debat om sikkerhedspolitikken og økonomien forud for beslutningen. Årsagen er at der ikke findes nogle for samfundet gode argumenter for dem.

Alle partier med undtagelse af Enhedslisten mener at Danmark bør anskaffe nye kampfly – der i bedste fald vil være i funktion om 5 år. Dagens pris – afhængig af antallet fly – er på 30 milliarder kroner – godt 5000 kroner per mand, kvinde og barn i vort land – og mindst 100 milliarder kroner til brugsomkostninger frem til 2045. I dagens tal kostede Storebæltsbroen 37 milliarder.

Debatten har hidtil ikke handlet om hvad i alverden vi skal med disse maskiner, kun om valget mellem tre typer. Fakta og problemer holdes helt bevidst i det dunkle og skal skydes ud til efter valget for derpå at træffe beslutningen hurtgit så ingen opdager gigantinvesteringen – i en tid hvor der skæres ned på alt andet.

Hvorfor mon? Fordi der ikke findes nogle for samfundet gode argumenter for kampfly!

En seriøs diskussion blandt politikere, medier og befolkning burde omfatte mindst disse punkter:

Prisen
Der findes ingen eksempler på at tilbudspris på den slags maskiner ligner slutprisen. Fordyrelser er indbygget i alle store militærindustrielle projekter – slag på tasken 25% fordyrelse mellem beslutning og leverance.

Hvad skal de bruges til?
Fly af denne type har intet med forsvar af dansk territorium at gøre. Dertil kræves defensive systemer som helikoptere, minering, kystovervågning, kortrækkende raketter. Disse fly skal erhverves af to sagen uvedkommende grunde:

a) for at i fremtiden kunne deltage i internationale interventioner à la besættelsen af Irak og ødelæggelsen af Libyen – altså den slags, der strider imod folkeretten, er fiaskoer på egne præmisser, øger had og terrortrusler mod Danmark, skaber enorme menneskelige lidelser og flygtningestrømme – kort sagt, gør os og verden mindre sikker;

b) for at tækkes USA. Havde vi ikke været medlem af det USA-ledede NATO ville ingen have fundet på noget så modproduktivt, dumt og dyrt som dette.

Hvordan ser fremtidens verden ud? Trusler?
Projektet bygger på myten om den evige trussel fra Rusland – skræmme- og ikke trusselsbillede. Hver eneste gang et ny militært projekt skal bokses igennem henvises der til truslen fra Øst. Men hvornår var det Rusland forsøgte at besætte et lande i Vesteuropa (NATO)? Ruslands militære udgifter er i dag er 8% af NATOs og at kun en klinisk sindssyg eller suicidal russisk leder – og dét er Putin ikke – ville starte en Tredje Verdenskrig i dag. Der findes kort og godt ingen militær trussel mod danske territorium, der kan motivere nye kampfly.

Verdens virkelige problemer
Der findes derimod mængder af andre trusler hvis man ser på lang sigt – såsom den globale opvarmning, cyberkrig, fascisme/underminering af demokrati, terrorisme samt resourceproblemer (vand og vedvarende energi) der kræver gigantiske investeringer. Og der findes et stort behov for virkeligt humanitære interventioner – til løsning af problemer som underudvikling, sygdomme, fattigdom, sult, etc.

Økonomi og arbejdspladser
Men er arbejdspladser så ikke et godt argument for disse nye kampfly? Overhovedet ikke! Hvis du investerer 100 kroner i våbenproduktion så går langt det meste til superavanceret teknik, udstyr og kapitalintensiv forskning og en brøkdel til at ansætte mennesker.

Continue reading “Nye kampfly – irrelevant og dyrt slag i luften”

Militarism, taxpayer money for war planning and lack of democracy

My deeply concerned wake-up call to YOU! Please share and spread further!NATO’s military leader is like a man given a scalpel to perform surgery without ever having opened a book on medicine.Taxpayers pay for getting less and less secure and risking war in Europe. These military elites have no democratic mandate – be it in the West, Russia, China or anywhere.My interview with RT International Continue reading Militarism, taxpayer money for war planning and lack of democracy

Hvordan Danmark blev en krigsførende nation

Trykt i tidsskriftet Ræson 4/14

I politisk forstand eksisterer det Danmark jeg voksede op i ikke mere. Det var et land hvor man i rimeligt omfang troede på humanisme, på retfærdighed, ligeberettigelse, velfærdsstat og på at snakke om tingene. Selvom vi var med i NATO så skulle konflikter løses i overensstemmelse med folkeretten og ved at snakke om tingene.

Idag er Danmark ledende på to områder, som mange i min generation dengang ville have forsværget at vi nogensinde ville røre med en ildtang: fremmedfjendtlighed og militarisme. Selvom der er en sammenhæng mellem disse to ting så skal jeg i det følgende i en slags listeform svare på det spørgsmål Ræson har stillet mig: Hvad er det for en udvikling der er sket i DK’s syn på verden og militær magtanvendelse de sidste 25 år?

Man kunne også spørge: Hvorfor er den aktivistiske udenrigspolitik i første række militær? Hvorfor er det moralske argument om at vi ”må da gøre noget når” kun relevant dér hvor F16 kan bruges men ikke dér hvor fattigdommens og fejludviklingens problemer tager tusinder af liv hver dag?

Punkterne, der dækker de nævnte 25 år – altså tiden siden den gamle kolde krigs afslutning i 1989 – er ikke prioriterede. Alting hænger sammen og den lineær tænkning samt enkel kausalitet af typen A forårsager B forårsager C er forældede begreber.

Det globale perspektiv. Alt uden for EU, altså sådan cirka 93 % af verden – er blevet nedprioriteret i medier og politisk debat. Jo mere globalisering, jo mere er Danmark (jeg véd godt det er en generalisering!) blevet selv/nationalt-orienteret og kombinerer hygge med fornægtelse af de store problemer menneskeheden står overfor.

Efterkrigsgenerationen. Politikere har ingen erfaring af krigen, mange var endog børn eller unge da Muren faldt. Hvis der findes en afsky eller frygt for krigens gru så er den tilstede via medier – og krigen finder sted på behagelig afstand i kulturer vi stort set ikke forstår men nok synes skal ændres af det mere civilisatorisk overlegne Vest. Og går dét så helt galt som i Irak så havde vi i hvert fald gode intentioner.

Socialdemokratiet. Det i en vis forstand historisk samfundsbærende parti i de nordiske lande har opgivet alt hvad der fandtes i bevægelsen af solidaritet, nedrustning, retfærdighed og engagement ude i den store verden. Det er som P. O. Engquist vist har formuleret det et parti, der ikke længere har en historie at berette.

Det radikale venstre. Traditionelt anti-militaristisk, nu pro. Når man ser på Danmarks krige er det gamle spørgsmål jo stadig relevant: Hvad skal det nytte? Det var S og R der, personificeret ved Nyrup Rasmussen og Niels Helveg Petersen, i 1999 gjorde to fundamentale ting: blæste på FN og bombede Jugoslavien og dermed åbne for alt, der siden er sket.

Kundskab blandt politikere. For et par årtier siden havde vi en række politikere på tinge, der havde den store verden og sikkerhedspolitik som specielt kundskabsområde

Continue reading “Hvordan Danmark blev en krigsførende nation”

Hvad skal Danmark med kampfly?

Der findes bedre argumenter imod end for. De officielle argumenter holder i hvert fald ikke. Og i det hele taget handler en informeret debat i et demokrati absolut ikke bare om hvilket kampfly, vi skal have.“Opinionen. Magasinet med tværkulturel kant” har lavet et længere interview om disse ting og om hvad dansk udenrigspolitik også kunne være – med en lille smule krativitet. God læsning! Continue reading Hvad skal Danmark med kampfly?

Ignoring May 9 in Russia – another Western conflict-management blunder

The Guardian reports that Western top leaders are going to snub the commemoration in Moscow of the 70th Anniversary of the Allied Victory over Hitler Germany – on May 9. That they don’t want to attend a huge military parade is quite understandable, neither would I. But remembering the more than 20 million Russians who died in World War 2 would be more than appropriate … Continue reading Ignoring May 9 in Russia – another Western conflict-management blunder

The Nordic defence ministers letter isn’t helpful at all

Stubb and Tuomioja rush to reassure after Russian statement: “Nothing to worry about” | yle.fi To old-fashioned politics, security is still predominantly about weapons, military activities and “signalling”. It’s not about dialogue, human security and quickly opening up areas of co-operation which could help bring about mutual understanding. One way of interpreting this Nordic defence co-operation push is to see it as a way to … Continue reading The Nordic defence ministers letter isn’t helpful at all

Valentina Lisitsa

Valentina Lisitsa – YouTubeThe world class pianist barred from playing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra because of her tweets about the Ukraine conflict.As if that had anything to do with her art. Shame on Toronto Phony! With suppression of such art by a Western cultural institution we are all doomed! And where are all the phony Paris marchers from Charlie Hebdo today – Netanyahu, Helle … Continue reading Valentina Lisitsa

Længe leve gammeldagsen

Skal man tro Rune Lykkeberg i Politiken men det skal man jo ikke nødvendigvis så mistede Rifbjerg faktisk grebet…”Derfor blev opgøret med velfærdsstatens pædagogik og kultursyn også til et opgør med Klaus Rifbjerg, der fastholdt sine gamle standpunkter som svar til alle kritikere og insisterede på, at humoren, legen, kunsten og seksualiteten var argumenter for hans position.” Fy for den lede velfærdsstat, humor, leg, kunst … Continue reading Længe leve gammeldagsen

Russisk og dansk propaganda – statslige og statslige medier…

Deadline – DR om russisk propaganda – og kun dén. Indslaget er et glimrende eksempel på hvor statsmagten og formodede frie medier taler sammen på en helt indforstået måde. Der spørges ikke om hvad propaganda er i ministerens mund; det nævnes ikke at propganda også kan være fortielse. Det er helt indforstået at vi i vest siger sandheden og at vi nu skal bruge endnu … Continue reading Russisk og dansk propaganda – statslige og statslige medier…

16 years since NATO started its war on Yugoslavia – all criminals still at large

Today – 16 years since NATO began to bomb Serbia and did so mercilessly for 78 days to carve out Kosovo as an independent state – still today a failed one.Remember that when you talk about Crimea today.Here is a link to “Yugoslavia – What Should Have Been Done?” – probably the world’s most comprehensive blog about the dissolution of Yugoslavia; it’s written since 1991 … Continue reading 16 years since NATO started its war on Yugoslavia – all criminals still at large

P1 Debats politiske tilrettelæggelse omkring missilforsvaret

De fleste mennesker, der lytter til radio eller ser TV, tænker næppe så meget over hvad der også kunne være foregået og med hvilke deltagere. De ser et færdigt produkt, ikke processen – og de tager, nok så forståeligt, stilling til det de ser og hører snarere end til noget andet, de i en forestillingsverden kunne have set eller hørt.

Med de sociale medier kan man nu formidle informationer i rollen som mediemenneske og fortælle hvordan det også går til sådan bag kulisserne.

Måske lyttede du til P1 Debat på Danmarks Radio nu idag kl 12:15-13:00 om missilskjoldet og den russiske ambassadørs åbne brev? I så fald kan kopien herunder af min korrespondence med P1 Debats redaktør Anne Henderson måske have din interesse.

Den dokumenterer at jeg skriftligt blev inviteret til at deltage per telefon, at jeg sagde ja tak men under forudsætning af visse rammebetingelser kunne opfyldes gennem videre samtale – herunder a) at der blev mulighed for at forklare at missilforsvaret kan ses som en del af en større amerikansk atomkrigs-strategi og b) at der må være fair play med mig siddende udenfor studiet specielt når programmet efter min opfattelse allerede da er planlagt med en holdningsmæssig slagside.

Den viser endvidere at der gik næsten et døgn inden Hendersons svarer og så pludselig mener at det dér med at sidde på en telefon medførte at man har besluttet at jeg alligevel ikke skal deltage. Vel, læs selv nedenfor.

Continue reading “P1 Debats politiske tilrettelæggelse omkring missilforsvaret”

Politikere og medier savner åbenbart enhver ekspertise om missilskjoldet til at modstå Washingtons salgsteknikker

Åbent brev sendt til 2200 mennesker i Norden herunder 325 danske medieadresser.

Af Jan Øberg
Dr.hc., forskningschef TFF
21. marts 2015

Missilskjoldet tjener til at gøre det muligt at udkæmpe og vinde en atomkrig – ikke at afskrække fra den

Den russiske ambassadørs artikel i Jyllands-Posten kan maaske siges at være bombastisk formuleret men i grunden har han – og ikke udenrigsminister Lidegaard – ret.

Ledende medier som f.eks. Danmarks Radio, Ritzaus og Politiken giver baggrund til missilforsvaret som vidner om total mangel paa fagkundskab om strategi og atomdoktriner.

I stærk kontrast til hvad vi hører om missilskjoldet – som Danmark nu tilsyneladende skal bidrage til – er det det mest de-stabiliserende indslag i atompolitikken siden 1945.

Det kan kun opfattes af Rusland og andre som en provokation.

Her er den forklaring som beslutningstagerne næppe har modtaget fra Washington, ministerier eller militære kredse. Den gælder for atomvaaben saavel som for konventionelle:

Den klassiske terrorbalance fra 1950-erne handler om at hvis A har kastet sine raketter – inkl atomare – paa B, saa vil B altid have tilstrækkeligt at gengælde med nemlig atomvaaben paa sine fly, ubaade og i siloer, som A ikke har mulighed for at slaa ud i sit første angreb.

Det hed “gensidigt sikret ødelæggelse”- MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction. Den afskrækkende værdi laa i at begge parter vidste at hvis de startede en atomkrig ville deres egne befolkninger dø i millionvis som følge af modpartens gengældelse.

Hvad indebærer det i dette perspektiv at udvikle et missilskjold eller “forsvar”?

Enkelt udtrykt at A forsøger paa at hindre B i at kunne faa sine gengældelsesvaaben igennem til A. At der altsaa kun er én part, der bliver smadret men dens anden “vinder”. Hvis – og det er det store spørgsmaal – man har den tekniske evne til saa at sige at skyde pistolkugler ned med pistolkugler.

Det betyder at hvis A tror at han har et saadant system med hvilket han kan skyde modpartens gengældelsesmissiler ned saa øger hans tro paa muligheden af at han – uden selv at lide skade – kan indlede, gennemføre og vinde en atomkrig med mindre risiko for sin egen befolkning.

Dette sænker den psykologiske tærskel for atomkrig. Det gør atomkrig mere sandsynlig!

Continue reading “Politikere og medier savner åbenbart enhver ekspertise om missilskjoldet til at modstå Washingtons salgsteknikker”

Missilforsvaret er ikke et forsvar, det sænker tærsklen for atomkrig

Den russiske ambassadør i Danmark skriver om det, der kalder missilforsvaret eller missilskjoldet. Det bliver den danske udenrigsminister og danske politikere vrede over. Sagligt set har den russiske ambassadør imidlertid fuldstændigt ret i at missil”forsvaret” aldeles ikke er et forsvar og helt rigtigt ikke først og fremmest retter sig imod slyngelstater men mod Rusland. Det er filosofisk og teknisk nok så kompliceret men – og … Continue reading Missilforsvaret er ikke et forsvar, det sænker tærsklen for atomkrig

EU agrees on sanctions on Russia – but what about peace?

EU agrees Russia sanctions to stay until Ukraine peace terms met (Reuters). Exactly as expected. If the EU can make a conflict-resolution mistake, rest assured that it will! Minsk is not a peace agreement – but at Reuters they don’t know the difference between a ceasefire and a peace agreement. The looming catastrophe is exactly that there is no follow-up to Minsk II, no process … Continue reading EU agrees on sanctions on Russia – but what about peace?

Samtale om mulighederne for fred i Ukraine

Hvad skal der til for at skabe fred igen i og omkring Ukraine? Knapt 50 min samtale med Arne Hansen – med udblik til FN, tanken om fredsbevarende styrker, forsoning, den kolde krig, menneskers muligheder for at skabe forandring og om hvordan vi kan bruge forskellige medier på forskellig måde så vi tegner vore egne billeder af verden istedet for at blive forført af politisk … Continue reading Samtale om mulighederne for fred i Ukraine

From preventing to making peace in Ukraine

Today published a new TFF PressInfo # 314 with the above headline. I hope you’ll find it more constructive than most of the other things you may see and that you will hsrae it if you do. Also, you can subscribe to TFF PressInfos and get them by e-mail into your in-box – before they are posted on the Net – by writing to pressinfo@transnational.org … Continue reading From preventing to making peace in Ukraine

BBC’s non-professional reporting – and how it could also be written

NATO military exercises begin in Black Sea – BBC NewsIs this professional, impartial journalism? Let’s look at the words: NATO “reassures”, Russia “accuses” and “warns” and is – stated as an objective fact – “increasingly unpredictable”. Here is how this news story could also be written: “Simultaneous with a series of other military execises, NATO has begun one today in the Black Sea. Russia – … Continue reading BBC’s non-professional reporting – and how it could also be written

The military game between NATO and Russia – it is dangerous and not in our name!

My interview with RT, Russia Today – This military build up is not in our name !! While we speak there is a huge military exercise in Northern Norway – a NATO member, Joint Viking. There is NATO’s Atlantic Resolve in the Baltic region (see interesting maps on the link). There are smaller ones in Germany and one coming up in the Black Sea. Why … Continue reading The military game between NATO and Russia – it is dangerous and not in our name!

Operation Atlantic Resolve – Europeans wake up!

Operation Atlantic ResolveLook at the map on this link with all NATO’s military “events” around Russia, planned from the Baltic Republics to Georgia – exactly what President Clinton started out on in 1993. Aren’t we grateful for the U.S. commitment to security in Europe? NO! This is uniquely stupid if you believe, really believe, that there is no military solution. You do this and you … Continue reading Operation Atlantic Resolve – Europeans wake up!

If there is no military solution, then why this and no political process?

Over 100 US armored vehicles roll into Latvia, NATO flexes muscles in Europe (VIDEO) — RT News We all know – because it has been said by all Western leaders that there is no military solution to the crisis around Ukraine. So this build-up close to the Russian border must be interpreted as a signal about dearly wishing to start direct talks, build trust, develop … Continue reading If there is no military solution, then why this and no political process?

TFF PressInfo # 310: Terrorism – small dot in a larger picture

TFF PressInfo # 310: Terrorism – small dot in a larger pictureWhat is terrorism? Why do we talk much more about that than other types of deaths? Why is the word misused?What has nuclear weapons – that politicians and media hardly ever talk about – got to do with terror?Why should we all be careful not to exaggerate the phenomenon of terror? Continue reading TFF PressInfo # 310: Terrorism – small dot in a larger picture

Political propaganda: Ukraine, media deception and democracy

On political propaganda, media wars and moreJan Oberg interview with RT International – YouTube On political propaganda, counter-propaganda – the case of Ukraine – and how news have become commodities to be sold on a market and undermining democracy and people’s wish to engage in politics. Freedom of expression and freedom of deception hand in hand… Continue reading Political propaganda: Ukraine, media deception and democracy

NATO strengthens forces in Eastern Europe

NATO strengthens forces in eastern Europe against Russia risk – Reuters This is indeed worrying and will cause a tough Russian response at some point. However, it is a little less militaristic than I had feared (or the more worrying steps are not made public). NATO talks war preparation while Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande are on diplomatic mission to Kiev and Moscow with a … Continue reading NATO strengthens forces in Eastern Europe

If one could say so I would: “I’m Pope!”

After Paris attacks, Pope Francis speaks out against insulting religions: “You can’t kill in the name of a religion. That is an aberration.” And “You can’t provoke, you can’t insult the faith of others, you can’t make fun of faith.” Thank God there is such a wise Pope! If it couldn’t be misunderstood I would say “I’m Pope”! Remember also Gandhi: “There can be no … Continue reading If one could say so I would: “I’m Pope!”

Depiction of the Spiral of Violence

Or, rather, of violence against violence + terrorism against terrorism. Among the marchers against terrorism and for freedom of expression we find leaders from France, Denmark, Egypt, Italy, Turkey, Russia, the U.S., Israel, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Bahrein and Ukraine. What do they have in common? A deep belief in violence – violence of various types: 9-10 of them presently fighting foreign wars (mostly against or … Continue reading Depiction of the Spiral of Violence

Europe’s 9/11 moment ?

I believe this is going to be an iconic image of something that will be a turning point in Europe and, likely too, the generalised West. Is this the 9/11 moment for Europe? Whether intended or not, the government leaders marching in Paris today will tomorrow begin a special ‘war on terror’ in Europe – clamping down on all of us, curtailing freedoms – including … Continue reading Europe’s 9/11 moment ?

Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International Writers

Just published by PEN in the US: Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International WritersThis is deeply disturbing: “Concern about surveillance is now nearly as high among writers living in democracies (75%) as among those living in non-democracies (80%).The levels of self-censorship reported by writers living in democratic countries are approaching the levels reported by writers living in authoritarian or semi-democratic countries.And writers … Continue reading Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International Writers

TFF PressInfo! Let it wing into your e-mail inbox

Get TFF PressInfoLet it wing into you e-mail inbox!A rapidly growing peace politics e-mail service. It’s topical, for peace, and well-researched and sometimes provocative. Points you don’t often get in the media.It is free and you can unsub anytime with a click. Why not try it now?Sign up here… Continue reading TFF PressInfo! Let it wing into your e-mail inbox

Before Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wallström, gets too excited…

Before Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström, gets too excited about the Russian Bear: Here is the story of NATO’s Iron Sword 2014 exercise! Wouldn’t it be great if, say, Svenska Dagbladet, DN, Politiken, Sydsvenskan, DR.dk., SVT.se., Göteborgs-Posten, Jyllands-Posten, Information, BBC, CNN, Al-Jazeera, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Frankfurter Allgemeine, The Guardian . . . had mentioned this exercise somewhere? Just as a matter of … Continue reading Before Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wallström, gets too excited…

► ► TFF PressInfo # 288 – Where it all went wrong and lessons were never learnt

TFF PressInfo # 288 – Where it all went wrong and lessons were never learnt Why the “conflict management” and “peace making” by the West during the dissolution of Yugoslavia was much more important for our time and what happens now than anticipated. Much of the terrible crisis we see today was started by policies and principles introduced for the first time in Yugoslavia from … Continue reading ► ► TFF PressInfo # 288 – Where it all went wrong and lessons were never learnt

26 years ago on November 9: Fall of the Berlin Wall

26 years ago on November 9: Fall of the Berlin Wall It was thanks to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that this symbol of division fell.In my view, one of the greatest statesmen of our times – unfortunately never supported by exploited by a triumphalist, winner-takes-it-all West. Those of us who remember those days and went down to hammer down that Wall can never ever forget! … Continue reading 26 years ago on November 9: Fall of the Berlin Wall

TFF PressInfo # 286 – Sweden’s submergency

TFF PressInfo # 286 Sweden’s submergency This is ultimately about the security of the Swedish people and the region. Investigate the Swedish military’s performance. Take into account other possibilities such as NATO regular presence. Be aware of bought journalism. Demand better security analyses of our media. Continue reading TFF PressInfo # 286 – Sweden’s submergency

► ► Sweden’s mystery submarine search exposed

Sweden’s mystery submarine search exposed Jan Oberg on RT on the funny hunt and the boulevard press-like coverage of it. The interview comes in the wake of the TFF PressInfo sent out yesterday that only two American and one Norwegian, but no Swedish media, found worthy dealing with. By the way, the hunt for an object is already sliding down the Swedish media’s agenda – … Continue reading ► ► Sweden’s mystery submarine search exposed

TFF PressInfo # 285: What submarine in Sweden?

TFF PressInfo # 285: What submarine in Sweden? From Swedish defence force to farce – and boulevard press journalism. Who is playing with our security? Continue reading TFF PressInfo # 285: What submarine in Sweden?

► ► Bosnia today and Yugoslavia then

Voting has begun in Bosnia in an election dominated by nationalist rhetoric and a stagnant economy. A good 2000 pages by three scholars who were present during the wars in Yugoslavia and did not buy the Western political and media simplifications and blame game. Neither did they buy the Western ‘peace’ making, the results of which can be seen in today’s Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia … Continue reading ► ► Bosnia today and Yugoslavia then

Fogh Rasmussen efterlader en verden i kaos

Interview med Jens Malling – Publiceret i Arbejderen Efterlader en verden i kaos Anders Fogh Rasmussen træder tilbage som Natos generalsekretær i dag efter fem år på posten. Aggressivitet over for Rusland og hykleri når det gælder Irak har ifølge fredsforsker Jan Øberg kendetegnet hans sidste år i spidsen for organisationen. Et udtryk for Vestens moralske forfald, mener han AF JENS MALLING ”Verden er et … Continue reading Fogh Rasmussen efterlader en verden i kaos