Can’t wait to hear you acquiesce to Walter Kirn on Venezeuela and the War on Drugs. Didn’t you used to be against that? Now you host a podcast where your co-host celebrates putting the “war” back in “war on drugs,” gloating about regime change like he was part of the raid himself.
Pro-regime change, pro-war on drugs, pro-might makes right and anti-international law. The supporters of this action are indistinguishable from Bush era neocons and so is Kirn, and for months, this podcast. You had the same pro-regime change stance on Iran too, and will again when we go back to war after we “won” the first time.
Absolutely predictable but so hypocritical it’s mind-boggling.
Everywhere I hear dubious persons claiming that so-called "international law" must be obeyed.
Was "international law" handed down to Moses by God on Mount Sinai? I think not.
International law was always a very dubious concept in itself. Much like the whole EU structure is. Or the corrupt UN.
Individuals rarely get the opportunity to vote on this in any way. Though is is all made to sound so virtuous. And "international law" is trotted out by questionable politicians looking to cover their backsides.
You can’t have sovereignty without law. Without enforcement there is no law, only suggestion. What we have without international law and sovereignty is might makes right.
Without the law there cannot be freedom because a bigger and stronger person or group will simply rape you like Trump is doing to Venezuela. Those who group together to form a society with laws and enforce them maximize freedom by allowing the protection of independence and security. Just like you can’t have freedom without law, only anarchy and chaos and a might makes right world, without international law and an actual enforcement of it by a global community then any nation is liable to simply be raped by its stronger neighbor.
That’s the world Trump wants to live in because right now the U.S. is strong.
It sounds like you think "international law" heralds the end of war?
Of course might makes right. Always has and will until the kingdom of heaven on earth. There are rules and agreements, laws if you will, among allies and within armies, but that's about it. Peace through strength is the only peace that counts.
I don't like neo-con push to engagement and the debacle of nation building anymore than you do. If Trump running Venezuela results in the same mess past administrations have made running Muslim countries, we can whine about him too. I hope for better but have no idea how it will all turn out. Proof is in the pudding.
I’m not fighting anything, you’re making the argument that international law is contrary to sovereignty and I’m saying that without international law the only thing preserving a nations sovereignty is its own might. That’s what it means to live in a might makes right world. International law is supposed to be enforced by the security council when sovereignty is violated. That’s because of international law. BREXIT was about EU membership, not international law. It’s not even related.
I also never said there is no law without international law. I didn’t even come close to saying that. I made a comparison of the two to demonstrate that without law there is chaos and might makes right rules. Try reading again.
Right, trying to stir the pot with a chopstick. Also being overlooked is the reality of the influence Iran, Russia and China were establishing in Venezuela, and our choice as a country to take this into consideration, or not. China had representatives in Venezuela shortly before the Trump administration executed the Biden administration warrant for Maduro's arrest. Also overlooked is the option not taken - a couple of missiles and Maduro would be vaporized. And then there's the matter of the rights of the Venezuelan citizens who, if we can believe what we read, overwhelmingly elected opposition candidate Gonzalez. International law, indeed.
There's nothing dubious and international law doesn't even have to come into it. It is against the law because it violates the UN Charter. The United Nations which we joined and the US Senate ratified the treaty which obliges the US to abide by the UN Charter. According to the constitution, ratified treaties become US law. Violating the sovereignty of another nation to kidnap their leader, killing their citizens in the process, isn't war, it's a war crime because it is an act of war without the approval of the UN Security Council, not to mention the required consultation with members of congress. A blatant criminal act.
No one cares about the UN anymore or international law. Isn’t it against international law to harvest organs from living humans? How’s that working out?
The WHO claimed they stood for international law too, when they unleashed destruction as a Psy-Op during COVID-mania. At the same time they utterly ignored the Nuremberg Code. So-called international law is only dusted off and trotted out when they need an excuse. Even the once much-hailed Paris Agreement is seeing many countries pull out now.
The post-1945 era and its liberal progressiveness could only fool the masses for so long. We are seeing it fall apart now. It was a smokescreen.
"International law" has been an excuse to over-ride authentic democracy in too many cases, and make it look as if these preachers have morality and virtue in their corner.
If you read the non-MSM news and see who is touting the excuse of "international law", you might note that is it authoritarian non-democratic politicians mainly doing this. It is another one of those leftwing synchronized tactics from their head office.
Yes, and there is a reason that the US made sure that they had veto power over the UN. It comes down to the idea that my feudal lord is better than your feudal lord.
Why do you want "international law" to protect dictatorships? They cannot even follow basic human rights for their own people. But the leftwing goes in and weeps that we are not following supposed international law for their benefit? Where were these apologists when all the corruption and brutality was taking place, by the likes of Maduro?
Every country the United States wants to dominate is refered to as a regime, ruled by a dictator. Someday, after you've watched plitics for over 50 years, you'll learn to be a bit more skeprical about what your government tells you. That aside, why is it that Americans believe it is their responsibilites to bring democracy to other countries by bomning them and killing their leaders and citizens? Do you think maybe the US may not have the best interests of the country bombed and their citizens in mind but rather only the interests of the US and US and multinational corporations that the attack take place, so they manufacture a narrative to convince Americans that we must save the oppressed people? We've never saved one oppressed people. We've killed millions. It's all a sham.
Even assuming the whole "a treaty is a law" thing (which I think there are strong arguments against)--a law without a punishment is only a very boring and preachy sermon that no one will ever ever read.
There are no legal punishments for telling the UN to suck it. A law (or treaty) without punishment is completely impotent.
Even if there were specific punishments laid out--we have prosecutorial discretion here, so we can just ignore it and not prosecute.
And even assuming a treaty is a law and a punishment is specified and it is prosecuted--the law doesn't override the constitution and presidential power.
International law and the UN were created in the aftermath of WWII which killed up to 85 million people to prevent this from happening again. The US was at the forefront of this. For the past 30-ish years, the US and its leadership gradually changed. Now our country is run by entitled, greedy, narcissistic billionaires who do not know or understand suffering, hunger, death, war. They want to do what they want and the international law became an impediment for them. They are going to burn us all in a nuclear hell.
Irina, it is a nice thought to believe that was why "international law" was created. But I think you are very naive about this. There were psychopathic Globalists behind it then, just as they still exist out there today. Not only as controlling billionaires, but as the Neo-Marxist WOKE types more particularly.
If you believe that supposed international law and the UN were established out of human love and concern.....I have a Florida timeshare to sell you (you like swamps, don't you?).
Have a look into the infamous family of British eugenicists, for starters -- the Huxleys. Who had a hand in establishing the UN. Then you might also read deeply about such organizations as the Club of Rome --- also eugenicists. Or Planned Parenthood, for that matter - the Bill Gates special.
You have a naive romanticized view of post-war power-mongering organizations set-up for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful Globalists of the time.
If those organizations and "international law" were so wonderful.....why is the world in such a mess by now? A childish view like this will not suffice by 2026.
Perhaps try the Substack of James Lindsay (New Discourses) to learn about the real UN. Though I doubt you will.
Just a continuation of American/ Israeli "consensus policy" (to quote Vindman).
W Trump/ CIA overthrew Yanukovych in the Orange Revolution in 2005 in Ukraine, then Obama/ Biden/ Nuland/ CIA overthrew Yanukovych (who kept getting democratically elected, bad Ukrainians!) in Maidan in 2014, and established multiple Puppets: Yushchenko, Poroshenko, and finally Zionist Zelensky (whose fraudulent assistants have fled to Israel).
Biden/ Israel overthrew Assad in Syria just over a year ago and established a US/ Israeli Puppet, ISIS leader al Jolani.
Trump/ Israel overthrew Maduro in Venezuela and is in the process of establishing a US/ Israel Puppet. Not really surprising.
Thank you for “winning “ the comments section this episode. The comments section is reflecting our long held belief that these two are propagandists who should be exposed. I hope you don’t end your subscription. I hope we can make this a group hate watch until they are both relegated to oblivion.
Not even 3 minutes in and I’m pretty sure there is nothing to be gained for me by listening. Maybe I’m wrong but I feel like I’ve given these conversations as much time as I could spare. And not gotten much in return. I have read and followed Matt since the financial crisis. And love the work on free speech. But political commentary skewed to Walter’s is not interesting to me anymore. Much too predictable.
I wrote out exactly what they would each say in the youtube live chat before the stream started. It's so stupid and so predictable at this point. Genuinely without value.
My sub runs out in a few months and Matt muted me on Twitter for “douchebaggery” for criticizing his tepid acceptance of Kirn interrupting him to preach to him and the audience about the greatness of Trump and all he does.
I called exactly what would happen as well and he muted me for it hahahahaha
My sub ran out. I specifically notified Substack well in advance that I did not want to renew. No response and a renewal for an annual subscription was removed from my bank account.
Matt, please rid yourself of Walter. He was fun until I realized he meant everything he was saying.
Does anyone remember the MSM hyperventilating re Obama/Clinton foray into Libya? I do not. If it was this same duo that freed Maria Corina Machado and snatched Maduro the MSM slobbering would be unbearable.
Maduro will get his due process, a fair trial with his own attorney and he will either be convicted or die in prison as the result of a strange suicide
Bringing a criminal cartel leader to justice while maintaining safe parameters is descriptive of this feat. We have not yet moved our enemies from action in our territory , but we likely gave them a scare.
Thanks for using the term "arrested". Democrats and MSM use "kidnapped" Sick! Matt should share on that if he is trying to "learn" what is going on. I will say it again that Taibbi listens to MSNOW , CNN etc and his knowledge of current events is reflected in that. Walter has a more well rounded knowledge, but still incomplete. I as a commenter have a better grasp , yet still searching for more.
Right. Others have just unleashed the drones. More cost effective. And it seems the 'international law' folks have been ok with that, which is a testament to them.
But it wasn’t, it was Trump, as much as you want to whine about Obama and Biden. Trump did this illegal act of aggression, not them. I know it’s hard to accept that and much more cathartic to complain about a guy from over ten years ago.
it's nothing to do about catharsis, brother. Precedents matter, and failing to take them into consideration is just unserious. Also consider the action taken to abduct Noriega, which was upheld in the courts.
I love your show! This seventy- five year old granny is so tired of the blather on some other substacks. You give well thought out opinions and can even disagree in a friendly way. Thank you!
Have you noticed that the comments here have become more and more like bad social media? We go from unreadable belly-button lint to "totally predictable" hyperbole from folks who couldn't find half the nations they blather about on a map.
Matt and Walter begin the new year with the resolution to stick with "too early to tell" and less of their own prejudices which "totally predictably" elicits shrieks of outrage from the trolls who, wait for it - add sfa to every conversation they elbow their way into just coz.
Many promise to quit, but just don't. Wonder why? (I don't!)
Apparently nobody read the National Security Strategy document of a few weeks ago. We’re kicking China entirely out of the hemisphere. Cuba is next. Brazil after that. In fact, any leftist governments in the hemisphere are being put on notice. This is a rearranging of the chessboard not seen since before World War II.
God, this is sickening. I tuned in for the first few minutes, and can't take any more. Walter Kirn's stance on the war against Venezuela is predictable, but to hear Matt Taibbi giggling giddily along with him is truly disappointing. Go to venezuelaanalysis.com for some serious discussion.
Anyone who doesn’t know this is about kicking China entirely out of the hemisphere didn’t read the National Security Strategy document released several weeks ago. It started with the Panama Canal last year. Cuba is next, followed by Brazil. This is a full reset of the chessboard.
If we kick China "Entirely out of the hemisphere" how will the US get the (poisonous) heavy metals and minerals critical to our few remaining advanced industries?
There’s a pretty significant difference between buying goods and materials from China, supply risks aside, and China having control of ports, oil production facilities, or major infrastructure investments in South America that indirectly place US neighbors under the economic thumb and control of China.
Venezuela is 1780 miles away from Florida, hardly US neighbors. Maybe they should have say (like in a democracy!) in whose economic thumb and control they are under?
Ukraine is on Russia's border (5705 miles from the US. Are the Ukrainians our neighbors too? Does Russia have the same rights to ensure "control of ports, oil production facilities, or major infrastructure investments" in Ukraine?
In both cases the issues will be resolved on the battlefield and by terrorists/ freedom fighters. China is entering the classic Thucydides Trap and war is probably inevitable.
Speaking in terms of “rights” with respect to nation states represents a fundamental misunderstanding of history. You might as well argue that a lion has no right to eat a caribou. Every superpower has a concept of a sphere of influence. Which is not to deny that it sucks to be a caribou.
There is no war against Venezuela. We want our good neighbor back. We can’t have our 3 enemies using a country one half hour away to use their nation Venezuelan shore to destroy us. And indicted narco-terrorists have business there without a trial.
Here is what I don’t want to hear from anyone: “We did everything right with Maduro! This isn’t regime change! It’s different this time! It’s in the Americas! We can do this!” Team America: World Police is exactly what Americans want to move away from. But apparently no matter who you elect; the intelligence agencies really are running the show. We can all congratulate the soldiers for carrying out their mission well. I will acknowledge Biden put a bounty on Maduro’s head. BUT as a taxpayer I do not want to fund the world! I am tired of it. US schools stink at a lower level and are becoming more and more unaffordable at University level. Healthcare costs are outrageous. We can debate how to solve these things, but don’t tell me we have no money for America because of the national debt (which is a valid argument), BUT SOMEHOW we have money to run Venezuela! Don’t talk to me about the oil being for the people of Venezuela when private industry owns our natural resources. I WON’T defend Maduro. I don’t care if he lives or dies. He is probably as rotten as we claim, but where do we draw the line? Is this now what we have to fund again? Also, get back to me in two years about the great victory.
I have a feeling you may not have much choice. It isn't a matter of just stating the way you would like it to be, and reality will comply.
Communist China is in an expansionist mode. Partially because Western manufacturing that was moved to China has made them prosperous and funded their military. Whose fault was that?
They are going to be happy to move in and take over wherever they can get a foothold. They have already dug into parts of North America. Ignoring this will not bring peace and the ability to focus on domestic issues, I am afraid.
Chill out. We didn't do anything wrong and gave Maduro so many chances to get it right. This is not going to be just another regime change, made doubly so by the fact that it is happening right next door in our own back yard. Don't worry one bit! We'll get this done.
This is not the Middle East. Venezuela is a Catholic nation. Their bad guys are drug cartels not Jihadists. After all, we are Americans; North, Central and South. We have quite a bit in common and most USAians seem to enjoy getting away from the frenetic US way of living to kick back in Margaritaville. By the way, I think it should be called "The Gulf of the Americas" not "America". More inclusive with our neighbors.
"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Chrystia Freeland as an adviser on economic development, according to a statement released this week.
Zelenskyy said Freeland will provide advice on attracting investment and advancing economic reforms as Ukraine continues to manage the effects of Russia’s invasion."
Did he do any background reading on the way Freeland handled the Canadian economy when she teamed with Troodo as Thing 1 and Thing 2? It was also Freeland who gleefully closed bank accounts on anyone supporting the Trucker Convoy.
Zelensky himself becomes more and more fishy by the day.
Freeland states this will be a freelance job, while she continues acting as an MP in Canada's Parliament, and works another new position in England as head of the Cecil Rhodes organization (Rhodes scholars). While her husband writes for the New York Times.
Does anyone wonder about divided loyalties? Conflicts of interest?
Why? In all her roles past and present she seems to have been always loyal to the global finance+tech faction of the upper class and she deserved to be well rewarded for that.
«It was also Freeland who gleefully closed bank accounts on anyone supporting the Trucker Convoy.»
As mentioned above a mild centre-right swiss book author and opinionist (Jacques Baud) has been debanked by the EU. "The nail that stands out will be hammered".
Yes, they are indeed big Ukrainian Nazis. Which is where Freeland's loyalty is. Though she was born and raised in Canada of a British father, it is her mother's Nazi Ukrainian roots that drive her. This woman was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada under Troodo, if you can believe it.
Oh, I can believe it, alright. Check out the youtube video of Justin Trudeau leading a standing ovation for the Ukrainian SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka in the Canadian Parliament. Turns out Canada knowingly resettled a bunch of Ukranian Nazi collaborators there after World War II.
I am Canadian myself, Derek. I have followed it all.
We trusted too much. There are pitfalls in being too nice. Sooner or later, your population spawns the opposite, such as the Troodo dynasty and its sinister destruction.
We only save Venezuelans from the misery we imposed on them in the first place with sanctions and stealing their gold. Chavez cut poverty in half and that upset the US because it was an example for others. They had to turn to China and Russia because of the US sanctions - and then the US considers that reason enough to change the regime. I don't think the US is making any friends this way - it's become the most feared and hated country in the world, surpassing even the evil former USSR. Good job Mr Trump.
Where's Tulsi "no more regime change wars" Gabbard? For that matter, where's the non-interventionist MAGA base? Have they all turned into raging neocons because of the current success of this particular foreign military adventure? Does anyone remember the joy of the Iraqis when Saddam was deposed? "Mission accomplished," anyone?
Trump is a hustler. The only thing off the table is a bad deal.
I think people who were hoping for a peacenik in Trump were overly optimistic at best. Trump is not a hippy, he is a hustler. Look at the Ukraine war. I think Trump wants to shut it down because he thinks it's a bad deal--but he has no problem swinging balls, bombs and death as a negotiating tactic.
Ukraine alone should have slapped down any idea of Trump as a hippy.
Now to be fair, a hustler is probably as close to a hippy as we are going to get in a president right now.
Side note: If we are really going to do 'before and after' with countries we have "interacted" with, it needs to be done rationally using science and defined metrics--not gut feelings.
Literacy rate is a great metric to start with.
Then make a list of metrics, do your homework and report your findings.
Everybody wants to believe thier ex's are worse off without them--but when measured by weight lost and income gained--the story may be different than what we hoped for.
Then the question becomes--why would we root for an ex to have a shitty life?
I know already that Walter thinks Trump (aka Bibi's Bitch) kidnapping Maduro was some giant step for "democracy" against fantasy drug cartels and not a precursor to the upcoming attack on Iran on behalf of that genocidal, warmongering shitstain of a country portrayed in the captured media as our "greatest ally."
The attack on Iran will interrupt the flow of oil from the Middle East, so Trump's zionist puppeteers think having free, unfettered access to Venezuelan crude will soften the blow as we send our guys to do the dirty work of the world's shittiest people against a country with wich we have no beef. The Israelis are also hoping this will end Venezuela's embargo on shipping oil to them since 2009.
It also got us to stop talking about that embarrassing Israeli spy operation known as "The Epstein Files."
Well Venezuela is not Granada. Get ready for Viet Nam, Latin America Style.
No beef against Venezuela, et. al.? The kingpin of a Cartel that aligned itself with China in delivering poisons to the United States’s shores, with the help of Mexico, killing Americans in the hundreds of thousands over 4 years? This was an operation with a purpose against their northern neighbor. Opening their prisons to allow Tren De Aragua gangs to reside here, and allowing our enemies China to deliver their precursors to Mexico. The indited one time dictator had to be prosecuted after his actions proved his motives. Despite the many chances Trump offered for a safe exile he decided to stay and hope we didn’t have the might to capture him. Thank Good we did. I hope the Transition is quick and many expats return to their homeland to restore it.
All of what you say is complete nonsense and you are the just another casualty of a Rupert Murdock-owned Fox News, Israeli psy-opp.
BTW did you know that your Anti-Drug superhero pardoned in December the former President if Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, serving 45-year sentence for being one of the biggest, most violent drug-trafficker in the world? Why?
How about that Ecuador exports FAR MORE dangerous drugs to the United States than Venezuela? But that's okay because its current CIA-installed President, a Miami-born Jew and Netanyahu minion named Daniel Noboa, is a personal friend President Trump. Imagine that. Hmmm... go figure...
The very argument that realists use to explain why it's not appropriate to line Russia's border with missiles from NATO countries and CIA outposts is the equivalent of the US use of the Monroe Doctrine. It makes a lot of sense to me.
Another interesting aspect is the corporate media's predictable insistence on asking when the next Venezuelan election is, while the ignore the same question for Ukraine.
Walter's take on exposing the weakness of the past incursions in the ME is kind of a mask off moment. It makes one wonder if these lengthy wars were the plan all along, given how lucrative they are for the MIC (but not for the country). Here are 2 successful missions, in a row, carried out flawlessly. It's the way one would think military actions by the greatest super power in the world, with the largest and most well funded military should operate.
Without all the waste, fraud and abuse in our government just think what the US could be.
I want to hear the NAFO fellas and Russiagaters explain how Trump is still Putin’s toady, even though Putin has decried the arrest of his ally Maduro, and the US is seizing Russian flagged tankers that the Russian navy has been dispatched to escort.
«explain why it's not appropriate to line Russia's border with missiles from NATO countries and CIA outposts is the equivalent of the US use of the Monroe Doctrine. It makes a lot of sense to me.»
But it is not the same: the USA puts missiles and biolabs on the RF border "FOR DEMOCRACY" while the RF doing the same would be "AGGRESSION!".
According to the realists, such as Mearsheimer, RF is a great power and thus Ukraine should pay attention to the fact that Russia shares a border with Ukraine. Democracy does not come into play.
Is anybody in the US paying attention to the current uprising in Iran, now in day 9? This revolution is not being televised by MSM. It’s been streaming live on TousiTV, and other independents.
Millions of people, mostly unarmed, taking back their country from the Islamic Republic, whom are in hiding and planning to join Assad in Moscow. The Iranians are grateful to Trump’s words of support (may not need the military) and buoyed by the kidnap & arrest of Maduro. I’m sure Matt & Walter have intel and something to say about how this ties in with Venezuela. It is timely for their rebellion, since US took out nuclear capacity and is taking over Venezuela, and stopping the trafficking of oil to the terrorist/extremists of Iran, as well as Russia, Columbia & Cuba. It’s a house of cards coming down for the Communist/Islamist dictatorships. Matt, you’ve got to play their victory liberation song “This is the last battle, Pahlavi the King will return” all over X, IG, YouTube & more.
Getting rid of the mullahs would be a genuine boon to the world, but the credit should go to the Iranian people who’ve been working to change their government for almost 20 years now. No American government has done much to help on that.
Can’t wait to hear you acquiesce to Walter Kirn on Venezeuela and the War on Drugs. Didn’t you used to be against that? Now you host a podcast where your co-host celebrates putting the “war” back in “war on drugs,” gloating about regime change like he was part of the raid himself.
Pro-regime change, pro-war on drugs, pro-might makes right and anti-international law. The supporters of this action are indistinguishable from Bush era neocons and so is Kirn, and for months, this podcast. You had the same pro-regime change stance on Iran too, and will again when we go back to war after we “won” the first time.
Absolutely predictable but so hypocritical it’s mind-boggling.
Everywhere I hear dubious persons claiming that so-called "international law" must be obeyed.
Was "international law" handed down to Moses by God on Mount Sinai? I think not.
International law was always a very dubious concept in itself. Much like the whole EU structure is. Or the corrupt UN.
Individuals rarely get the opportunity to vote on this in any way. Though is is all made to sound so virtuous. And "international law" is trotted out by questionable politicians looking to cover their backsides.
Some other dubious concepts - sovereignty, independence, freedom.
"International law" is rather contrary to sovereignty, independence, freedom. But I realize you are hoping to get a rise out of other commenters here.
You can’t have sovereignty without law. Without enforcement there is no law, only suggestion. What we have without international law and sovereignty is might makes right.
Without the law there cannot be freedom because a bigger and stronger person or group will simply rape you like Trump is doing to Venezuela. Those who group together to form a society with laws and enforce them maximize freedom by allowing the protection of independence and security. Just like you can’t have freedom without law, only anarchy and chaos and a might makes right world, without international law and an actual enforcement of it by a global community then any nation is liable to simply be raped by its stronger neighbor.
That’s the world Trump wants to live in because right now the U.S. is strong.
It sounds like you think "international law" heralds the end of war?
Of course might makes right. Always has and will until the kingdom of heaven on earth. There are rules and agreements, laws if you will, among allies and within armies, but that's about it. Peace through strength is the only peace that counts.
I don't like neo-con push to engagement and the debacle of nation building anymore than you do. If Trump running Venezuela results in the same mess past administrations have made running Muslim countries, we can whine about him too. I hope for better but have no idea how it will all turn out. Proof is in the pudding.
Do you believe that might makes right only on the international level or also on a social and societal level?
Sovereignty is contrary to "international law". Which is what BREXIT was all about in Britain.
You are very mixed up here You seem to think that there is no law without "international law". Silly interpretation. Go back to square one.
Though I know you are only trying to fuel a fight. I have seen your tactics before. So I will not give you one.
Ta-ta.
I’m not fighting anything, you’re making the argument that international law is contrary to sovereignty and I’m saying that without international law the only thing preserving a nations sovereignty is its own might. That’s what it means to live in a might makes right world. International law is supposed to be enforced by the security council when sovereignty is violated. That’s because of international law. BREXIT was about EU membership, not international law. It’s not even related.
I also never said there is no law without international law. I didn’t even come close to saying that. I made a comparison of the two to demonstrate that without law there is chaos and might makes right rules. Try reading again.
Right, trying to stir the pot with a chopstick. Also being overlooked is the reality of the influence Iran, Russia and China were establishing in Venezuela, and our choice as a country to take this into consideration, or not. China had representatives in Venezuela shortly before the Trump administration executed the Biden administration warrant for Maduro's arrest. Also overlooked is the option not taken - a couple of missiles and Maduro would be vaporized. And then there's the matter of the rights of the Venezuelan citizens who, if we can believe what we read, overwhelmingly elected opposition candidate Gonzalez. International law, indeed.
There's nothing dubious and international law doesn't even have to come into it. It is against the law because it violates the UN Charter. The United Nations which we joined and the US Senate ratified the treaty which obliges the US to abide by the UN Charter. According to the constitution, ratified treaties become US law. Violating the sovereignty of another nation to kidnap their leader, killing their citizens in the process, isn't war, it's a war crime because it is an act of war without the approval of the UN Security Council, not to mention the required consultation with members of congress. A blatant criminal act.
No one cares about the UN anymore or international law. Isn’t it against international law to harvest organs from living humans? How’s that working out?
Sadly true.
The WHO claimed they stood for international law too, when they unleashed destruction as a Psy-Op during COVID-mania. At the same time they utterly ignored the Nuremberg Code. So-called international law is only dusted off and trotted out when they need an excuse. Even the once much-hailed Paris Agreement is seeing many countries pull out now.
The post-1945 era and its liberal progressiveness could only fool the masses for so long. We are seeing it fall apart now. It was a smokescreen.
"International law" has been an excuse to over-ride authentic democracy in too many cases, and make it look as if these preachers have morality and virtue in their corner.
If you read the non-MSM news and see who is touting the excuse of "international law", you might note that is it authoritarian non-democratic politicians mainly doing this. It is another one of those leftwing synchronized tactics from their head office.
Yes, and there is a reason that the US made sure that they had veto power over the UN. It comes down to the idea that my feudal lord is better than your feudal lord.
Why do you want "international law" to protect dictatorships? They cannot even follow basic human rights for their own people. But the leftwing goes in and weeps that we are not following supposed international law for their benefit? Where were these apologists when all the corruption and brutality was taking place, by the likes of Maduro?
Whose side are you on?
Every country the United States wants to dominate is refered to as a regime, ruled by a dictator. Someday, after you've watched plitics for over 50 years, you'll learn to be a bit more skeprical about what your government tells you. That aside, why is it that Americans believe it is their responsibilites to bring democracy to other countries by bomning them and killing their leaders and citizens? Do you think maybe the US may not have the best interests of the country bombed and their citizens in mind but rather only the interests of the US and US and multinational corporations that the attack take place, so they manufacture a narrative to convince Americans that we must save the oppressed people? We've never saved one oppressed people. We've killed millions. It's all a sham.
Even assuming the whole "a treaty is a law" thing (which I think there are strong arguments against)--a law without a punishment is only a very boring and preachy sermon that no one will ever ever read.
There are no legal punishments for telling the UN to suck it. A law (or treaty) without punishment is completely impotent.
Even if there were specific punishments laid out--we have prosecutorial discretion here, so we can just ignore it and not prosecute.
And even assuming a treaty is a law and a punishment is specified and it is prosecuted--the law doesn't override the constitution and presidential power.
The UN and other international bodies continue to change their “representatives” that we never elected, yet make laws that determine our lives.
International law and the UN were created in the aftermath of WWII which killed up to 85 million people to prevent this from happening again. The US was at the forefront of this. For the past 30-ish years, the US and its leadership gradually changed. Now our country is run by entitled, greedy, narcissistic billionaires who do not know or understand suffering, hunger, death, war. They want to do what they want and the international law became an impediment for them. They are going to burn us all in a nuclear hell.
Irina, it is a nice thought to believe that was why "international law" was created. But I think you are very naive about this. There were psychopathic Globalists behind it then, just as they still exist out there today. Not only as controlling billionaires, but as the Neo-Marxist WOKE types more particularly.
If you believe that supposed international law and the UN were established out of human love and concern.....I have a Florida timeshare to sell you (you like swamps, don't you?).
Have a look into the infamous family of British eugenicists, for starters -- the Huxleys. Who had a hand in establishing the UN. Then you might also read deeply about such organizations as the Club of Rome --- also eugenicists. Or Planned Parenthood, for that matter - the Bill Gates special.
You have a naive romanticized view of post-war power-mongering organizations set-up for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful Globalists of the time.
If those organizations and "international law" were so wonderful.....why is the world in such a mess by now? A childish view like this will not suffice by 2026.
Perhaps try the Substack of James Lindsay (New Discourses) to learn about the real UN. Though I doubt you will.
The law without a democratic foundation is just tyranny.
Very very basic shit.
I want to make sure that pot is legal under "international law"--where do I go to cast my vote for that?
"International law" always despises democracy.
International law is just a conspiracy theory. Prove it isn’t.
Order something shipped from overseas. That should prove to you that international law exists.
Just a continuation of American/ Israeli "consensus policy" (to quote Vindman).
W Trump/ CIA overthrew Yanukovych in the Orange Revolution in 2005 in Ukraine, then Obama/ Biden/ Nuland/ CIA overthrew Yanukovych (who kept getting democratically elected, bad Ukrainians!) in Maidan in 2014, and established multiple Puppets: Yushchenko, Poroshenko, and finally Zionist Zelensky (whose fraudulent assistants have fled to Israel).
Biden/ Israel overthrew Assad in Syria just over a year ago and established a US/ Israeli Puppet, ISIS leader al Jolani.
Trump/ Israel overthrew Maduro in Venezuela and is in the process of establishing a US/ Israel Puppet. Not really surprising.
Thank you for “winning “ the comments section this episode. The comments section is reflecting our long held belief that these two are propagandists who should be exposed. I hope you don’t end your subscription. I hope we can make this a group hate watch until they are both relegated to oblivion.
Not even 3 minutes in and I’m pretty sure there is nothing to be gained for me by listening. Maybe I’m wrong but I feel like I’ve given these conversations as much time as I could spare. And not gotten much in return. I have read and followed Matt since the financial crisis. And love the work on free speech. But political commentary skewed to Walter’s is not interesting to me anymore. Much too predictable.
I wrote out exactly what they would each say in the youtube live chat before the stream started. It's so stupid and so predictable at this point. Genuinely without value.
My sub runs out in a few months and Matt muted me on Twitter for “douchebaggery” for criticizing his tepid acceptance of Kirn interrupting him to preach to him and the audience about the greatness of Trump and all he does.
I called exactly what would happen as well and he muted me for it hahahahaha
My sub ran out. I specifically notified Substack well in advance that I did not want to renew. No response and a renewal for an annual subscription was removed from my bank account.
Matt, please rid yourself of Walter. He was fun until I realized he meant everything he was saying.
Leftist Ukraine flag bearing pro-Palestinian BlueSky accounts are equally predictable.
I want to hear from both of them but definitely from Walter too. They are a duo bringing the value of a duo.
Does anyone remember the MSM hyperventilating re Obama/Clinton foray into Libya? I do not. If it was this same duo that freed Maria Corina Machado and snatched Maduro the MSM slobbering would be unbearable.
"We came, we saw, he died." - At least this administration arrested the criminal and there will be a trial. Probably fixed, but Maduro is still alive.
Maduro will get his due process, a fair trial with his own attorney and he will either be convicted or die in prison as the result of a strange suicide
Bringing a criminal cartel leader to justice while maintaining safe parameters is descriptive of this feat. We have not yet moved our enemies from action in our territory , but we likely gave them a scare.
Thanks for using the term "arrested". Democrats and MSM use "kidnapped" Sick! Matt should share on that if he is trying to "learn" what is going on. I will say it again that Taibbi listens to MSNOW , CNN etc and his knowledge of current events is reflected in that. Walter has a more well rounded knowledge, but still incomplete. I as a commenter have a better grasp , yet still searching for more.
Right. Others have just unleashed the drones. More cost effective. And it seems the 'international law' folks have been ok with that, which is a testament to them.
But it wasn’t, it was Trump, as much as you want to whine about Obama and Biden. Trump did this illegal act of aggression, not them. I know it’s hard to accept that and much more cathartic to complain about a guy from over ten years ago.
Was what Clinton and Obama allowed to happen to Qadaffi not a precedent?
it's nothing to do about catharsis, brother. Precedents matter, and failing to take them into consideration is just unserious. Also consider the action taken to abduct Noriega, which was upheld in the courts.
I love your show! This seventy- five year old granny is so tired of the blather on some other substacks. You give well thought out opinions and can even disagree in a friendly way. Thank you!
Finally, a voice of reason. I agree Joelle.
Have you noticed that the comments here have become more and more like bad social media? We go from unreadable belly-button lint to "totally predictable" hyperbole from folks who couldn't find half the nations they blather about on a map.
Matt and Walter begin the new year with the resolution to stick with "too early to tell" and less of their own prejudices which "totally predictably" elicits shrieks of outrage from the trolls who, wait for it - add sfa to every conversation they elbow their way into just coz.
Many promise to quit, but just don't. Wonder why? (I don't!)
The key word Joelle uses is opinion! I agree!!
Walter's reflexive defense of regime change war is beyond tedious at this point
Apparently nobody read the National Security Strategy document of a few weeks ago. We’re kicking China entirely out of the hemisphere. Cuba is next. Brazil after that. In fact, any leftist governments in the hemisphere are being put on notice. This is a rearranging of the chessboard not seen since before World War II.
God, this is sickening. I tuned in for the first few minutes, and can't take any more. Walter Kirn's stance on the war against Venezuela is predictable, but to hear Matt Taibbi giggling giddily along with him is truly disappointing. Go to venezuelaanalysis.com for some serious discussion.
Anyone who doesn’t know this is about kicking China entirely out of the hemisphere didn’t read the National Security Strategy document released several weeks ago. It started with the Panama Canal last year. Cuba is next, followed by Brazil. This is a full reset of the chessboard.
If we kick China "Entirely out of the hemisphere" how will the US get the (poisonous) heavy metals and minerals critical to our few remaining advanced industries?
Are we kicking out Temu too?
There’s a pretty significant difference between buying goods and materials from China, supply risks aside, and China having control of ports, oil production facilities, or major infrastructure investments in South America that indirectly place US neighbors under the economic thumb and control of China.
Venezuela is 1780 miles away from Florida, hardly US neighbors. Maybe they should have say (like in a democracy!) in whose economic thumb and control they are under?
Ukraine is on Russia's border (5705 miles from the US. Are the Ukrainians our neighbors too? Does Russia have the same rights to ensure "control of ports, oil production facilities, or major infrastructure investments" in Ukraine?
In both cases the issues will be resolved on the battlefield and by terrorists/ freedom fighters. China is entering the classic Thucydides Trap and war is probably inevitable.
Speaking in terms of “rights” with respect to nation states represents a fundamental misunderstanding of history. You might as well argue that a lion has no right to eat a caribou. Every superpower has a concept of a sphere of influence. Which is not to deny that it sucks to be a caribou.
Gotta wonder if Matt is just doing it to troll Eoin Higgins.
There is no war against Venezuela. We want our good neighbor back. We can’t have our 3 enemies using a country one half hour away to use their nation Venezuelan shore to destroy us. And indicted narco-terrorists have business there without a trial.
Here is what I don’t want to hear from anyone: “We did everything right with Maduro! This isn’t regime change! It’s different this time! It’s in the Americas! We can do this!” Team America: World Police is exactly what Americans want to move away from. But apparently no matter who you elect; the intelligence agencies really are running the show. We can all congratulate the soldiers for carrying out their mission well. I will acknowledge Biden put a bounty on Maduro’s head. BUT as a taxpayer I do not want to fund the world! I am tired of it. US schools stink at a lower level and are becoming more and more unaffordable at University level. Healthcare costs are outrageous. We can debate how to solve these things, but don’t tell me we have no money for America because of the national debt (which is a valid argument), BUT SOMEHOW we have money to run Venezuela! Don’t talk to me about the oil being for the people of Venezuela when private industry owns our natural resources. I WON’T defend Maduro. I don’t care if he lives or dies. He is probably as rotten as we claim, but where do we draw the line? Is this now what we have to fund again? Also, get back to me in two years about the great victory.
I have a feeling you may not have much choice. It isn't a matter of just stating the way you would like it to be, and reality will comply.
Communist China is in an expansionist mode. Partially because Western manufacturing that was moved to China has made them prosperous and funded their military. Whose fault was that?
They are going to be happy to move in and take over wherever they can get a foothold. They have already dug into parts of North America. Ignoring this will not bring peace and the ability to focus on domestic issues, I am afraid.
Yes, root causes are real.
Chill out. We didn't do anything wrong and gave Maduro so many chances to get it right. This is not going to be just another regime change, made doubly so by the fact that it is happening right next door in our own back yard. Don't worry one bit! We'll get this done.
This is not the Middle East. Venezuela is a Catholic nation. Their bad guys are drug cartels not Jihadists. After all, we are Americans; North, Central and South. We have quite a bit in common and most USAians seem to enjoy getting away from the frenetic US way of living to kick back in Margaritaville. By the way, I think it should be called "The Gulf of the Americas" not "America". More inclusive with our neighbors.
"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Chrystia Freeland as an adviser on economic development, according to a statement released this week.
Zelenskyy said Freeland will provide advice on attracting investment and advancing economic reforms as Ukraine continues to manage the effects of Russia’s invasion."
Did he do any background reading on the way Freeland handled the Canadian economy when she teamed with Troodo as Thing 1 and Thing 2? It was also Freeland who gleefully closed bank accounts on anyone supporting the Trucker Convoy.
Zelensky himself becomes more and more fishy by the day.
Freeland states this will be a freelance job, while she continues acting as an MP in Canada's Parliament, and works another new position in England as head of the Cecil Rhodes organization (Rhodes scholars). While her husband writes for the New York Times.
Does anyone wonder about divided loyalties? Conflicts of interest?
«Does anyone wonder about divided loyalties?»
Why? In all her roles past and present she seems to have been always loyal to the global finance+tech faction of the upper class and she deserved to be well rewarded for that.
Freeland was seen to be loyal to the Nazi faction in the Ukraine (her grandfather was one of them) and loyal to WEF -- where she was on the board.
Every other position was just to serve these masters. And as you say, to be rewarded by them.
«It was also Freeland who gleefully closed bank accounts on anyone supporting the Trucker Convoy.»
As mentioned above a mild centre-right swiss book author and opinionist (Jacques Baud) has been debanked by the EU. "The nail that stands out will be hammered".
But her family are big Ukrainian nazis so he’s building bridges.
Yes, they are indeed big Ukrainian Nazis. Which is where Freeland's loyalty is. Though she was born and raised in Canada of a British father, it is her mother's Nazi Ukrainian roots that drive her. This woman was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada under Troodo, if you can believe it.
Oh, I can believe it, alright. Check out the youtube video of Justin Trudeau leading a standing ovation for the Ukrainian SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka in the Canadian Parliament. Turns out Canada knowingly resettled a bunch of Ukranian Nazi collaborators there after World War II.
I am Canadian myself, Derek. I have followed it all.
We trusted too much. There are pitfalls in being too nice. Sooner or later, your population spawns the opposite, such as the Troodo dynasty and its sinister destruction.
We only save Venezuelans from the misery we imposed on them in the first place with sanctions and stealing their gold. Chavez cut poverty in half and that upset the US because it was an example for others. They had to turn to China and Russia because of the US sanctions - and then the US considers that reason enough to change the regime. I don't think the US is making any friends this way - it's become the most feared and hated country in the world, surpassing even the evil former USSR. Good job Mr Trump.
Where's Tulsi "no more regime change wars" Gabbard? For that matter, where's the non-interventionist MAGA base? Have they all turned into raging neocons because of the current success of this particular foreign military adventure? Does anyone remember the joy of the Iraqis when Saddam was deposed? "Mission accomplished," anyone?
Trump is a hustler. The only thing off the table is a bad deal.
I think people who were hoping for a peacenik in Trump were overly optimistic at best. Trump is not a hippy, he is a hustler. Look at the Ukraine war. I think Trump wants to shut it down because he thinks it's a bad deal--but he has no problem swinging balls, bombs and death as a negotiating tactic.
Ukraine alone should have slapped down any idea of Trump as a hippy.
Now to be fair, a hustler is probably as close to a hippy as we are going to get in a president right now.
Side note: If we are really going to do 'before and after' with countries we have "interacted" with, it needs to be done rationally using science and defined metrics--not gut feelings.
Literacy rate is a great metric to start with.
Then make a list of metrics, do your homework and report your findings.
Everybody wants to believe thier ex's are worse off without them--but when measured by weight lost and income gained--the story may be different than what we hoped for.
Then the question becomes--why would we root for an ex to have a shitty life?
Is there even anything to talk about this week?
😂.... 👮♂️ Keep moving, nothing to see here.
🤣🤣🤣
I know already that Walter thinks Trump (aka Bibi's Bitch) kidnapping Maduro was some giant step for "democracy" against fantasy drug cartels and not a precursor to the upcoming attack on Iran on behalf of that genocidal, warmongering shitstain of a country portrayed in the captured media as our "greatest ally."
The attack on Iran will interrupt the flow of oil from the Middle East, so Trump's zionist puppeteers think having free, unfettered access to Venezuelan crude will soften the blow as we send our guys to do the dirty work of the world's shittiest people against a country with wich we have no beef. The Israelis are also hoping this will end Venezuela's embargo on shipping oil to them since 2009.
It also got us to stop talking about that embarrassing Israeli spy operation known as "The Epstein Files."
Well Venezuela is not Granada. Get ready for Viet Nam, Latin America Style.
🤦♂️🤡🥱
I'm glad I'm far less certain of events happening here and there than our "experts."
A billionty comments floating away into a void of zeros and ones. Understanding that might be a good starting point
Deep, man.
No beef against Venezuela, et. al.? The kingpin of a Cartel that aligned itself with China in delivering poisons to the United States’s shores, with the help of Mexico, killing Americans in the hundreds of thousands over 4 years? This was an operation with a purpose against their northern neighbor. Opening their prisons to allow Tren De Aragua gangs to reside here, and allowing our enemies China to deliver their precursors to Mexico. The indited one time dictator had to be prosecuted after his actions proved his motives. Despite the many chances Trump offered for a safe exile he decided to stay and hope we didn’t have the might to capture him. Thank Good we did. I hope the Transition is quick and many expats return to their homeland to restore it.
All of what you say is complete nonsense and you are the just another casualty of a Rupert Murdock-owned Fox News, Israeli psy-opp.
BTW did you know that your Anti-Drug superhero pardoned in December the former President if Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, serving 45-year sentence for being one of the biggest, most violent drug-trafficker in the world? Why?
How about that Ecuador exports FAR MORE dangerous drugs to the United States than Venezuela? But that's okay because its current CIA-installed President, a Miami-born Jew and Netanyahu minion named Daniel Noboa, is a personal friend President Trump. Imagine that. Hmmm... go figure...
Well I rarely watch Fox, but you think what you want to. Doesn’t annoy me
Sad to say, not renewing my annual subscription.
The very argument that realists use to explain why it's not appropriate to line Russia's border with missiles from NATO countries and CIA outposts is the equivalent of the US use of the Monroe Doctrine. It makes a lot of sense to me.
Another interesting aspect is the corporate media's predictable insistence on asking when the next Venezuelan election is, while the ignore the same question for Ukraine.
Walter's take on exposing the weakness of the past incursions in the ME is kind of a mask off moment. It makes one wonder if these lengthy wars were the plan all along, given how lucrative they are for the MIC (but not for the country). Here are 2 successful missions, in a row, carried out flawlessly. It's the way one would think military actions by the greatest super power in the world, with the largest and most well funded military should operate.
Without all the waste, fraud and abuse in our government just think what the US could be.
We don't have to live this way.
“ It makes one wonder if these lengthy wars were the plan all along, given how lucrative they are for the MIC (but not for the country).”
🛎️🔨
I want to hear the NAFO fellas and Russiagaters explain how Trump is still Putin’s toady, even though Putin has decried the arrest of his ally Maduro, and the US is seizing Russian flagged tankers that the Russian navy has been dispatched to escort.
«explain why it's not appropriate to line Russia's border with missiles from NATO countries and CIA outposts is the equivalent of the US use of the Monroe Doctrine. It makes a lot of sense to me.»
But it is not the same: the USA puts missiles and biolabs on the RF border "FOR DEMOCRACY" while the RF doing the same would be "AGGRESSION!".
https://blissex.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/poliusadonatethecontras-1985.png
https://blissex.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/poliusadonatemujaheddin-1981.png
Double standards and hypocrisy are the very foundations of politics and of international politics even more so :-).
According to the realists, such as Mearsheimer, RF is a great power and thus Ukraine should pay attention to the fact that Russia shares a border with Ukraine. Democracy does not come into play.
Matt and Walter advocating for stealing other people's money
Is anybody in the US paying attention to the current uprising in Iran, now in day 9? This revolution is not being televised by MSM. It’s been streaming live on TousiTV, and other independents.
Millions of people, mostly unarmed, taking back their country from the Islamic Republic, whom are in hiding and planning to join Assad in Moscow. The Iranians are grateful to Trump’s words of support (may not need the military) and buoyed by the kidnap & arrest of Maduro. I’m sure Matt & Walter have intel and something to say about how this ties in with Venezuela. It is timely for their rebellion, since US took out nuclear capacity and is taking over Venezuela, and stopping the trafficking of oil to the terrorist/extremists of Iran, as well as Russia, Columbia & Cuba. It’s a house of cards coming down for the Communist/Islamist dictatorships. Matt, you’ve got to play their victory liberation song “This is the last battle, Pahlavi the King will return” all over X, IG, YouTube & more.
This is the kind of ignorant mouth breather this podcast attracts as viewers now. Everyone else has already gotten fed up and left, or are on the way.
Getting rid of the mullahs would be a genuine boon to the world, but the credit should go to the Iranian people who’ve been working to change their government for almost 20 years now. No American government has done much to help on that.
Matt witnessed the fall of Communism in the USSR in 1989. He should have some good points to make here.