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Page added on June 12, 2018
Is the Empire on the Edge of the Seneca Cliff? Italian Prime Minister Conte Opens to Russia at the G7
It is rare that a province of the Empire tries to pursue an independent foreign policy but, at the last G7 meeting, the new Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, did something like that. He stated that Russia should return to the G8 (now G7) and called for the lifting the economic sanctions against Russia.
In the past, such deeds on the part of provincial politicians didn’t go unpunished by the Imperial Powers, but this time the Empire seems to be in disarray – with Emperor Trump himself seeming to pursue a policy of disengagement. Might Conte’s statement be part of the start of a radical change in the Empire’s structure, with the provinces becoming more independent from Washington? For sure, the Empire is not yet sliding down the unavoidable Seneca Cliff which will lead to its disgregation. But it seems that we are moving in that direction.
As a comment to Mr. Conte’s declarations about Russia, I thought I could reproduce here a piece that I was planning to post on another blog of mine (“Chimeras”) but which suddenly became appropriate for Cassandra’s Legacy. It is the translation of a text written by Giuseppe Iannello in occasion of the centennial of the Earthquake of Messina – an Italian city on the North-Eastern tip of Sicily. The 1908 earthquake was a major disaster and the role of the Russian sailors helping the victims is still remembered nowadays in Italy.
Here, Iannello states, correctly in my opinion, “The people of other nations, offering their help, proved to be friends to the Italians, but the Russians turned out to be brothers.”
Cassandra’s legacy by Ugo Bardi
21 Comments on "Is the Empire on the Edge of the Seneca Cliff? Italian Prime Minister Conte Opens to Russia at the G7"
JuanP on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 8:14 am
The empire is definitely close to the edge of the cliff, but we are still not there. I think Ugo underestimates how hard it will be when the time comes. The USA has been destroying other countries to get ahead and stay ahead since its independence; this will only get worse. Destruction will be rampant; I expect the USA to keep becoming increasingly violent, agressive, abusive, criminal, and unhinged. I fear how this will play out because I believe the US government will stop at nothing to try and achieve its goals even if they are doomed to fail.
LetCanadaVanished on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 8:34 am
This universe seem made of three things, chaos, entropy and stupidity.
Chaos is what we see now. Chaos could also be in a river flow. Entropy is seen everywhere: aging people, rust on steel and so on.
Stupid people are everywhere.
I am not surprised be what is happening. I am surprised it did not happen before.
rockman on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 9:50 am
Juan – “The USA has been destroying other countries to get ahead and stay ahead…” Perhaps as I postulated: the MADOR principal…the Mutually Assured Distribution Of Resources. The more powerful countries (like China and the US) cooperate to dominate acquisition of resources to the detriment of the weaker countries (such as the EU).
I also wonder how much of Italy’s snuggling up to Russia is the result of the TurkStream Russian NG pipeline landing in Turkey replacing NordStream 2? From Turkey the most obvious route of the Russian NG entering Europe is thru Italy. Would give Italy a lot of leverage with the EU similar to what the Ukraine has today. Do you think the EU would care as much about the Ukraine today if it didn’t control so much of its NG consumption?
MASTERMIND on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 9:57 am
JuanP
I believe the US government will stop at nothing to try and achieve its goals even if they are doomed to fail.
Bingo!
Don’t make us George Bush this button over nothing!
brough on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 10:14 am
In the UK we are already over the edge and staring at the rocks below.
Trains are failing to turn up at railway stations all over the nation, for no apparent reason
A sure sign of thermodynamic degradation.
Boat on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 10:45 am
Mm, JuanP
A list of these goals please.
JuanP on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 12:27 pm
Rock “The more powerful countries (like China and the US) cooperate to dominate acquisition of resources to the detriment of the weaker countries (such as the EU).”
Very much true. As someone who comes from a particularly remote, small, and weak country I have always believed this. I always say that the USA is a victim of its circumstances and any other country in the same circumstances would do the same.
As far as Europe, Italy, and Ukraine are concerned, I agree, too. Italy stands to benefit from TurkStream as a transit country and it must be a consideration for them. I think it is good for everyone to have alternatives to Ukraine since I consider Ukraine an extremely unreliable and corrupt failed state.
JuanP on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 12:32 pm
Rock, I don’t know if you’ve read this.
https://monthlyreview.org/2018/06/01/the-china-pakistan-economic-corridor/
I mostly agree with it. I don’t think China is a better alternative to the USA in the long run as far as improving the lives of common people is concerned.
Anonymouse1 on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 3:50 pm
The empire does not tolerate dissent, or deviations from the party line, even, and ESPECIALLY, if those deviations represent the will of the people in question. Everyone needs to be cognizant of the fact that all the little mini-mes that currently seem so upset with the trump regimes erratic behavior, are hardly reformers or ‘populists’ themselves. The so-called G7 ‘leaders’ are all are uS, israeli lickspittles, neo-liberals, war-mongers and corporatists themselves. The ‘west’ and its demockracies have a serious crisis of leadership and vision even if most of its own people fail to realize this.
The G7 ‘leaders’, are not fit to rule a city hall, much less govern the fate of the free-world order.
And that includes ‘our’ own lightweight, neo-liberal wonderbread, Just-in-time True-dough. After trump himself, he could be most useless one of the bunch.
Cloggie on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 11:21 pm
Meanwhile the populist wave has swapped over from East- to West-Germany:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwHEeYSnud0
Cloggie on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 11:28 pm
“I also wonder how much of Italy’s snuggling up to Russia is the result of the TurkStream Russian NG pipeline landing in Turkey replacing NordStream 2? ”
Very little. Just like the presidency of Trump, the populist government in Italy and subsequent orientation towards Russia has everything to do with migration, seen as a threat.
https://youtu.be/1jt9MLdg3JQ
https://www.google.nl/search?q=salvini+putin&client=safari&hl=en-nl&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigq-Os5s_bAhUJmbQKHcGcDLAQ_AUIESgB&biw=1366&bih=922
GregT on Tue, 12th Jun 2018 11:46 pm
“And that includes ‘our’ own lightweight, neo-liberal wonderbread, Just-in-time True-dough. After trump himself, he could be most useless one of the bunch.”
But, but, he’s so cute, and he has charisma. What more could anybody ever possibly want from the Prime Minister of an entire country?
JuanP on Wed, 13th Jun 2018 8:11 am
Russia’s oil sector tax overhaul.
https://www.rt.com/business/429558-russias-oil-sector-massive-tax-overhaul/
JuanP on Wed, 13th Jun 2018 8:16 am
Greg “But, but, he’s so cute, and he has charisma”
I assume you were being sarcastic. I understand that some people may find him “cute” though I don’t, but he is most definitely not charismatic. The G6 leaders have no charisma at all.
JuanP on Wed, 13th Jun 2018 8:17 am
That was meant to be a 7 not a 6! LOL!
GregT on Wed, 13th Jun 2018 10:17 am
“I assume you were being sarcastic.”
Yes Juan, I was being sarcastic. That was the sentiment that I heard echoed over and over again, by women 60 years of age and older, including my own mother.
rockman on Wed, 13th Jun 2018 2:31 pm
Juan – Thought provoking article. Thanks. Makes one wonder how the powerful countries will try to use certain weak surrogate countries to camouflage their efforts. Much like Iran using its surrogate Yemen to attack Saudi Arabia.
Anonymouse1 on Wed, 13th Jun 2018 6:52 pm
narrativetard drools this one out….
“Much like Iran using its surrogate Yemen to attack Saudi Arabia”
Have any actual, evidence, you know proof of this?
[Spoiler alert] He does not.
Holy shit are you ever a dumbass narrativeman, not that is exactly news around here. If an actual thought ever provokes you into something resembling a coherent idea or notion, mark it down on your calendar, or diary, whatever. A one time-only event like that, would be worth recording.
Cloggie on Thu, 14th Jun 2018 3:00 pm
Wowwowwow, High Noon in Germany! The CSU has said that if by monday there is no agreement, Bavaria will break ranks with Berlin and begin to block the border, regardless of what Merkel says.
Anarchy in Germany!
Hopefully the German government falls apart.
Cloggie on Thu, 14th Jun 2018 3:38 pm
Spectacular developments in Germany, the situation is now that Seehofer/CSU demands that he will run refugee policies from now on:’
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus177578720/CDU-gegen-CSU-in-der-Asylkrise-Unerhoerte-Eskalation.html
Merkel now either has the option to accept that or fire Seehofer, which will mean the end of the government.
“Endgame”
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-vs-csu-endspiel-a-1213035.html
The CSU is fighting for its existence and for decades used to have the absolute majority in Bavaria. That is now over.
Now watching a political talkshow on German television. They all agree that the government could fall by monday. End era Merkel?
🙂
Cloggie on Thu, 14th Jun 2018 3:45 pm
The two opponents:
http://www.pi-news.net/2018/06/merkel-am-abgrund-drehhofer-hat-fertig/