Of Course, He Doesn't.

Donald Trump doesn't see sanctions on Turkey right now. OK, then. 

Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not considering economic sanctions "right now" on Turkey after its major weapons purchase from Russia. "We're not looking at that right now," Trump told reporters. Speaking shortly afterward, he seemed to clarify: "We're looking at it. Very, very difficult situation for a lot of reasons." "We'll see what we do. We haven't announced that yet," he said. The United States said Wednesday that it was booting Turkey from its signature F-35 stealth fighter jet program after it defied warnings and began delivery of the S-400 missile defense system.

The issue here, of course, is extremely simple--sanction Turkey, and her drift away from NATO only accelerates, and there goes NATO as a viable military organization. Europeans will press on with their own European Armed Forces after that and, in general, it will be yet another Trump Administration's "win" for the United States. Isn't "winning" wonderful? Turks know what they are doing. As I stated before, and, let's be honest, that was very easy to predict, Russia already offered Turkey SU-35s as a "patch" deal until more serious military-industrial cooperation, involving some technology transfer will be hammered out between Turks and Russians. 

While Ahmed Aubodouth's (of The Independent) piece is full of butt-hurt delirium so characteristic of UK sewer, aka its Orwellian mass-media, let's be honest--even those morons understand that:

Turkey and Russia’s air defence deal is a nightmare for the US – and still Trump has no idea what Putin is up to

I deliberately, with my nose held, referenced this piece since even this guy gets it in terms of a nightmare. In other terms, however, he, as is expected, doesn't get it--Turkey is her own nation, with or without Putin's "evil" plans, and after Gulenist Coup in 2016 and, now obvious, inside job of shooting Russia's SU-24 down in 2015, or murdering of Russia's Ambassador  Karlov, it is clear that Erdogan knew who and how was behind those events. The rest of the piece is a standard "lefty" gibberish, including now tired bromides about European "values". But it is, indeed, a disaster for the US (as is the whole Trump's so called foreign policy, or lack thereof) and the issue here is not just political--it is, in the end, of the military-technological competition. What ALL Western media miss, of course, is the fact that Turkey is back into imperial game and is planning to lead Islamic world in the future. That is the main driver behind Erdogan's vision for Turkey and it goes without saying--one cannot deal with modern West which is becoming increasingly degenerate and not-agreement capable. One cannot also deal with defense of such vision as Turkish one by using American weaponry: a lot of it it is not that good, for starters, as F-35 demonstrated so vividly and, secondly, the United States can always, whenever she wants, shut off both equipment and logistical chains to entities which US dislikes. Turkey qualifies fully for such "treatment" because she increasingly asserts her own interests.

Russia is completely different in this respect. Russians are aware about what Turkey is up to and they have no problem with helping Turkey along her way to Asia greatness and even global relevance. And why not? Turks are striving and will continue to strive for this anyway and trying to arrest this development will merely increase the number of paroxysms and nobody in greater Eurasia really needs or wants that. Islam? Well, that is yet to be seen but one should not also forget that in Turkey Russia is staking a very valuable and voluminous market and hydrocarbons' hub. That, plus Bosporus and Dardanelles, aka Turkish Straits. Russia and her present Black Sea Fleet and what is shaping to be the new edition of 5th Operational Squadron (5 OPESK), not to mention Tartus in Syria, need those. Big, very big politics is involved. 

Would Trump sanction Turkey eventually? If he wants to accelerate solidifying Russia and China's positions within Eurasia, sure. But he has to be aware of the fact that this will increasingly shrink both American influence and, inevitably, her market for military toys. Russia, in this respect, knows really well what she is doing--Turkey will need many of those. Many of them already are and will be what neither NATO member, the United States included, can offer. Air Force Times may have their own doubts about SU-57 entering the picture after pretty much (I would assume, I could be wrong, of course--don't take it as a fact yet) settled deal with SU-35s for Turkey, otherwise Rostec's very own Chemezov wouldn't publicly offer them. 

In an official Rostec statement released Thursday, Chemezov was quoted as saying Russia is prepared to help Turkey procure advanced fighter jets. But the jets on offer are hardly an analogue of the stealthy F-35. Rather, Chemezov is offering up the Su-35, a heavily souped-up version of the Su-27."If our Turkish colleagues express a desire, we are ready to work out the deliveries of Su-35 fighter jets," Chemezov said.The Su-35 is a heavy multirole fighter jet and has recently become a popular export item. One of the jet’s standout features is extreme maneuverability. There are several videos online of Su-35s performing the demanding and impressive Pugachev’s Cobra maneuver.The jet had its combat debut in Syria in early 2016 to beef up escorts of Russian Su-24 and Su-34 fighter-bombers deployed in the conflict there. It was, ironically, part of Moscow’s message to Ankara after Turkish air defenses shot down a Russian Su-24 in November 2015.The Su-35 is not a stealth fighter, like Russia’s developmental Su-57. The Su-57 project is years behind schedule, and expectations have been downgraded several times in recent years. The Russian Air Force has focused on more Su-35 procurements while delaying the Su-57.

It has to be remembered that Erdogan openly spoke recently about not only SU-35s but SU-57s. Will Turkey get her hands on this combat aircraft? We all may discuss all combat virtues and faults of SU-57 whatever we want, but there is very little doubt that today it is the world's premier combat aircraft with unmatched capabilities, which make F-35 look like...ahem...turkey and Russia is putting this technology into series production with contract for the first 76 (three regiments) aircraft for Russian VKS signed just recently. So, Air Force Times needs to update itself. Now, one has to keep in mind Russia's military procurement truism: Russia never offers anything for sale abroad in terms of weapons unless new generation is already in IOC or nearing the conclusion of R&D phase. So, was Erdogan bluffing about S-500? Something tells me that there is a chance he didn't. Obviously not now, but down the road, why not? 

Meanwhile, Vladimir Zhirinovsky is Russia's main political clown and once he is gone, his political party (LDPR), essentially a one-man show, will dissolve itself naturally. But as any court jester, Zhirnovsky often speaks the truth, however in a bizarre, caricature form. So, who knows, what Russia has now in works. S-600, 700? Surely, Russia works on something which will follow S-500 which is also now in series production. And that brings us to this issue which I cover ad nauseam--in international relations combination of real military power and fair business is a deadly combination. Real power on the international arena exists ONLY when it rests on a foundation of a REAL military power. Real military power is a combination of factors among which the ability to produce most advanced and effective war machines is a defining feature. No machines--no power. Turks know this damn well. And as in any Asian culture the matter of prestige is of enormous importance. Ignorant filthy-moneyed Gulfie Arabs may have enough money to buy latest Rolls-Royce model or built (or rather pay for) pretty ugly post-modernist skyscrapers but it seems that Turks would rather drive Toyotas and manufacture cutting edge military technology with which they, later, will try to reclaim the glory of a Sublime Porte and for that they need to have more SU-57s and S-500 than Rolls-Royces or Lamborghinis. After all, there is always Aurus, as long as you have a desire to wait in line for couple of years. After all, this, allegedly omnipotent and omnipresent, dude rides in one. 

Pepe Escobar's Superb Segment On European Elections.

Here is what Pepe has to say about "European Left". 

A Bilderberg source discreetly let it be known that the result of the recent European parliamentary elections was interpreted as a victory. After all, the final choice was between a neoliberal/Green alliance and Right populism; nothing to do with progressive values. The Greens who won in Europe – contrary to the US Greens – are all humanitarian imperialists, to quote the splendid neologism coined by Belgian physicist Jean Bricmont. And they all pray on the politically correct altar. What matters, from Bilderberg’s perspective, is that the European Parliament will continue to be run by a pseudo-Left that keeps defending the destruction of the nation-state.

I, personally, long ago resigned myself to the (sad) thought that Europe is done as a viable culture. Knowing what and who European Greens or, generally, so called Left are--it is the only outcome one may expect--Europe to be guided by suicidal/homicidal cultural and economic policies. Vladimir Putin today, nonchalantly,  explained why Russia is not interested in the disintegration of the European countries, when responding to the question on his attitudes towards Catalonia's desire to be independent from Spain. Indeed, he said, why should we (Russia) be interested in that when 40% of our hard currency reserves are denominated in Euros (in Russian). 

Europe may still represent a first rate economic power (for now), but let's be honest--intellectually and culturally Europe is increasingly feeble. Economy will follow, of course, and pseudo-left (or "progressives" as they are known) will be the ones who will bury Europe, that is unless European right will not try to make a last stand. I don't know, as much as American political elites are utterly corrupt and ignorant, it has to be stated that European political corps is even worse. For Russia, the only thing which is of any consequence is Europe's market both for gas/oil and hi-tech products. But against the background of China's dramatically growing appetites for LNG/Pipe and US-China Trade War, Europe increasingly will be pushed out away from the center of Russia's geopolitical considerations. Indeed, to talk to WHO in Europe? Business? OK. Sure. But European political class is a collection of freaks and, as I stated earlier, when speaking about Ukraine, it is not Ukraine, or, in this case Europe, who gets independence from Russia--it is exactly the other way around. The moment overwhelming majority of Russians started to view Western Europe not as a civilizational example to be followed but as a freak show--that was it for Europe. Now, Europe  will either get broken in by the desperate United States or will inevitably turn into multicultural ghetto (the process is well underway) under the watchful eye of European "progressives". 

In general, Russia doesn't need Europe anymore in any cultural sense. Obviously, remnants of the Russian "oligarchs" and kreakls are more than welcome to get their asses to Europe, where their main real estate is located anyway, granted they leave their assets in Russia--Russia will not cry. In fact, Russia may even rejoice--Europe totally deserved freak show and murderers such as Khodorkovsky to reside there. I am sure, Russians will not also cry if the whole London's so called "Russian" diaspora will remain there too. Considering who is running Europe and where it is going--new edition of Iron Curtain doesn't seem to be that radical of a measure. To illustrate, the genuine Left, which was the Soviet one treated sodomy, not to mention gender-fluidity, especially among under-aged children not kindly, to put it mildly. In general, Russians, being grossly underdeveloped and primitive people continue to recognize only two genders--male and female--and view family as a key institution for both reproduction and bringing up children. Forestalling some questions, let it be known that even large portion of Russian urban centers' "progressive" office plankton still prefers heterosexual relationships and its male part still feels somewhat insecure about not-serving in the Armed Forces--which is a good sign indicating the prevalence of the male origin even among those who, by definition, are not fit to be Alpha-males. But that is the point: Russian values are in a contradiction with the European ones.  This contradiction can not be resolved. Paradoxically, here Russians and many predominantly, albeit not exclusively, white Americans have much in common. In the end, I and my family--we are keenly aware that we wouldn't be able to live anywhere in Europe, other than Russia. United States? A completely different thing--easy to adapt for culture, especially non-urban one, and some Constitutional Amendments are still there. Will see how long they will endure.   

Make no mistake, Russians are not against democracy (a real one) as long as it is a national one--and that is where Russia and Europe diverge dramatically and the gap continues to increase. Europe celebrates Conchita Wurst, Russians celebrate Sasha Prokhorenko and Roman Filipov. Russians celebrate warriors, Europe is engaged in discovering 145th, or is it 167th, gender. So, the fewer European values are "exported" to Russia--the better it is for Russia. Majority of Russian are well aware of this. The faster the rotten pseudo-"intellectual" European heritage, from Frankfurt School, to gender-identity politics, to Bologna Process in education and juvenile justice are removed from Russia, the higher will be the chances, in the end, for Europe (or what will remain of it) to return to its roots, which at some point of time created historically unparalleled intellectual, artistic, economic and scientific expansion. Russia will be there, however, to ensure that no new Hitler will emerge from it. That is good enough and no one even dreams about new de Gaulle--it is too much to ask of Europe or of what remains of France.  In the end, Paris looks (and smells) so "good"nowadays, that I better stick to St. Petersburg or Montana.