NATO tells businesses to prepare for war

NY Post, 11/25–The chair of NATO’s military committee warned business leaders to prepare for a “wartime scenario” and bring their production lines back home, rather than relying on China or Russia, to avoid blackmail or sabotage — as former and future US President Donald Trump has vowed to restore his “America First” agenda…Dutch Adm. Rob Bauer said instability in global politics could leave businesses at the mercy of foreign governments, especially if war were to break out. “Businesses need to be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly,” Bauer said. “Because while it may be the military who wins battles, it’s the economies that win wars” … The NATO military chief noted that 60% of all earth materials are produced in China, with 90% of the products also processed there…He warned that it would be naive for business leaders to believe that the Chinese Communist Party would not stoop to targeting foreign business in its country to disrupt the economies of potential adversaries. The dire warning comes as Trump has vowed to prioritize an “America First” agenda, which could include setting 60% tariffs on most goods imported from China in an effort to protect domestic industries.

Pakistani workers face off against fascist State

Al Jazeera, 11/25–In the early hours of Tuesday, protesters clashed with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at a western motorway entry to Islamabad. “We are deeply frustrated with the government, they do not know how to function,” said demonstrator Kalat Khan, 56. “The treatment we are receiving is unjust and cruel.” The capital has been locked down since late Saturday, with mobile internet sporadically cut and more than 20,000 police flooding the streets, many armed with riot shields and batons. “From the scale of preparations, one wonders if the Islamabad Police is preparing for war,” said an editorial in the English-language Dawn newspaper. “The city administration may have intended to demonstrate strength by sharing the plans it has made, but instead it looks like it is panicking.” Hassan Akbar, Pakistan fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center, called the security personnel deployment and infrastructure build-up in Islamabad “unprecedented” as anti-government demonstrators converge on the capital.

Israeli fascists look to win big

Foreign Affairs, 11/25–More than 13 months since Hamas’s…attack, Israel finds itself on a roll. Since the beginning of the year, Israel has assassinated much of the senior leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah, decimated their ranks, and conducted precision strikes in Iran. At home, after seeing his approval rating hit rock bottom following October 7, Netanyahu has watched his popularity start to rebound…Resisting calls for a truce, Netanyahu—with potent stimulus from his extreme right flank—is pledging to double down on his pursuit of “total victory”...Trump is viewed in Jerusalem as a staunch patron of Israel…Although the Biden administration sustained Israel militarily, economically, and diplomatically…it showed frequent disapproval of the way Israel was conducting the war, and U.S. President Joe Biden was often directly at odds with Netanyahu…By contrast, Netanyahu and his allies envisage that the incoming Trump administration will bring unqualified U.S. support for Israel. That assumption has given new fuel to the most expansionist…aspirations of Israel’s ascendant right wing…

NATO preps troops for Ukraine meat grinder

LeMonde, 11/24–As the conflict in Ukraine enters a new phase of escalation, discussions over sending Western troops and private defense companies to Ukraine have been revived…These are sensitive discussions, most of which are classified – relaunched in light of a potential American withdrawal of support for Kyiv once Donald Trump takes office…"Discussions are underway between the UK and France on defense cooperation, particularly with a view to creating a hard core of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and wider European security"...These are comments in line with those made by the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot…he called on Western allies to "not set and express red lines" in their support for Ukraine.