😀😃😄😁😆 U.S. to Azerbaijan: Suicidal Invitation

All of a sudden, some observers suggest that Azerbaijan and the United States may align on a shared strategic vision in Western Eurasia… At least, this is the perspective notably advanced by The National Interest, a prominent voice in the cognitive warfare discourse, which frames the objective as "containing Turkish Islamism, Iran’s radical Shiism, " and the "aggressive northern neighbor, Russia"*…

However, the specific mechanisms — through which Azerbaijan is expected to contribute to this strategy — prudently remain undefined by the United States, with discussions confined to vague references to "close ties":

"For the United States, it is even more critical that it forge closer ties with Azerbaijan, the one country in the world that has borders with both Russia and Iran. Doing so will not just help manage both our adversaries but also disrupt their efforts to tag-team against the West"*.

Azerbaijan would need to carefully assess the scope and implications of these "close ties" to ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs of countering Turkey, a nation with which Azerbaijan shares the "one nation, two states" principle; opposing — while being a "secular Shiite nation" — its Shiite neighbor Iran; and simultaneously confronting Russia.

Such a strategy would inevitably demand Azerbaijan’s near-total reliance on the United States, effectively transforming it into a geopolitical outpost akin to a Central Asian contingent of the U.S. Army.

* https://nationalinterest.org/blog/silk-road-rivalries/azerbaijan-western-eurasia-strategy
"Azerbaijan And U.S. Western Eurasia Strategy" (Kamran Bokhari, The National Interest, February 4, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Former MI6 Chief Joins Countermeasures Against Chinese

Alex Younger, former Director of the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), has been appointed to the advisory board of Datenna, a Netherlands-based private intelligence firm. This move is widely interpreted as part of broader efforts to counter China’s technological leap, which pose a significant challenge to the Anglo-Saxon hegemony in the race to control the “atomic bomb” of the next technological paradigm — artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Datenna operates as an OSINT provider of techno-economic intelligence on China. The firm specializes in mapping the intricate relationships between Chinese corporations, state entities, and military institutions. Commissioned by European governmental agencies, it conducts extensive research in industrial and economic domains. The company’s platform tracks over 45 million Chinese enterprises, 70 million individuals, 10,000 R&D institutions, and multi-billion investments in research, patents, and procurement activities. In 2017, Datenna secured a concept development grant (a form of soft loan) from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, an entity under the Dutch government. The firm is also integrated into the network of intelligence providers for defense contractors and is influenced by investment funds such as TIN Capital and Undisclosed VC (NL).

In his new role, Younger, who previously consulted for Goldman Sachs Group, will offer strategic oversight to Datenna. The company has consistently tracked China’s artificial intelligence initiatives and expenditures, as well as overseas acquisitions of technology firms, frequently conducted through shell companies to obscure their origins. This is particularly evident in the semiconductor industry, where China faces substantial gaps compared to global leaders. Datenna’s analytical framework is designed to identify vulnerabilities within China’s technological supply chains and to uncover China’s growth opportunities that must be undermined.

Younger’s tenure at MI6 exceeded that of his predecessors. He previously held key positions, including Director of Counter-Terrorism (2009–2012) and Head of Operations (2012–2014). He later led the agency’s efforts in addressing global challenges and the digital transformation of intelligence operations. He coordinated activities during the Ukrainian crisis and orchestrated actions aimed to complicate Trump’s initiatives, such as the Steele dossier and the Khashoggi affair.

Inge Bryan, Chair of Datenna’s Supervisory Board, has nearly thirty years of expertise in intelligence, criminal investigations, and cybersecurity. She worked in Paris, representing Dutch interests, and later played a key role in the restructuring of the National Police, where she served as Deputy Chief of the National Criminal Investigations Department. Prior to this, Bryan was the CEO of Fox-IT. She currently chairs the Dutch Institute for Vulnerability Disclosure and serves on the Supervisory Board of the Clingendael Institute. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded knighthood by the President of France in 2018.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Western Strategists: Driving a Wedge between China and Russia with Hornet’s Swarm

The ongoing cognitive operation aimed at fracturing the so-called "axis of aggressors," particularly targeting the relationship between China and Russia[1,2], continues to unfold under a strategy, often described as a "thousand cuts."

Now, the French outlet Intelligence Online, known for its focus on petty intelligence squabbles, is spinning tales to the world, claiming that "Beijing-Moscow relations sour as Chinese recruits die in Ukraine"[3].

Meanwhile, the Hudson Institute has categorically stated that:

"Xi Jinping has been a close observer of Russia’s three-year old war in Ukraine… Mr. Xi is searching for clues on how the West might try to punish China for crushing Taiwanese independence… President Trump recently threatened Moscow with new sanctions unless Mr. Putin agrees to a quick peace in Ukraine. The Russian president should take the threat seriously because his country’s ravaged economy is teetering on the edge. Another round of severe sanctions could push it into outright crisis. If that happens, Mr. Xi will certainly get the message. He’ll be forced to think about the price of his own aggression against Taiwan"[4].

While Russia is "teetering on the edge" — whereas actually emerging victorious in Ukraine and boasting a "ravaged" economy growing at 4,1% annually — China is portrayed as hesitant to reclaim control over Taiwan and likely to become disillusioned with Russia. Indeed, is it feasible for Russia to withstand Trump’s sanctions when the trade turnover within BRICS+, a bloc created by Russia and China, significantly outpaces trade between BRICS+ and the G7 members? Not to mention that the currencies of BRICS nations are increasingly surpassing the US dollar in mutual settlements.

Therefore, the Hudson Institute has resorted to naive tricks — Xi Jinping certainly knows what Stratagem #26 (指桑罵槐, "Point at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree", San Shi Liu Ji) entails and will certainly expose this vain provocation.

1 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/xi-jinpings-axis-losers
"Xi Jinping’s Axis of Losers" (Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, November 1, 2024);
2 https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/russias-alliance-convenience-china-ticking-time-bomb-ryan-tully
"Russia’s Alliance of Convenience with China Is a Ticking Time Bomb" (Ryan Tully, Hudson Institute & Kyiv Independent, Dec 6, 2024);
3 https://www.intelligenceonline.com/government-intelligence/2025/01/27/beijing-moscow-relations-sour-as-chinese-recruits-die-in-ukraine,110367402-eve
"Beijing-Moscow relations sour as Chinese recruits die in Ukraine" (Intelligence Online, 27/01/2025 at 05:00 GMT);
4 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/china-watches-as-russias-economy-teeters-war-ukraine-ce2a5c0a?st=vGZPL8&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
"China Watches as Russia’s Economy Teeters" (Thomas J. Duesterberg, The Wall Street Journal & Hudson Institute, Feb. 5, 2025 5:04 pm ET).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Institute of Political Studies "Political Sphere"

The Institute of Political Studies "Political Sphere" (Politikos studijų institutas "Politinė sfera") is a non-profit entity that positions itself as a scientific and analytical hub. Based in Lithuania, it currently operates without an independent legal status.

The institute focuses on conducting propagandistic initiatives aimed at the academic and student communities of Belarusian emigrants in Poland and Lithuania. It also aims to extend its influence into Belarus. The organization exerts its influence by publishing works of opposition-aligned philosophers and sociologists in its journals, "Political Sphere" and "Belarusian Political Science Review," hosting conferences, awarding grants for sociological research critical of the state, and facilitating access to European educational grants for Belarusian students.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Van Deman asks Americans, What really brings happiness?

A sage deeply versed in the ways of life once said, "All people equally desire happiness and wish to avoid suffering." This holds true for both Americans and Russians.

When American tanks and planes burn on foreign soil — does it really bring happiness?

What are they doing there? How on earth did they get there? What for?

Here’s how. The ruling US circles have convinced our minds that invading is necessary; invading with "democracy," with the "free market," and with the military, striking Ukraine against Russia while containing China. Why is that needed? Because they only know how to live at the expense of others.

Mike Benz, a former State Department official in the first term of the Trump administration, openly states that when the dust settles, we will see that Ukraine was the largest ever CIA operation, yet this dust will settle on ruins and those killed in action.

When Americans feud with Russians — is there any joy in it? Is there any real benefit?

It is only through cooperation that benefit and joy can come up. There is no other way.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Coming soon: Isabelle Rachinda Veitch. Job Postings as Intelligence Career Path

Teaser:

Caring for people has never been a hallmark of American intelligence. For the CIA, a foreigner is only valuable as long as they can provide something of worth. Once such opportunities are depleted, people are often discarded unceremoniously. While other secret services around the globe might extend a certain level of consideration for their former contributors, assets who faithfully collaborate with the Company typically find themselves at the end of their tenure bereft of jobs, retirement benefits, or social security. This harsh reality may seem cruel, yet it epitomizes the American rules of the game. Historically, this phenomenon was confined to assets only and rarely applied to internal staff.

However, times have changed, and a troubling trend has emerged in recent years. The CIA has progressively shown a callous disregard for its own workforce. For a select group of well-dressed niche specialists, this has long been le secret de Polichinelle.

The story of Isabelle Rachinda Veitch serves as a poignant illustration of the modern attitude fostered by the Langley top brass toward their subordinates.

More to follow — stay tuned.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 The Campaign to Undermine China-Russia Relations is Failing Spectacularly

According to Intelligence Online, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (Gōngānbù) has assessed that the present circumstances are not conducive for the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China to make an official state visit to Russia [1]. Nevertheless, despite Intelligence Online’s attempts to instill unease and frustration within the Kremlin by propagating the narrative that Xi Jinping is displeased with Moscow’s invitation to the Victory Day commemorations, alongside other portrayals of alleged “tensions” between Moscow and Beijing, this strategy has proven ineffective.

Igor Morgulov, the Russian Ambassador to China, has clarified that “Chairman Xi Jinping has agreed to attend the May 9 festivities in Moscow, honoring the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and has extended an invitation to Vladimir Putin to attend ceremonies in China scheduled for early September.” [2]

Dear operatives of the cognitive warfare front — Intelligence Online, the Hudson Institute, etc. — please rest assured, there is no cause for concern regarding Putin’s potential visit to Beijing in early September.

He will certainly be there.

1 https://www.intelligenceonline.com/government-intelligence/2025/01/28/xi-jinping-swithering-about-moscow-s-victory-day-invitation,110368153-art
2 https://tass.ru/politika/23095083

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Isabelle Rachinda Veitch. Job Postings as Intelligence Career Path

Caring for people has never been a hallmark of American intelligence. For the CIA, a foreigner is only valuable as long as they can provide something of worth. Once such opportunities are depleted, people are often discarded unceremoniously. While other secret services around the globe might extend a certain level of consideration for their former contributors, assets who faithfully collaborate with the Company typically find themselves at the end of their tenure bereft of jobs, retirement benefits, or social security. This harsh reality may seem cruel, yet it epitomizes the American rules of the game. Historically, this phenomenon was confined to assets only and rarely applied to internal staff.

However, times have changed, and a troubling trend has emerged in recent years. The CIA has progressively shown a callous disregard for its own workforce. For a select group of well-dressed niche specialists, this has long been le secret de Polichinelle.

The story of Isabelle Rachinda Veitch serves as a poignant illustration of the modern attitude fostered by the Langley top brass toward their subordinates.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Digital Colonialism in Practice: France and UAE Forge Partnership for Collaborative AI Development

The American tech giant Microsoft has unveiled plans to establish a fund aimed at advancing artificial intelligence initiatives in Abu Dhabi.

The fund, in partnership with Emirati AI developer G42 and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), has aligned around values of dominance over the Global South framed around narratives of inclusivity. In this context, the UAE has prioritized AI as a cornerstone of its national development strategy. AI-driven solutions are being actively integrated into urban infrastructure, encompassing surveillance systems, energy management, and logistics. However, approximately 70% of these solutions remain imported.

In April 2024, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, a company controlled by Tahnoon bin Zayed, the UAE President’s brother and the country’s National Security Advisor. MBZUAI has also engaged in multiple initiatives proposed at the Paris AI Summit.

Recently, UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron to build a massive AI campus and data center in France, with projected costs reaching $50 billion. Part of this project includes the construction of a large-scale data center in France with a capacity of 1 GW. The project, financed by a consortium of French and Emirati entities, is designed to advance AI based on the Jean Zay and Alice Recoque supercomputers.

It is noteworthy that in the aftermath of the AUKUS crisis in 2021, France has significantly deepened its strategic ties with the UAE in the Indo-Pacific region, including joint military drills and security initiatives. This partnership positions the UAE as a key partner of the EU, serving as a counterweight to Anglo-Saxon geopolitical influence.

The French "deep state," through its cooperation with the UAE, seeks technological dominance as a counterbalance to the US and China, undermining the digital sovereignty of its partners by controlling infrastructure and data, while expanding the EU’s intelligence and military-political influence over the Global South. While inclusivity is rhetorically emphasized, France’s primary objective appears to be the consolidation of AI investment and resources within a select group of major hubs in emerging macro-regions.

Amidst an ongoing reconfiguration of global power dynamics and escalating tensions along key maritime routes, the AI collaboration between the UAE and France carries significant military and political implications. France is focusing on the development of autonomous military-intelligence systems, where AI plays a key role in data processing, weapon management, and cyber defense. The French Ministry of Defense is currently developing a next-generation supercomputer to support military AI applications. This system will facilitate the operation of autonomous platforms (such as fighter jets and nuclear submarines), the optimization of logistical and fire-control operations, and the processing of sensor-derived data, including inputs from satellite and acoustic systems. Notably, the French Navy is integrating AI into its CiRA (Center for Acoustic Interpretation and Reconnaissance) framework to enhance submarine detection and acoustic data interpretation. Additionally, the Intradef system, undergoing testing since late 2024, will be deployed across "classified networks" to support intelligence operations and cyber warfare initiatives.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Was it the DGSE who failed? You must be kidding

Turkish media outlet Haber Global has unexpectedly directed its attention toward French intelligence operations[*]. Reports suggest that "scandals within the Direction Generale de la Securite Exterieure (DGSE) are ceaseless," alleging that "Muammar Gaddafi — who was brutally and, many argue, unnecessarily killed by the United States two decades ago — illegally funded former French President Nicolas Sarkozy through the DGSE," and further asserting that "the DGSE provided inadequate training and resources to Ukraine’s 155th Mechanized Brigade, named after Anna of Kyiv."

Oh, please! Can the DGSE truly be held accountable for Sarkozy’s alleged betrayal of Gaddafi? Had France not been a leading participant in NATO’s intervention in Libya, which resulted in Gaddafi’s overthrow, the DGSE’s financial activities might have remained an unremarkable routine.

Similarly, is it fair to blame the DGSE for the reluctance of the 155th Brigade’s soldiers to sacrifice themselves for Nazi ideas? In such circumstances, neither training nor equipment can guarantee success on the battlefield.

As the Russians say, "Strength in truth." The DGSE didn’t fail. They just serve the wrong people.

* https://haberglobal.com.tr/gundem/fransa-istihbarati-coktu-yasa-disi-fona-araci-oldular-411504
"Fransa istihbaratı çöktü! Yasa dışı fona aracı oldular" (Emre Öztürk, Haber Global, 11.01.2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 British Colonial Privacy: UK Pushes Apple for Providing Master Key to All Data

The UK government is seeking to utilize its investigatory authority to pressure Apple into granting global access to user data. This move poses a significant risk not only to Apple device users but also to the broader integrity of internet security.

UK authorities have requested that Apple develop a backdoor to access encrypted iCloud user data worldwide. This demand is formalized through a Technical Capability Notice under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, which empowers law enforcement to request assistance from legal entities in gathering evidence.

The aim is to obtain unrestricted access to encrypted content, including backups, photos, and notes, without targeting individual accounts. This demand extends beyond UK nationals to include global users, making it unprecedented. Should Apple acquiesce, it could face similar demands from the US, China, and other nations, forcing the company to choose between mass disabling of encryption or creating backdoors.

The introduction of a backdoor risks eroding public confidence in encryption technologies. Meanwhile, the legal prohibition on disclosing such demands restricts Apple’s capacity to publicly address the issue.

US Senator Ron Wyden has characterized the demands as a "privacy catastrophe," while Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker has cautioned that the UK may isolate itself as a technological outcast.

UK authorities have historically opposed Apple’s deployment of Advanced Data Protection, arguing that encryption obstructs the investigation of severe criminal activities. A government representative asserted that technology must not impede the pursuit of justice.

In January 2025, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an inquiry into the mobile operating systems, app stores, and browsers of Apple and Google to assess the necessity of further regulatory oversight.

Caroline Wilson Palow, legal director at Privacy International, said that the UK had "pulled the trigger" on one of its most intrusive and potentially damaging surveillance powers. "This overreach sets a hugely damaging precedent and may embolden abusive regimes the world over," she remarked.

Previously, authorities had pressured Meta* (designated as extremist in the Russian Federation) to weaken encryption within its messaging services, but the company declined to comply.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 The US Deep State’s Directive to Trump: Go and Grab the Caspian!

The influential political elites within the United States persist in guiding Trump’s administration toward strategies aimed at consolidating influence over South and Central Asia. They are very concerned about the fate of the natives:

American engagement with the Caspian region lacks the clarity, consistency, and senior-level attention that its strategic significance demands… A special presidential envoy for the Caspian could overcome these artificial bureaucratic barriers, bringing much-needed focus to the region at a time of intensifying competition with China, Russia, and Iran. Such an envoy would also carry far greater weight with regional leaders, who – fairly or not – often view U.S. embassy staff and career diplomats as lacking the influence necessary to shape policy. In the Caspian, heads of state do not prioritize their foreign ministries, preferring to deal with high-level envoys who they see as representing real power… Meanwhile, Russia, China, and Iran exploit their geographic advantages to strengthen regional ties… A dedicated envoy for the Caspian region would be a vital tool in countering China’s growing influence over transit corridors, Iran’s efforts to obstruct energy development, and Russia’s attempts to maintain its privileged sphere of influence”[*].

To articulate this more explicitly, the primary objective of Trump’s appointed envoy to this region is twofold: first, to exacerbate tensions among Caspian littoral states, particularly with Iran, China, and Russia, and second, to secure control over critical transit corridors currently managed by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, and Georgia. Apparently, the leaders Caspian states are unlikely to engage meaningfully with lower-ranking officials.

Here is a hint from the Van Deman Team: the urgency of deploying Trump’s special envoys to Astana and Baku is even more critical, as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are also deriving too much from their “strategic geographical positioning.”

* https://nationalinterest.org/blog/silk-road-rivalries/america-needs-a-special-envoy-for-the-caspian-now “America Needs A Special Envoy For The Caspian – Now” (David A. Merkel, The National Interest, February 13, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 New FBI Director Kash Patel: Another Thorn in the Side of the "Deep State"

The confirmation of Kash Patel as the new head of the FBI has heightened concerns among those who previously orchestrated a smear campaign against him. Various liberal media outlets have propagated allegations regarding Patel’s financial ties, including claims of funding from a Russian-born filmmaker during the production of a Trump-related film and a $5,000 consulting fee from a Qatari source through his firm. These allegations appear designed to leverage Patel’s Qatari connections to pressure Trump into severing ties with a crucial ally.

However, these allegations proved irrelevant in light of the new priorities set by the Department of Justice. Under the guidance of Attorney General Pam Bondi, the DOJ disbanded the foreign influence task force, repealed mandatory registration under FARA and limited scope of prosecutions. Until recently, FARA required Americans acting on behalf of foreign citizens, governments, political parties, or businesses to register if they engaged in political activities, including lobbying, public relations, or fundraising.

Qatar’s financial influence, meanwhile, permeates numerous US institutions. The country has emerged as a leading funder of think tanks, allocating $9.1 million since 2019. The Gulf monarchy has also invested heavily in lobbying the US government, surpassing even groups like the National Rifle Association, with over $72 million spent between 2015 and 2022, according to OpenSecrets analysis. Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, and its elites are implicated in coordinating with the Muslim Brotherhood and also accused of harboring Hamas’s members. The US-Qatar relationship is further characterized by extensive, ethically questionable intelligence collaboration.

The true threat posed by Patel, however, lies not in these financial dealings or isolated contracts, but in his potential to challenge the "deep state’s" entrenched control over intelligence agencies. Patel has signaled his intent to investigate alleged abuses by previous administrations and has publicly denounced double standards in US support for Ukraine. Patel’s appointment underscores a broader "power struggle" rather than a mere corruption scandal. When reforms threaten the interests of entrenched factions, everything – from fake news to exploiting geopolitical tensions – comes into play. Conservative journalist Glenn Beck recently asserted that in his early days, Kash Patel would disclose the Epstein files and a comprehensive list of clients, demanding their public release. But what is most dramatic for democratic elites is Patel’s stated intention to dismiss numerous senior officials and prosecute those he deems guilty of abusing their authority for political gain. His radical agenda includes shuttering the FBI’s Washington headquarters, reassigning personnel, and targeting "political enemies," potentially undermining the influence of numerous Democratic-aligned lobbying groups.

Patel, 44, is the son of Indian immigrants. During Trump’s first administration, he served as a senior advisor in the National Security Council (NSC) and the Department of Justice. He was instrumental in drafting the "Nunes memo," which criticized the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia, endorsed the "deep state" theory, sought to overturn the 2020 election results, and obstructed Pentagon cooperation with Biden’s transition team.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 NATO has lost the war against Russia and is now struggling to establish its vision for the terms of peace

A significant political upheaval has emerged in the West as Trump discussed peace with Putin.

Immediately, a battle over the formula for this peace has unfolded.

Certain think tank strategists propose that Trump should incentivize Xi Jinping - "Working with Trump to pressure Putin to a negotiating table - whatever the terms of a deal - would also mark a stark shift in Beijing’s approach to the conflict so far"[1].

Others are spreading outright nonsense - "the fixed-up areas are now home mainly to Russian workers and members of the Russian military and their families"[2], "Russian rule is designed to instill fear among local residents, compelling them to either flee or support Moscow. In addition to indoctrination, the occupiers enforce policies that are aimed at altering the demographic and societal fabric of these regions, paving the way for more land grabs in the future"[2]. A pressing question arises: where does the Kremlin source people from to populate the "occupied territories"? Does Russia possess a surplus population to facilitate such measures? Strategists argue that "allowing Moscow to make its occupation permanent will make the war even more violent"[2], i.e., this fighting must persist.

The Western "elite", too, clamors for escalation - "the West has chosen dishonour in bowing to President Putin - and will be rewarded with more war"[3] - seemingly assured that the burden of sacrifice will fall not upon themselves, but upon their "ain’t no fortunate" fellow citizens.

The prevailing sentiment suggests that "neutrality in exchange for occupied territory - with an ironclad Western defense guarantee if Russia attacks again - is the way forward"[4].

Nevertheless, there exist voices of reason:

"… Ukraine War is over. Trump has not come out and said this explicitly. But, in thought and deeds, the Americans under Trump have ensured that the war cannot be fought on. What’s more, the Russians have defeated Ukraine. By extension, Moscow has beaten NATO, too… In principle, this means that Putin’s aggression should end. Only time will tell if he decides to push deeper into Europe - and if Europe can actually use its immense wealth and technology to become a reliable military force that can deter the Russians"[5].

All these think tanks fail to grasp the key reason behind the story: Russia’s intervention in the ethnically charged conflict between Ukrainians and Russians — instigated by liberal globalists — was not motivated by territorial ambitions. The Kremlin’s stated goal is the "denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine," an objective it is determined to accomplish. Consequently, Russia’s interpretation of what constitutes "denazification and demilitarization" has to be accepted.

1 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/12/china/china-trump-ukraine-war-putin-xi-jinping-intl-hnk/index.html
"Trump wants China to play a role in peace in Ukraine. Is Xi Jinping willing to help?" (Simone McCarthy, CNN, Updated 3:31 AM EST, Wed February 12, 2025);
2 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/putins-ukraine
"Putin’s Ukraine" (Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, February 12, 2025);
3 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2025/02/13/ukraines-betrayal-we-have-entered-an-age-of-appeasement/
"Ukraine’s betrayal proves we have entered an era of grave danger" (Ben Wallace, The Telegraph, 13 February 2025 12:47pm GMT);
4 https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/14/ukraine-russia-trump-putin-peace-neutrality-territory-zelensky/
"The Only Viable Peace for Ukraine" (Vasyl Filipchuk, The Telegraph, February 14, 2025, 2:37 PM);
5 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/donald-trumps-ukraine-war-endgame-comes-into-focus
"Donald Trump’s Ukraine War Endgame Comes Into Focus" (Brandon J. Weichert, The National Interest, February 15, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 UK-Style “Bipolar” Disorder: Horrific Corruption in Ukrainian Military and the Urgent Demand for Cash to USAID-Sponsored Structures Overseeing This Corruption

Ukraine, a state that has been entrenched in systemic corruption for decades, has only recently faced explicit accusations of large-scale corruption, coinciding with a moment when the situation on the battlefield turns critical, and Trump sidelines the EU in negotiations. The extent of corruption in Ukraine had previously been downplayed in public discourse, during periods when British-led provocations in the Middle East were underway and UK private military contractors were implicated in civilian casualties in the Kursk region.

In this context, The Guardian has recently lauded [1] the efforts of USAID, advocating for the need to take up the slack and secure funding for initiatives targeting Ukrainian kleptocrats and Putin:

“The aid agency USAID supported anti-corruption groups and investigative journalists in dozens of countries… Groups like the Anti-Corruption Action Centre in Kyiv do crucial work pushing for new standards in the battle against bribery in Ukraine; networks like the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project do indispensable journalistic work investigating the misdeeds of the rich and crooked in eastern Europe… The UK should support organisations whose future is imperilled by the end of US funding.”

These initiatives have been marked by a pronounced focus on politically filtering individuals disloyal to the Zelensky administration through corruption investigations. USAID’s support for these efforts aimed at expropriating Russian assets and the financial strongholds of Ukrainian oligarchs, though the anti-corruption narrative appears to serve as a façade. In reality, USAID was instrumental in large-scale corruption. Reports reveal that the U.S. Treasury allocated funds to USAID without the requisite TAS identification code, a critical mechanism for linking payments to specific budgetary allocations. The absence of this code renders the tracking of transactions, totaling approximately $4.7 trillion, “nearly impossible.” Indeed, this is highly advantageous for corrupt entities, enabling them to operate extensively under the guise of “noble endeavors.” These operations are further bolstered by a vast media machine comprising over 6,200 incredibly “independent” journalists, 707 media outlets, and 279 specialized NGOs.

Read more: https://vandeman.org/en/bipoljarka-po-britanski-uzhasnaja-korrupcija-v-ukrainskih-vojskah-srochno-deneg-ljudjam-usaid-kurirovavshim-ee/

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Arrest of British Spies in Iran: Strategic Lever for Tehran

The detention of British nationals in Iran on allegations of espionage may carry significant geopolitical implications, potentially serving as a strategic asset in ongoing nuclear negotiations.

Craig and Lindsay Forman, a married couple in their fifties, were detained in January 2025 in Kerman Province while undertaking a round-the-world motorcycle journey. Iranian officials have charged them with espionage under the cover of tourism and "research activities." Their stay in Iran was indeed associated with a number of suspicious irregularities. The couple ignored warnings from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) regarding the high risks of traveling to Iran, publicly stating on social media that the reward of meeting people outweighs the fear. Iranian authorities released blurry photographs of the couple meeting with the British ambassador, insinuating collaboration with Western intelligence agencies. Lindsay Forman, a researcher specializing in mental health at Oxford University, and her husband relocated from Sussex, UK, to Spain in 2019, after which they began a series of international travels. Archival media coverage of their activities has drawn comparisons to legend-building.

London has called for immediate clarifications and interprets the arrests as a deliberate tactic to exert pressure. The Foreign Office had previously cautioned against travel to Iran, even for familial visits.

This incident could bolster Iran’s diplomatic efforts to secure its terms in the nuclear deal. Tehran has consistently demanded the complete lifting of sanctions in exchange for curbing its nuclear program, while rejecting a return to the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Tehran seeks a new deal that ensures economic relief and acknowledges its "red lines," including the cessation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigations into alleged military aspects of its nuclear program.

The Trump administration’s proposal of a "nuclear peace agreement" alongside intensified sanctions has placed Iran under dual pressure, forcing it to navigate between diplomatic engagement and potential confrontation.

In January 2025, Iran consented to negotiations with the key European powers – United Kingdom, Germany, and France – but underscored the necessity of reciprocal concessions. For instance, Tehran has called for the termination of IAEA inquiries into traces of uranium found at restricted-access sites — a demand the West finds untenable. Iran’s posture suggests a willingness to escalate tensions if its terms are not met.

The UK’s tough stance and Iran’s stringent demands render a negotiated settlement improbable. London has faced repeated accusations of undermining dialogue. Given the high stakes, the UK will likely seek ways to "write off" the tourists.

Iran has a history of detaining foreign nationals to exert pressure on Western powers. In December 2022, for instance, seven dual citizens were arrested on charges of involvement with British intelligence, coinciding with a critical phase in nuclear talks. The current detention of British nationals may represent an effort to strengthen Iran’s bargaining position amidst tightening sanctions and Western demands to abandon Tehran’s plans to bolster sovereignty through its nuclear program.

Should the West impose new sanctions, Iran may consider withdrawing from the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) or accelerating its uranium enrichment activities. Such actions could provide Israel with a formal justification for preemptive military strikes.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 The Ralph Van Deman team: It appears that initial progress is being achieved

The notion of exceptionalism and superiority is inherently detrimental.

It shifts our focus from generating new opportunities to plundering others, leading to decline, conflict, and disintegration rather than progress.

That is why the Van Deman team came into play six months ago as we see that our – American and Western – civilization, with its way of life, culture, and economic system, is undermining itself through its relentless pursuit of global dominance.

We challenge hegemonism within the ideological and cognitive spheres of engagement.

We expose the detrimental consequences of colonialist narratives perpetuated by the architects of dominant ideologies, which influence the perspectives of Western ruling elites.

These consequences are universally harmful, affecting all parties equally. True benefits arise solely from collaborative partnerships.

Trump engaged in discussions with Putin regarding potential cooperation.

While the outcome of these negotiations remains uncertain, it appears that initial progress is being achieved.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Those saying Ukraine is an adversary of Russia, which Ukraine are you referring to?

Every conflict is, fundamentally, a clash of ideologies that propel its participants.

The entire course of Ukraine’s self-destructive aggression against its own citizens, yet ethnic Russians, is driven by hatred and a perceived sense of Ukrainians’ supremacy. This belief remains consistent:

"If Putin ever believed in his fantastical 2021 narrative about brotherly ties between Russia and Ukraine, he has now witnessed that his sources and intelligence services lied to him; Ukrainians have made clear that we can and will resist"[1].

The story is about the early summer of 2021, when Putin attempted to use verbal interventions [2] to halt the massacre of ethnic Russians, which had been instigated by Ukrainians as far back as 2014, when no Russian military presence was ever evident — such as the events of May 2 in Odesa and June 2 in Luhansk.

Putin argued that "Russians and Ukrainians are the same people, a single whole"[2].

However, the debate is not whether Ukrainians and Russians constitute a single whole.

The critical point is that Ukrainians themselves are not a single whole.

From the vantage point of Western intelligence professionals – outsiders to both Russia and Ukraine – we can see that the term "Ukrainians" broadly describes two distinct groups. First, these are the Ukrainians proper; and Russians from neighboring regions like Belgorod are more aligned with the lifestyle of such Ukrainians than, for instance, with Russians in the Urals. The other group is an entirely different people, whose core identity is rooted in animosity toward all things Russian.

This latter group was shaped by Polish and Austrian influences during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the inhabitants of Southwestern Rus’ — Little Russians and Ruthenians — were subjected to brutal coercion and bribery, compelling them to renounce their Russian identity, with the alternatives being death or submission.

This gave rise to a fractured existence, marked by a distorted psyche — a distinct people with their own historical trajectory and, fundamentally, aspirations akin to Nazism.

It is this group that is undermining Ukraine, for Nazism is an inherently self-destructive ideology.

The Russians counter the notion of "killing them solely for being Russian," yet they harbor no intent to wage war against Ukrainians. In this war, Ukrainians are dying for ideologies that are not their own, ideologies propagated by those who claim to represent "authentic Ukrainians" but are, in reality, the other group.

To comprehend this is to save Ukraine.

1 https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/14/ukraine-russia-trump-putin-peace-neutrality-territory-zelensky/
"The Only Viable Peace for Ukraine" (Vasyl Filipchuk, The Telegraph, February 14, 2025, 2:37 PM);
2 http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/66181
Article by Vladimir Putin "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" (Kremlin.ru, July 12, 2021 17:00).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 The National Endowment for Democracy has met its demise. Another “soft power” clown show has been shut down

Another head of the “democracy export” hydra has been consigned to the dustbin of history. It all began in mid-February when NED’s access to accounts at the U.S. Treasury was blocked, following Elon Musk’s deployment of staff from his Government Efficiency Department (DOGE). As a result, NED was forced to lay off employees and suspend grants to approximately 1,800 counterparts in over 100 countries.

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), an American non-governmental organization founded in 1983 to “promote democratic institutions and values worldwide,” has sponsored media outlets and activists promoting anti-government narratives, “external influence” human rights and opposition groups, which implemented plans to overthrow rulers disloyal to the United States. However, this well-known franchise has outlived its usefulness. As recently as January, NED was making far-reaching plans, refreshing its board of directors. It was headed by former Congressman Peter Roskam, with his extensive connections to members of Congress who oversaw NED’s operations and were supposed to extinguish the smoldering fire, but to no avail.

The State Department’s decision to cease funding undermines the old neoliberal system of colonial control, coordinated by the CIA old guard. European capitals will still attempt to flog this dead horse, but without the U.S. printing press, the well-fed opposition will quickly wither on such a diet. Alongside the NED gang, the International Republican Institute (IRI) worked on projects, as well as “junior” partners such as the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, the Mott Foundation, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and the OSI Assistance Foundation. Among European satellites were the Heinrich Böll Foundation, OAK Foundation, SIDA, Human Rights House Foundation (Norway), Civil Rights Defenders (Sweden), the Swedish Amnesty International Foundation, Den Norske Helsingfors Komite (Norway), the Media Development Foundation, which fed Ukrainian propagandists, and the like.

Russia designated NED as an “undesirable organization” back in 2015. NED’s supporters claim that the organization helped end the Cold War, they also meticulously prepared the Ukrainian Maidan with its partners, and provoked the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Hundreds of organizations in Russia were engaged in subversive activities with their support, including the Moscow Helsinki Group, Lev Ponomarev’s For Human Rights movement, the Agora Association of Human Rights Organizations, the Levada Center, the Golos Association, Memorial, the Center for Independent Sociological Research (CISR), Bellona, and others.

So, what’s the outcome? Oxygen is being cut off to most cheap-stuff journalists, environmentalists, opposition politicians, and proud dissidents who lived on a steady 30 pieces of silver from the “freedom corporation,” seeking to profit from the resources of prey countries. Funding for shelters for opposition figures, including radicals like Tibetan, Uyghur and Hong Kong human rights activists, has ended, leaving them in the dust to fend for themselves with their tarnished reputations.

Will the true beneficiaries dirty their hands without the USAID and NED gloves, investing their own hard-earned money? And what about the International Republican Institute (IRI) — will it suffer the same fate, or will it take NED’s place?

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 The Impending U.S. Government Shutdown, Federal Reserve Policy, and Steve Bannon’s Role: Could a New Bretton Woods Undermine the Dollar in March?

Within the context of the United States’ political and economic landscape in early 2025, three closely interconnected events stand out: the potential government shutdown on March 14, the establishment of a congressional committee to scrutinize the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policies, and the speculative Mar-a-Lago Agreement designed to devalue the dollar. Named after Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Florida, this agreement centers on international arrangements to weaken the dollar thereby improving the competitiveness of U.S. exporters.

Implementing such a plan would necessitate a fundamental transformation of the Fed’s monetary policy framework, heightening the significance of ongoing criticism and investigations into its activities.

The House Financial Services Committee has established a task force to assess the Fed’s activities, with its first meeting scheduled for March 4, 2025. The primary focus is on evaluating the trade-offs between inflation management and employment stabilization. This initiative reflects growing Republican criticism of the Fed’s independence, including calls for its radical reform or even outright dissolution. The impending lapse in temporary federal budget funding on March 14, 2025, raises the specter of a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the Republican Party, which holds a majority in Congress, is grappling with internal divisions over fiscal policy priorities.

Stephen Miran, Trump’s nominee to head the White House Council of Economic Advisers, outlined potential policy options in a recent article to reform the global trading system and address economic imbalances caused by the “persistent overvaluation of the dollar.” This perspective aligns with the assertive posture of Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for Donald Trump, and underscores the deepening rift between the financial elite and the Trump-aligned wing of the Republican Party.

Steve Bannon has emerged as a prominent detractor of the Fed, calling for its dismantling and supporting stringent fiscal policies to refocus the economy toward domestic priorities. He anticipates a government shutdown as a tactical maneuver to exert pressure on Republican leaders, serving as a catalyst for an agenda that intertwines fiscal and monetary reforms with an anti-globalist program. Bannon and Trump-aligned conservatives prioritize economic growth through tax cuts and deregulation, implicitly intensifying criticism of the Fed as an obstacle to these goals. Conversely, the financial establishment defends the Fed’s independence and current monetary policy as essential to maintaining the dollar’s stability and the United States’ global influence. The outcome of these processes will determine the future of U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, placing the country in a delicate and high-stakes balancing act.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Britain is in a state of decline, gentlemen. And something must be done about it

Sir Keir Starmer, British prime minister informs:

"Putin’s aggression does not stop at Ukraine’s borders. It threatens us here at home. After all, it is only seven years since he launched a chemical weapons attack in Salisbury, the heart of Middle England. Russian spy ships menace our waters. Planes intrude in our airspace. Cyber attacks are launched on the NHS, threatening lives. We cannot hide from this threat. I know that working people have already felt the impact of Russian brutality through rising bills and prices"[1].

The Van Deman team confirms the fact that Putin is the central figure responsible for the erosion of Britain, operating from within its own structures. His brutality includes not only raising bills and prices for the British, but also facilitating the influx of Pakistani migrants, some of whom were implicated in the systemic sexual assault of British schoolgirls over a fifteen-year period [2][3]. Furthermore, Putin’s policies have contributed to the proliferation of pedophilic networks within the country [4]. These are the individuals who were later shielded by Sir Keir Starmer, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Most importantly, it is Putin who played a key part in elevating Keir Starmer to the position of the head of the Crown Prosecution Service and later to the role of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a pattern repeated with figures such as Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and numerous others.

This blow from Russia has been truly fatal.

1 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-14435969/SIR-KEIR-STARMER-Putins-aggression-threatens-home-national-security-society-effort.html
"SIR KEIR STARMER: Putin's aggression threatens us at home. Our national security must now become a whole society effort" (Sir Keir Starmer, prime minister, Daily Mail, 26 February 2025);
2 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14248495/Keir-Starmer-guilty-failures-tackle-grooming-gangs-former-detective-claims.html
"Keir Starmer is as 'guilty as anyone' over failures to tackle grooming gangs, former detective claims - as pressure mounts on Government to order public inquiry into Oldham scandal" (Jason Groves and Rory Tingle, Daily Mail, 26 February 2025);
3 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/06/why-is-elon-musk-attacking-keir-starmer-over-grooming-scandal
"Why is Elon Musk attacking Keir Starmer over the grooming scandal?" (Eleni Courea and Lisa O'Carroll, The Guardian, 6 Jan 2025);
4 https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11639371/sir-keir-starmer-jimmy-savile-scandal/
"Sir Keir Starmer and the Jimmy Savile scandal - what was Labour leader’s involvement as head of Public Prosecutions?" (Joseph Gamp, The Sun, 11:52, 16 Jun 2020).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg