THREAD: I find it quite curious that, for all the ridicule and criticism, few have acknowledged an obvious reality - #TheQueue is a massive #psyop. This is a particularly peculiar oversight given the very notion of queuing as quintessentially British is in itself a psyop.
In WW2, it served the purpose of ensuring the collection of rations and handouts wasn’t smash-and-grab pandemonium. People queued then because they had to. Now, people are queuing because the state wants them to - in order to legitimise the monarchy, and hereditary rule.
In short, #TheQueue has generated enormous amounts of international coverage, which directly and indirectly reinforces the notion The Queen, and the institution she represents, is overwhelmingly popular. It has also created a massive distraction at a highly expedient time.
Namely, from debates about hereditary rule, what the monarchy represents at home and abroad, its enduring legitimacy in the 21st century, and awkward questions about the family’s racism, Nazi sympathies and the profusion of paedophiles in their genepool. Among many other things.
The funeral is an extraordinarily expensive mass spectacle that has been meticulously planned for decades, with plans updated all the time. Creating a dedicated, top of the range, foolproof ticketing system with viewing at scheduled intervals would take days, or even hours.
Bear in mind that public visits to Buckingham Palace have operated on the basis of timed ticketing for three decades without any problems, so they wouldn’t need to look far for inspiration for such a scheme. They *chose* #TheQueue instead.
Given the speed social media moves, it’s easy to forget how much critical and negative content related to The Queen and monarchy more generally spread immediately following her death. Irish Twitter was a particularly rich source of course…
But numerous people, both public figures and private citizens, shared horrendous tales of their ancestors’ experiences under British rule in living memory. Many of these posts were removed after spreading like wildfire. The posters were also viciously attacked in the media.
One might argue that, given several people have collapsed and suffered injuries in #TheQueue hasn’t gone entirely swimmingly as far as PR stunts go. But the message is clear - the British love The Queen so much they risk injury and brave the cold just to witness her funeral!
Even criticism and ridicule of #TheQueue draws further attention to it. And any critical media reporting is more than offset by the endless talking heads saying nauseatingly servile things about The Queen. The ends justifies the means, in every sense…
Bear in mind too that Charles suddenly became King in the middle of this in a remarkably low-key manner. Key propaganda message Brits are constantly bombarded with is that hereditary monarchy ensures the swift, efficient transfer of power from head of state to head of state…
But it hasn’t actually been smooth, has it? Protesters have been arrested, assaulted and harassed by the filth. A stray rollerblader was brutally stopped in their tracks. Charles has been loudly booed in some places. But is the average person aware, in Britain or elsewhere?
I’m guessing not. And oh look, every key royal has experienced a huge domestic popularity boost in the past few days. Charles’ approval has leaped a staggering 16% despite that well-circulated video of him harassing a servant. Even Paedophile Andrew has seen a modest bounce!
Irritatingly necessary credit to @mrjamesob for getting things half-correct here a few days back. Of course accounts lined up to savage him over it. Almost like it was coordinated! One key attack line was #TheQueue isn’t mandatory. But that’s the entire point, obviously...
You don’t *have* to queue. You really don’t. You only queue if you want to in free, democratic Britain. A country that happens to have a secretly very powerful unelected head of state, the reality and implications of which is *never* discussed seriously in any public forum.
#TheQueue has likely guaranteed the monarchy’s continued existence for another century, in lieu of another paedophile scandal perhaps, not least because it was a completely organic, overwhelming public endorsement of The Queen and all she represents. Except it wasn't....
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🧵: For those within the Empire's inner core, the full, seismic implications of Trump's "aid" suspension may not be fully obvious. But here in the Balkans, where USAID/NED has penetrated every sphere of public, political and even daily life, the impact is absolutely monumental.
In Bosnia, all basic functions of the state were post-war forcibly outsourced to USAID, NED, Soros, etc. On top of enfeebling the local population, it created enormous opportunities for grift and corruption, which anyone who could took full advantage of.
Not every country in the region is quite so dependent, although there are entire sectors of local economies where the only employment opportunities are with USAID/NED/etc-funded orgs. And this isn't restricted to the Balkans - similar story elsewhere in the former Soviet sphere.
🧵: Relatedly, I find effort to frame low intensity Donbas civil war Kiev was losing post-Maidan as an unadmitted Russian invasion Ukraine was winning *very* interesting. British intelligence at the forefront, obviously. It was laying foundations for what happened in Feb 2022.
Take for instance this Times article from 2016, which claims Ukraine was experiencing "the Third World War on a tiny scale" in Donbass, and the conflict exposed "secrets" of Russian military doctrine and strategy the West could capitalise on. Complete and utter fantasy.
This article resulted from visit of Ukrainian ultranationalist paramilitaries to UK, arranged by British intelligence. They met with the British Army, journalists, and politicians. Bios of these fighters suggest they were exaggerating their military records *greatly*.
🧵: Answer to this is manifold. Foremost of course, the imperial braintrust was in early 2022 extremely deluded about US/NATO power. Elements remain so today. But in many ways, a Ukrainian loss produces major potential US gains economically, politically and militarily.
On first point, in October 2022, Pentagon released a National Defense Strategy. It failed to once mention China and Russia's 'no limits' partnership, or consider the risk war with one of its major adversaries would mean war with them all, and defeat:
Then too, US officials weren't aware of extent of their defence industrial base's destruction, and enormous problems they would have replenishing ammunition, armour, vehicles and other materiel sent to Ukraine at any pace or scale. This simply wasn't considered until recently.
🧵: ASTONISHING article in TIME about how the Biden administration never had any intention or even desire to help Ukraine win, and was always just going to step away at its behest at some point. We all *knew* this but to have it confirmed is important.
Interesting passage confirming what @TheGrayzoneNews has been reporting since 2022 - the US was legitimately concerned about the proxy war escalating and avoiding that was a key objective, about which the British have consistently been - and remain - furious.
@TheGrayzoneNews Ukraninains likewise furious. Untold billions spent and sent, Washington paying salaries of *all* state workers and keeping country barely functional with 'aid' and 'stimulus', and it ain't enough. Kiev got set up for this and was always going to be betrayed. Stings, doesn't it?
🧵: Western media been frenzied den of worst imaginable takes and 'analysis' from 'journalists', pundits, officials, spooks on Russia consistently, pretty much every minute, since the proxy war started. But let's focus on just one episode - Prigozhin's 'rebellion' in June 2023.
Wagner 'rebellion' was completely irrelevant publicity stunt that resulted in nothing. Prigozhin - who many Russians hadn't even heard of - had zero public or institutional backing. There was no chance of unseating Putin, even vaguely threatening his power, or achieving anything.
However, Western mainstream collectively lost its mind over this incident. @TheGrayzoneNews collated some of the funniest, most hysterical overreactions from dickheads like McFail and @anneapplebaum, who genuinely believed civil war had erupted.
🧵: As I go over some material strongly suggesting Britain was secretly aiding HTS for years prior to their seizure of Damascus, I'm reminded of how often MI6 programs indirectly seem to assist ISIS. It's really quite amazing how frequently this has happened, by total accident.
In 2017, the Foreign Office decided it'd be a perfect time to secretly run a psychological warfare campaign to deter Afghans from joining the Taliban, right when the Taliban was engaged in a bitter civil war against ISIS-K. I wonder what prompted this 🧐
Funnily enough, in leaked docs related to the effort, it is repeatedly acknowledged by the MI6 cutout running it Afghanistan's puppet government had zero legitimacy or power outside Kabul itself. Occupation officials and the media weren't publicly saying that in 2017, were they?