You know how the mafia got started? Sicilian farmers were exporting valuable citrus fruits, relying on irrigation systems. The mafia got hold of control of irrigation and threatened to cut off the water if substantial protection money not paid, siphoning off the farmers’ profits. Similar thing here. - ThreadSky

jowolff.bsky.social • 16 hours ago

You know how the mafia got started? Sicilian farmers were exporting valuable citrus fruits, relying on irrigation systems. The mafia got hold of control of irrigation and threatened to cut off the water if substantial protection money not paid, siphoning off the farmers’ profits. Similar thing here.

Reposted from Indy Auntie

"During the meeting, Ukraine was told it faced imminent shutoff of the Starlink service if it did not reach a deal on critical minerals, said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss closed negotiations."

Astonishing betrayal of an ally.

www.reuters.com/business/us-...

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rupertstubbs.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Yes. This is why the “fascist” cries are in many ways misleading. It’s good old-fashioned gangster-capitalism.

curiouskittyk.bsky.social•11 hours ago

Indeed, the U.S. resembles a mafia state engaged in an extortion racket.

biglarry2k23.bsky.social•15 hours ago

A warning for anyone tempted to employ Musk’s Starlink in their comms needs - one day they might blackmail you into doing things that cause you loss, just to further their owner’s greed and bias.

suebeesley.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Offering Ukraine 'free' satellite internet access was always too good to be true. It's all leverage to them.

jowolff.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Yes, I never had a good feeling about it, but this is much worse than I expected.

mgreenaw.bsky.social•15 hours ago

It's not free though? They're purchased and paying subscriptions in a lot (maybe not all) cases.

suebeesley.bsky.social•15 hours ago

It was, at least initially. I understand that Biden's administration took it over. But guess who's in charge of that now... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/starlink-will-continue-fund-ukraine-satellite-network-free-musk-says-r-rcna52427

mgreenaw.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Again I think that's many but not all, as individual units were crowdfunding these early in 2022, but Musk persuading Biden to take on payment for the ones he donated has turned out to be a master stroke in leverage.

jowolff.bsky.social•15 hours ago

The point is dependency rather than cost, surely?

suebeesley.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Exactly so. That's the leverage.

mgreenaw.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Sure, and there isn't really anything else commercial that can replace it for battlefield comms. This is an absolutely critical technical advantage that Ukraine has had.

stevenhseggie.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Im assuming Trump was mafia adjacent in NY. Casinos and construction scream mafia

partickle.bsky.social•16 hours ago

👀

ndrichter.bsky.social•9 hours ago

I won't hear of you comparing the mafia to government.

The mafia goes away after it gets what it wants

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