There are many dark posts on Zerohedge et al about how remorselessly efficient the global "elites" are in their dastardly plans for world domination. The Netanyahu debacle gives hope that they are just clowns after all. Evil, destructive, psychopathic clowns, but clowns nevertheless. I guess Jared Kushner can give up any hopes of building those Gaza-by-the-Sea condos.
Intriguing and informative posts Mark. It seems we’re the specialists in “blowback” as foreign policy, as once again our bumbling incoherence and roiling hypocrisy and greed have caused the three great powers to align: first Russia, skirting sanctions and finding support in China to grow its economy and military; China - collaborating w Russia (big trip to see Xi this week by Lavrov); and now Iran, the adult in the room, advising Zhou to cut it out or else…wonder what awaits us in the So China Sea or can we pull back from more blowback?
Yes, it's fascinating to observe the two mindsets at play. The Russians, Chinese and Irans use critical thinking, restraint mixed with judicious application of force, and above a long term view. In contrast, "our" side exhibits all the characteristics of a 5-year-old child: zero impulse control, reckless and aggressive statements and no sense of diplomacy.
Exactly. Mark puts this - puerile - behavior (lack of reasoning, refusal to look at history etc) in a Kantian context in his recent Way of War post:
“What we know is the product of our minds, shaped by “categories” of thought. This has led to the rise in the West of demonic ideologies that seek to impose “our reality” on the recalcitrant reality that is supposed to buckle under to our desires, our will to power. This is the truth of most of our politics, and it’s an approach that is the sea in which we, the fish, swim—most people of the West are unaware that they see things in this out of touch and inevitably self defeating way.”
Kant's a bit above my paygrade, ML. However, these "categories of thought" usually turn up the further a society moves away from harsh reality. That is where we are now. As reality recedes, so do the immediate consequences of our stupidity. it's much easier to think crazy things and put them into action. As Chesterton said with remarkable prescience, "every high civilization decays by forgetting obvious things”. The "obvious things" here meaning two biological sexes, other nations have security needs, criminals are the real victims, free speech is bad for democracy. I still have hope that the forces of darkness will go down to defeat, but it's going to be a heck of a fight.
True, but "sending arms" is a matter of degree as well as of kind--not all or nothing. The US needs a hammer, and that's it. Obviously, this remains speculative--unless something has broken while I was taking some time off.
The conflict in Ukraine and Armenia has everyone rewriting operations manuals, it’s taken a very bloody nose for Israel to realise it ain’t 1973 anymore.
Correct. The Israelis don't understand that it's not 1967/73 anymore; the US neocons don't understand that it's not 1991 anymore. Their inability to learn will only cease when the whole current raft of leaders across the West is kicked out.
Agreed, Cred. We mustn't forget the most important people here: innocent Palestinians. Let's hope a real ceasefire materialises so that they can build back their lives and homes without Zionist interference.
There are many dark posts on Zerohedge et al about how remorselessly efficient the global "elites" are in their dastardly plans for world domination. The Netanyahu debacle gives hope that they are just clowns after all. Evil, destructive, psychopathic clowns, but clowns nevertheless. I guess Jared Kushner can give up any hopes of building those Gaza-by-the-Sea condos.
Intriguing and informative posts Mark. It seems we’re the specialists in “blowback” as foreign policy, as once again our bumbling incoherence and roiling hypocrisy and greed have caused the three great powers to align: first Russia, skirting sanctions and finding support in China to grow its economy and military; China - collaborating w Russia (big trip to see Xi this week by Lavrov); and now Iran, the adult in the room, advising Zhou to cut it out or else…wonder what awaits us in the So China Sea or can we pull back from more blowback?
Yes, it's fascinating to observe the two mindsets at play. The Russians, Chinese and Irans use critical thinking, restraint mixed with judicious application of force, and above a long term view. In contrast, "our" side exhibits all the characteristics of a 5-year-old child: zero impulse control, reckless and aggressive statements and no sense of diplomacy.
Exactly. Mark puts this - puerile - behavior (lack of reasoning, refusal to look at history etc) in a Kantian context in his recent Way of War post:
“What we know is the product of our minds, shaped by “categories” of thought. This has led to the rise in the West of demonic ideologies that seek to impose “our reality” on the recalcitrant reality that is supposed to buckle under to our desires, our will to power. This is the truth of most of our politics, and it’s an approach that is the sea in which we, the fish, swim—most people of the West are unaware that they see things in this out of touch and inevitably self defeating way.”
Kant's a bit above my paygrade, ML. However, these "categories of thought" usually turn up the further a society moves away from harsh reality. That is where we are now. As reality recedes, so do the immediate consequences of our stupidity. it's much easier to think crazy things and put them into action. As Chesterton said with remarkable prescience, "every high civilization decays by forgetting obvious things”. The "obvious things" here meaning two biological sexes, other nations have security needs, criminals are the real victims, free speech is bad for democracy. I still have hope that the forces of darkness will go down to defeat, but it's going to be a heck of a fight.
Well put! I like British empiricism!!
I didn't see anywhere that any Iran agreement suspends the US sending arms to Israel going forward.
True, but "sending arms" is a matter of degree as well as of kind--not all or nothing. The US needs a hammer, and that's it. Obviously, this remains speculative--unless something has broken while I was taking some time off.
Hell Yeah!
Ceasefires are always a space to rearm, it would seem like Israel was completely caught off foot and needs to go back to the drawing board.
https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/international/hamas-uav-adoption-and-tunnel-innovations-challenge-idf-asymmetrical
The conflict in Ukraine and Armenia has everyone rewriting operations manuals, it’s taken a very bloody nose for Israel to realise it ain’t 1973 anymore.
Correct. The Israelis don't understand that it's not 1967/73 anymore; the US neocons don't understand that it's not 1991 anymore. Their inability to learn will only cease when the whole current raft of leaders across the West is kicked out.
Agreed, Cred. We mustn't forget the most important people here: innocent Palestinians. Let's hope a real ceasefire materialises so that they can build back their lives and homes without Zionist interference.
Or stop watching Israeli MSM
disinformation free zone.