It’s always refreshing to read your commentaries Caitlin. You have an insight that gets right to the centre of the issue. No bullshit about how the USA has to return to its democracy as the founding fathers dreamed it. The USA was never democratic, it was always managed by an elite, it was always fascist, and it will never change. Just like Israel, it needs to disappear.
When you think of the benefits of Israel 'disappearing', Ron, how things would be different.
The average American knows that as well, I feel sure, as does most of the real world.
With the removal of Israel, Palestine would be intact as would Lebanon, Jordon, Iraq, Syria, eventually a piece of Egypt, half of Saudi, a piece of Turkey as with Kuwait, all on
the Israeli agenda as is well known with 'Eretz Israel' and all that means.
What a peaceful Middle East it would be..
But the cunning Israelis, now perhaps the most hated state in the world, were clever in pressuring the hegemonic and totally corrupted government of the USA, (well, not totally, but 86%) run by Israel, the bankers, militarists and extreme right-wingers to back it up, at a time when the empire was on a fast, downhill run.
But before the USA recovers its once admired Constitution, before they dismember it totally as they are in the throes of of doing right now, they have some pain and anguish to go through with decisions in the foreseeable future in the hands of incompetents, loyal Trump bumboys, increasingly powered state police using AI to maximum effect and the new AIPAC Federal US Government (what an international embarrassment) all under the unrestricted dictates of a nihilistic egotist called Trump, elected for 4 years, laughing all the way to the bank. He has conned 360 million people and all the white Western wimps (governments)
Four years. Now that is a long time. Plenty of time for China to become even more respected than ever, technology and manufacturing capability unhindered by a fizzed out America, a stronger Russia respected by many for NOT having turned Ukraine into an other Gaza, as country after country climbs on board the BRITS trading lifeboat and discards the US dollar.
I can’t describe my gratitude to you for keeping people AWARE of this horror even though it only rates as mention on MSM if an “Israeli hostage” is released.
Just one tiny thing, and I’ve had this opinion for a long time. I dislike the term “rubble”. It’s too mild to describe what Gaza has become. “Rubble” is what I climbed over in the Rocky Mountains last summer; fallen rocks and debris from nature.
I believe we should replace “rubble” with DESTRUCTION, or at the very least, Ruins.
The 4 women being released tomorrow by Hamas are prisoners of war because they are in the Israeli military and are legitimate targets. Of course the media won’t tell us that.
I have come to consider all wars as genocidal as there are very few wars of necessity, most now are manufactured for convenience, profits and and pure barbarism. The fact there is a debate over whether or not Gaza is a genocide and the over all official indifference becomes the measure of how morally destitute the pathetic West has become.
We are in the late stages of decline as war, demagoguery and autocracy now rule with no accountability. We are seeing in very vivid terms what happens when democracy has collapsed and there is no accountability. This crisis was decades in the making and isn't going away any time soon.
The fact that the US Senate gave Marco Rubio a unanimous endorsement means all 99 of them should be sent home and put in diapers.
As Joe Sacco commented to Chris Hedges: "Democracies commit atrocities". Doesn't matter what you call yourself, what you perceive yourself to be, actions speak loudest.
>>"The fact there is a debate over whether or not Gaza is a genocide and the over all official indifference becomes the measure of how morally destitute the pathetic West has become."
Great post Robert Billlyard. The West is indeed morally bankrupt. They don't seem to have any vestige of decency left. Their media are total establishment shills. Trump making those comedic pronouncements would have us laughing if we didn't know that he is deadly serious. It is not a "golden age " he is ushering but a dystopia.
Wanting to eliminate something is actually playing into their game. They are the entities of darkness, of destruction, deprivation, degradation and all things deathly. We don't need to eliminate anything, just take away its power. It's power comes from money and attention. Look how much money the taxpayer is coughing up in taxes. Look how much attention the bad guys just keep on getting. Even bad attention is energy. And that's what they suck out of us by talking about them constantly. We need to be talking about how to make the terrain unpleasant for them, uninhabitable for them.
Eliminating evil apartheid Israel as an entity is just wishful thinking. The only way that would happen is if the United States destroyed itself from within, a nearly impossible task. However, Israel would suck out every drop of blood of the American people and the United States before it allowed others to snuff out its evil regime. Israel is a leach that is not a saprophyte, but a deadly poisonous blood fluke, if left unchecked it will destroy the host organism, our country, which might be hastened by the splintering of the individual states.
The only acceptable answer is peace, which American evangelical Zionists staunchly opposes. They want all Jews to be corralled into Palestine for the return of Jesus so he can either convert them or destroy every remaining non converting Jew to ever lasting hellfire and damnation. But shockingly, only 144,000 souls out of the 100 billion humans that have ever lived would be saved by the returning Jesus. Where they got this number, I don’t know, but my guess is that’s probably as high as early Christians could count using Roman numerals before Arabic numbers came in to the scene. hundreds of years later. They are hell bent on continuing the evangelical wars in the Middle East so that prophesy would come true as soon as possible because I seems they are selfish enough to want to see the destruction of the world in this idea of Armageddon and the Rapture now. It is these Evangelical Zionists that staunchly oppose peace because they are more Zionists than the more educated Jewish Zionists.
Lyndon Baines Johnson the ultimate traitor in all of American History was such a profound believer of this evangelical Zionism, he the then Vice President assisted and coordinated the assassination of his President JFK with the help of Israeli Mossad just to keep Israel’s nuclear arms program intact, which JFK threatened, and to keep AIPAC from having to register as a foreign agent. JFK also demanded the Federal Reserve stop its practice of usury when the interest rate was the highest in 20 years at the time of JFK’s assassination.
Yes we need peace, and peace is the only answer. But Israelis murdered their own prime ministers when he reached out to make peace with the Oslo Accord. The winning candidate after him supported the Anti peace factions of Palestinian resistance, and he is still in power now.
Achieving peace is as nebulous as eliminating Israel. The crucial point of my message is that we need to be thinking of how to move forward, and there is very little to no talk about this. By being in this "frequency" of thinking that only elimination as a strategy, means that we will be doing nothing. These are the parameters of the situation, we're mostly all aware, but what are we doing about it? What we ought to be doing is not fight it but counter it by building something of our own. We haven't even had the first conversation about that. Things like adopting another currency. Imagine if people started weaning off banker's notes - that would so harm Israel. We could be doing this in our communities but everyone is really acting like lemmings, there is no action anywhere except the few pockets of usually, individual people doing the work.
yep. heres hoping BRICS has what it takes to topple this rotten empire. but its also a scary thought, because the US will lash out even harsher the more inevitable its collapse becomes
BRICS is a trading alliance that works WITH other systems. It is NOT a military/strategic alliance. Please understand BRICS (goals, how it works, etc.) before assuming/misunderstanding things.
BRICS may well topple the empire simply through economics, not necessarily military force. If the US dollar loses its status as reserve currency for the world, the economic collapse of the US will be astonishingly rapid. (Yes I know that is not one of the stated goals of BRICS but it might still be an inevitable consequence of strong multi-lateral trading arrangements not centered on the US.)
You are right about BRICS. Marco Rubio is a lying warmonger, but he spoke the truth when he said losing the dollar as the world's currency meant the U.S. will no longer be able to sanction as punishment those countries not doing it's bidding. The also won't be able to steal billions from any country in BRICS, as they stole a billion in gold from Venezuela and millions from Russia and others. The world is turning its back on the West and Israel. Pushed by Rubio, Trump wants to attack Cuba and Venezuela. So much for him not wanting war. Anyone who supports Israel is pure evil. That includes our Congressional cowards.
Agreed, but my fear is that the US is not going to allow that transition without a fight. The sort of fight that might annihilate us all. Unless of course the Empire is foolish enough to have a poke at Iran in the meantime.
You are exactly right. vansdan never mentions anything about a military alliance or bringing down the empire militarily, so it seems that Chang Chokaski has decided to employ a classic straw-man rhetorical tactic to imply that you are uninformed.
>>"If the US dollar loses its status as reserve currency for the world,..."
If the US dollar loses that much value, ALL the countries that hold US dollars (including China owning trillions) will suffer much more than the US. You see, the world is held hostage by the US dollar. That is one of the LARGEST points of leverage the US has over others -> all the other countries have "skin in the game" in keeping the US dollar going (that's one reason why many countries have "fixed" exchange rates pegged to the USD instead of "floating" currencies/rates).
A whole book could be written on why OTHERS lose more than the US. Here is just one reason: US is a net IMPORTER while other countries are net EXPORTERS. If the USD becomes exceedingly weak, it benefits the US and all the other countries (especially periphery and semi-periphery countries) lose out on trade.
Also, why do you think the US has 800-1,000 military bases around the world? One reason is to maintain US Dollar hegemony/supremacy.
The best possible outcome (IMHO), is multiple reserve currencies (or a basket of mixed trading value).
So, your entire argument can be summed up as a *very* large game of chicken. Let's summarise the current situation:
1. The US issues copious sums of worthless fiat currency (debt) backed by nothing except mafiosi-style threats of violence.
2. The US uses this intrinsically worthless currency (debt) to buy massive amounts of imports from the rest of the world, thereby running up a huge, chronic trade deficit. In 2022, excess of imports over exports was $3,500 per capita.
3. The US trade deficit has been saved from falling off a cliff in the last 20 years by a boom in oil and gas exports, facilitated by hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology. The fracking bubble is about to burst in 2025 as production from major oil and gas fields begins to decline. The rate of post-peak decline for fracking is much faster than conventional extraction methods.
4. The rest of the world is scared to abandon the dollar as reserve/trading currency, since this will render their holdings of dollar debt worthless. BRICS implicitly recognises that the dollar system is unsustainable and is gradually transitioning to alternative arrangements.
5. China, Japan, Arab petro-monarchies, et al, are focused on reducing their holdings of worthless paper (US Treasury bonds), and using these dollar holdings to buy real assets (resources, infrastructure, productive capital).
6. If there is a run on the dollar, countries and private interests holding large sums of US-denominated debt instruments will suffer a precipitous decline in value of these "assets". BRICS countries and countries moving into the BRICS orbit understand this risk, and are employing a range of strategies to mitigate risk. They recognise that the demise of the dollar is not a question of "if" but "when", and are preparing for that day.
7. When the dollar inevitably loses its reserve/trading currency status, the empire will no longer be able to maintain its network of mafia-extortion military bases and covert operations covering the entire globe. Once this stage is reached, the dissolution of the US as a federal entity will be rapid.
As an aside, your assertion: "If the USD becomes exceedingly weak, it benefits the US and all the other countries... lose out on trade" is quite comical. Are you implying that all of the countries selling goods to the US in exchange for worthless US debt will lose out if this trade collapses? In the short term, yes, they will no longer be able to give away their products to the US for free, but that was never going to continue long-term anyway and they will find other markets where the buyers will pay in methods that have actual value. In contrast, the US will simply not be able to buy imports in excess of the revenue generated by exports, so a large downsizing of the economy will occur.
Stepher Walker, not only are you absolutely clueless in your understanding of economics and the financial systems, but you present MULTIPLE errors in critical thinking in your comment above.
Here's an explanation (point-by-point):
(1) US currency is not worthless (if it is, why don't you give me ALL your US Dollars?). Debt is a NECESSARY component of ANY/ALL financial systems. Please read up on HOW DEBT works. Too much to go into here, but -> the US Dollar is BACKED by the "force/power" of the US Empire AND the "trust" of the US Govt. (BTW, the same goes for EVERY currency on the planet)
(2) Again, understand WHAT "debt" is, how it works, what it is used for. I recommend reading David Graebor's "Debt: The First 4,000 Years" or Michael Hudson on debt discussions. The trade deficit is irrelevant to the US - in fact, if the US does NOT have trade deficits, all other countries will suffer. So your point is moot.
(3) Again, the trade deficit is inconsequential to the US. Please explain HOW a trade deficit harms the US? This has NOTHING to do with oil/gas/fracking, etc. The US CANNOT be a net exporter. WHY? Who will it export to? Who has the money to pay for the US's imports? Where does the world get the money to import from the US? Answer -> from the US. The US has the power to print unlimited amounts of money. This it then distributes under various guises (aid, loans, etc.). THIS money is then used to buy/import US products. WITHOUT the distribution (and circulation) of US currency, US exports WILL fall off the cliff.
(4) This point of yours is meaningless (i.e. non-sequitor). HOW is the dollar system unsustainable? Can you give EVEN ONE REASON as to how? Again, this has NOTHING to do with BRICS.
(5) >>"China, Japan, Arab petro-monarchies, et al, are focused on reducing their holdings of worthless paper (US Treasury bonds)"
Here is the reality -> WHY do you think MORE people are buying US debt (than less)? The trend is the opposite of your incorrect assumption. US Debt will keep growing -> there is a REAL demand for US Debt (and the interest payments). Maybe study the BOND MARKETS to understand WHO buys US Debt and WHY.
(6) Again, another STUPID/non-sensical statement. Too many IFs (without logic), too many faulty assumptions, not enough reality of how the financial system works.
(7) >>"When the dollar inevitably loses its reserve/trading currency status"
Seriously, what make-believe world are you living in? Are you argueing with FACTS or just wishful-thinking and alternate universe theories? HOW will the dollar lose its reserve/trading status? WHY? What are the probabilities? You need REAL DATA instead of wishes.
I could go on, BUT not a SINGLE one of your points make ANY SENSE. I've heard these narratives from many people that don't understand how the global financial system (and trading markets) work. There are many good books to explain the subject, and I would not be able to do justice to the topic in this limited communication medium.
It seems that your core argument is circular logic, which boils down to: “The US can print as many dollars as it likes forever because it can”. I’m sure that since you’re a self-styled economic genius, this logic will prove absolutely correct and that you’ve published numerous monographs to back up your immaculate theory.
You snidely ask me why I don’t give you all my dollars. It seems that in your insular world everyone has or buys or needs dollars. I don’t have or need dollars. I’m an individual living in another country. I’m not an enterprise engaging in cross-border trade. Maybe, just maybe, this provides a tiny kernel of insight on how the dollar might not be omnipotent forever more.
Yes the chaos that would/will accompany the loss of reserve currency status for the USD will hurt the entire global economy, not just the US, but I think the US will suffer more, and take longer to recover. I don't understand your arguments to the contrary:
"US is a net IMPORTER while other countries are net EXPORTERS."
Umm, yeah, so if the USD collapses US consumers will no longer be able to buy foreign/Chinese manufactured goods. And the US doesn't make most of these things anymore, so severe shortages/inflation etc. That's pretty bad for the US. China loses income, and suffers from excess capacity, but they have no shortage of physical goods.
"The best possible outcome (IMHO), is multiple reserve currencies (or a basket of mixed trading value)."
Sure, but that still means the USD loses its unique and very valuable status as reserve currency. US banks and financial players lose a ton of leverage and trading revenue. The US dollar suffers because foreign companies and governments no longer have to keep large US dollar reserves / US treasuries to facilitate trading etc. Seems to me your "best possible outcome" is still rather dire for the US.
forceOfHabit, I don't understand your "IF" scenarios (or the probabilities). One can literally say ANYTHING with an IF. If the sky falls, if nuclear war breaks out, if we get another super-charged pandemic 100 times stronger than Covid, if, if, if....
>>"if the USD collapses..."
Why would the USD collapse? Under what scenarios? What probabilities? What is the reality of that happening? (anyone can create IF scenarios ad-infinatum, but one needs probabilities attached to those scenarios).
AND, if the US Dollar collapses, BUYING "stuff" will be the LEAST of anyone's worries. There will be MUCH bigger issues to deal with.
Please give me REALISTIC probabilities (not wishful thinking) on any of your IFs. And if any of your IFs happen, what will the impact on the "rest of the world"?
Before I go further, let me clarify ->
I WANT the US (and its systems) to self-destruct, BUT with minimal IMPACT to any other entity. None of the scenarios you describe are realistic or of minimal impact/consequences to others.
Here is some (extremely simplified) logic for IMPORTS/EXPORTS->
(1) When the US exports, it takes payment ONLY in US Dollars (primarily). Similarly, when it imports, it pays ONLY in US Dollars (primarily). So where will countries get these US dollars to buy (import) US products? (a) by exporting to the US. When a country exports to the US, it gets US dollars. Hence, countries (especially periphery and semi-periphery countries) NEED to export to the US (to obtain these valuable dollars to pay for all the necessities that it needs to import) (b) Whatever extra "reserve" US Dollars remain with a country after imports with net exporter countries to the US (eg. China, Saudi Arabia, etc.), the US requires them to buy US debt (by military force if necessary, or sanctions, or a number of other strategies). Hence, its military power serves to maintain a deband for US Debt. (c) There is NO safer investment (in the world) than US Debt. If you don't think so, can you give me EVEN ONE REAL EXAMPLE of how it has been unsafe? And for whom?
Here are some more things to understand->
(1) The US controls the world with ONE MAIN WEAPON -> US Debt. Using this debt, it funds the military. Using the military, it exerts force/pressure on the rest of the world. Using this force, it compells others to CONTINUE buying US Debt.
(2) Interest payments are NOT a problem for the US (despite the false narratives in the media and by politicians). Please read/study MMT (modern monetary theory) to understand in detail WHY. Since the US can print unlimited amounts of money, it can continue paying interest on its debts - i.e. the US Govt. can NEVER run out of US Dollars. If the US decides not to pay interest, it can simply "steal/void" a country's foreign reserves that are held in USD, or sanction a country, or destroy a country, or a number of other strategies.
There's much more to it, but then it goes off-topic into many different tangents.
Not sure this is the place to debate economics but here goes. First, when you say
"Here is some (extremely simplified) logic for IMPORTS/EXPORTS->
(1) When the US exports, it takes payment ONLY in US Dollars (primarily). Similarly, when it imports, it pays ONLY in US Dollars (primarily)... "
True. Because the USD is the world's reserve currency. In the absence of a reserve currency, countries, the US included, would presumably buy things, from say China by paying Yuan (instead of the reserve currency or their domestic currency), and sell things to other countries in their domestic currency instead of the reserve currency.
This would be a great blow to the US because currently it profits enormously, financially and in terms of global influence, by having the reserve currency and having the bulk of international trading go through USD.
Now for you question about "IF the USD loses reserve currency status" and what I think the probability is. I think it's a virtual certainty (in the intermediate - roughly a decade-, not the short term) and I think the path to that loss of reserve currency status runs through BRICS. Now that BRICS is large enough in terms of population, resources (human and natural), it can become self-sufficient in terms of trading in domestic currencies between its members. Once that happens, goodbye USD reserve currency status and the boost to prosperity that accompanies it.
No I know that, I follow BRICS closely. But it can economically isolate the US and the west, which will be very bad for capitalists here. If it works like I hope it will the US will crumble under its own weight.
>>"But it can economically isolate the US and the west..."
That is a pipe dream not built on reality and how the world economic, financial and trading systems work.
That's one reason I dislike the likes of Ben Norton (who loves selling such dreams to his audience in hopes of increasing subscribership, etc.).
Better people to listen to on BRICS are Richard Wolf, Michael Hudson, etc. that really understand the interplay between economic systems and global trading relations.
Nothing that a bunch of strangers do, strangers we can't know, can't speak to, is going to be good for us. It will just be like jumping from the fat to the fire. No, we need a totally different strategy. Why don't we make our own currencies? Hmm?
I wish Elyse Stefanik would have had the opportunity to hold the covered body of a Gaza baby, stiff from hypothermia- close to her heart. Perhaps her arrogance and self-righteousness would have been brought down a notch.
Good comment but Stefanik and similar human garbage are true psychopaths. They worship power, brutality, and violence. They don't care about babies especially not "inferior" Palestinian babies. Yeah, I am sure she has something like myocardium-powered 2-stage 4-compartment blood pump in her body but heart - I don't think so.
Time to make the Holy Land holy again. The best thing Pope Francis could ever do is to make his stand in Gaza, or Bethlehem. He has an opportunity that is unequalled, to say "no" to genocide. If Gaza is no longer an option, thanks to the total blockade by Israel. He could even go to the West Bank, Beirut, or even Teheran.
May it be his road to Damascus moment, and say, “Not in our name, not on our watch.”
Meanwhile, it's just fine to publish images/footage of devastation in Ukraine or Syria but don't even think about showing Israelis the results of their scorched earth strategy in Gaza! It might disturb the poor petals and that, of course, is antisemitic. The murderous show is now going ahead in the West Bank and The Benighted States of America is right behind the IDF-supported 'settlers'. US meatheads have yet to realise that The Gulf of America is an alternative name for the tRump's cranial cavity, and that could take us anywhere.
It looks like Israel's geared up to hammer the West Bank now. It's disgusting that Israel not only gets away with this but is funded, armed and supported by western governments.
It's clear that the Israelis agreed to the ceasefire because a) a pause to regroup suited them and b) it gave them permission to annex the West Bank, whcih they have started to do.
There are probably more gains for Israeli which we'll discover eventually.
I fully agree; the U.S. Empire will continue terrorizing and abusing the world until it is brought to an end. The question is, how and when? The empire can be likened to a chronic alcoholic, existing in a state of perpetual inebriation, unable to distinguish between reality and self-delusion. Drunk with power and unwilling to acknowledge its condition, it is determined to drive the bus and insists all others must be passengers.
Its vision has deteriorated to the point where it cannot see that it is merely driving in circles along the rim of a pit of war. Despite protests and pleas from the passengers, its hearing has become so selective that it filters out everything except the sound of those beating the drums of war.
If you’ve never had to wrestle the keys away from a drunken man determined to drive, you might think persuasion and reason could work. But no, a drunken man, like a drunken empire, does not respond to reason, they understand only force.
If there are no forces great enough from within the empire, those outside will sooner or later have no choice but to take your keys away by force.
What I see today is the USA doing everything it can to accelerate its economic decline. China has sixteen times as many smart people as does the USA. The latter can't compete in a high tech economy any more.
The only alternative to this is nuclear war. No point in worrying about that, so I don't.
Sorry such thinking is in my opinion problematic, China`s rise is not and America`s decline, A fatalist philosophy, the non interventionist who claims things are beyond their control is no better than drunk who insists he must be in the driver’s seat. If you are part of humanity, than its fate concerns you, Inaction, is complicity. If one is aware of a wrong, of an injustice then they have obligation to themselves and all humanity to act, or at least speak up. The fact that you made a comment proves that you do have concern that you are willing to participate, we just differ on what action to take, I say that through shared discourse we will find solutions to prevent war, ideals must be spread for them to take root and blossom.
I think the US is not equally as responsible as Israel. I think the US is more responsible. And the US could have stopped sending bombs and weapons of war.
CJ>>"The most horrific thing about the Gaza holocaust is knowing that it’s going to happen again. Even if this ceasefire somehow manages to hold, some other nightmare will be unleashed by the US-centralized empire somewhere else in the world in the coming years."
I think it (ethnic cleansing/genocide) might come sooner than expected - in the West Bank. (I really hope that I'm wrong).
CJ>>"The US empire will continue terrorizing and abusing the world until it is brought to an end, as surely as an object will continue falling until it hits something."
No doubt, hence EVERY COUNTRY on the planet (I don't expect anything from Western puppet states) must try their best to do BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanction) to Israel + USA (yes, I know it's challenging, but can we at least start by boycotting ALL the BIG TECH companies like Amazon, Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft PLEASE?)
The United Nations is once again repeating its mistake made with Gaza: coming out with far too soft words early on, when it knows this is genocide planned and underway.
And not immediately naming and shaming the so-called international community of genocide enablers.
I want Trump, every Republican in Congress, and every Democrat in Congress removed from office. Now. Not our war? It is our war when we keep funding it!
Join the (US) Taxpayers Against Genocide--they're starting class action lawsuits to sue their Congress things for illegally using our tax dollars to fund a genocide in Gaza. There's a webinar tomorrow afternoon and probably will be more to come because the idea is spreading quickly. https://bit.ly/TAGjan25
I think those words from Trump, "It's not our war, it's their war," might just ring a little differently, a bit harshly, in the ears of those who have heard for 15 months, that it is in fact "America's war." It suggests a severing of those bonds that Biden forged. May it send a few frissons of fear into those who have, for these long months, been committing genocide.
"Israel depends on the US about as much as any foreign US military base does" - Israel **is** the foreign US military base, just with a much better cover. Ukraine was heading to be that too.
The initial exchange of hostages is telling insofar as how Palestinians maintain a sense of humanity regarding prisoners as opposed to the evident brutality they face from their Israeli captors:
It’s always refreshing to read your commentaries Caitlin. You have an insight that gets right to the centre of the issue. No bullshit about how the USA has to return to its democracy as the founding fathers dreamed it. The USA was never democratic, it was always managed by an elite, it was always fascist, and it will never change. Just like Israel, it needs to disappear.
When you think of the benefits of Israel 'disappearing', Ron, how things would be different.
The average American knows that as well, I feel sure, as does most of the real world.
With the removal of Israel, Palestine would be intact as would Lebanon, Jordon, Iraq, Syria, eventually a piece of Egypt, half of Saudi, a piece of Turkey as with Kuwait, all on
the Israeli agenda as is well known with 'Eretz Israel' and all that means.
What a peaceful Middle East it would be..
But the cunning Israelis, now perhaps the most hated state in the world, were clever in pressuring the hegemonic and totally corrupted government of the USA, (well, not totally, but 86%) run by Israel, the bankers, militarists and extreme right-wingers to back it up, at a time when the empire was on a fast, downhill run.
But before the USA recovers its once admired Constitution, before they dismember it totally as they are in the throes of of doing right now, they have some pain and anguish to go through with decisions in the foreseeable future in the hands of incompetents, loyal Trump bumboys, increasingly powered state police using AI to maximum effect and the new AIPAC Federal US Government (what an international embarrassment) all under the unrestricted dictates of a nihilistic egotist called Trump, elected for 4 years, laughing all the way to the bank. He has conned 360 million people and all the white Western wimps (governments)
Four years. Now that is a long time. Plenty of time for China to become even more respected than ever, technology and manufacturing capability unhindered by a fizzed out America, a stronger Russia respected by many for NOT having turned Ukraine into an other Gaza, as country after country climbs on board the BRITS trading lifeboat and discards the US dollar.
It is all there for us, patiently waiting.
The fact is israel does not belong there.
Israel as it exists is an abomination.
And as Contrarian 33 rightly says it does not belong anywhere.
The road is long and there are still many turns to make but the end is closer than it has ever been.
We must keep the pressure on.
Agree. Trump’s latest statement about Gazans emigrating to Egypt is another abomination. It is likely to implode US/Middle East relations.
Truthfully Ron, for what it is and has become, it doesn't belong anywhere
Yep. Barring nuclear war the end result is inevitable. It's just a question of how much suffering They cause whilst trying to turn back the clock.
My sentiments exactly.
Dearest Caitlin
I can’t describe my gratitude to you for keeping people AWARE of this horror even though it only rates as mention on MSM if an “Israeli hostage” is released.
Just one tiny thing, and I’ve had this opinion for a long time. I dislike the term “rubble”. It’s too mild to describe what Gaza has become. “Rubble” is what I climbed over in the Rocky Mountains last summer; fallen rocks and debris from nature.
I believe we should replace “rubble” with DESTRUCTION, or at the very least, Ruins.
Thanks for listening.
PS And for being you.
The 4 women being released tomorrow by Hamas are prisoners of war because they are in the Israeli military and are legitimate targets. Of course the media won’t tell us that.
I saw a picture of the 4 women. They have been well treated, visibly.
Thank you gypsy33, I always thought so too - there's nothing benign in that destruction!
Thank YOU, Indu 🙂
I have come to consider all wars as genocidal as there are very few wars of necessity, most now are manufactured for convenience, profits and and pure barbarism. The fact there is a debate over whether or not Gaza is a genocide and the over all official indifference becomes the measure of how morally destitute the pathetic West has become.
We are in the late stages of decline as war, demagoguery and autocracy now rule with no accountability. We are seeing in very vivid terms what happens when democracy has collapsed and there is no accountability. This crisis was decades in the making and isn't going away any time soon.
The fact that the US Senate gave Marco Rubio a unanimous endorsement means all 99 of them should be sent home and put in diapers.
As Joe Sacco commented to Chris Hedges: "Democracies commit atrocities". Doesn't matter what you call yourself, what you perceive yourself to be, actions speak loudest.
It's not really democracy but representative government which is pretty much equivalent to dictatorships, just a few more fat heads are in it.
>>"The fact there is a debate over whether or not Gaza is a genocide and the over all official indifference becomes the measure of how morally destitute the pathetic West has become."
Well said Robert Billyard!
Great post Robert Billlyard. The West is indeed morally bankrupt. They don't seem to have any vestige of decency left. Their media are total establishment shills. Trump making those comedic pronouncements would have us laughing if we didn't know that he is deadly serious. It is not a "golden age " he is ushering but a dystopia.
What are you doing about it? What is anyone else doing about it? Actually we can at least talk about it and brainstorm on what we can do about it.
Zionism is a Perverted Global Sadistic Sociopathic Malignancy
Yes.
PERFECT POST
Fuck Israel. It must end like it was supposed to end in 1948, at its inception
Wanting to eliminate something is actually playing into their game. They are the entities of darkness, of destruction, deprivation, degradation and all things deathly. We don't need to eliminate anything, just take away its power. It's power comes from money and attention. Look how much money the taxpayer is coughing up in taxes. Look how much attention the bad guys just keep on getting. Even bad attention is energy. And that's what they suck out of us by talking about them constantly. We need to be talking about how to make the terrain unpleasant for them, uninhabitable for them.
Eliminating evil apartheid Israel as an entity is just wishful thinking. The only way that would happen is if the United States destroyed itself from within, a nearly impossible task. However, Israel would suck out every drop of blood of the American people and the United States before it allowed others to snuff out its evil regime. Israel is a leach that is not a saprophyte, but a deadly poisonous blood fluke, if left unchecked it will destroy the host organism, our country, which might be hastened by the splintering of the individual states.
The only acceptable answer is peace, which American evangelical Zionists staunchly opposes. They want all Jews to be corralled into Palestine for the return of Jesus so he can either convert them or destroy every remaining non converting Jew to ever lasting hellfire and damnation. But shockingly, only 144,000 souls out of the 100 billion humans that have ever lived would be saved by the returning Jesus. Where they got this number, I don’t know, but my guess is that’s probably as high as early Christians could count using Roman numerals before Arabic numbers came in to the scene. hundreds of years later. They are hell bent on continuing the evangelical wars in the Middle East so that prophesy would come true as soon as possible because I seems they are selfish enough to want to see the destruction of the world in this idea of Armageddon and the Rapture now. It is these Evangelical Zionists that staunchly oppose peace because they are more Zionists than the more educated Jewish Zionists.
Lyndon Baines Johnson the ultimate traitor in all of American History was such a profound believer of this evangelical Zionism, he the then Vice President assisted and coordinated the assassination of his President JFK with the help of Israeli Mossad just to keep Israel’s nuclear arms program intact, which JFK threatened, and to keep AIPAC from having to register as a foreign agent. JFK also demanded the Federal Reserve stop its practice of usury when the interest rate was the highest in 20 years at the time of JFK’s assassination.
Yes we need peace, and peace is the only answer. But Israelis murdered their own prime ministers when he reached out to make peace with the Oslo Accord. The winning candidate after him supported the Anti peace factions of Palestinian resistance, and he is still in power now.
Achieving peace is as nebulous as eliminating Israel. The crucial point of my message is that we need to be thinking of how to move forward, and there is very little to no talk about this. By being in this "frequency" of thinking that only elimination as a strategy, means that we will be doing nothing. These are the parameters of the situation, we're mostly all aware, but what are we doing about it? What we ought to be doing is not fight it but counter it by building something of our own. We haven't even had the first conversation about that. Things like adopting another currency. Imagine if people started weaning off banker's notes - that would so harm Israel. We could be doing this in our communities but everyone is really acting like lemmings, there is no action anywhere except the few pockets of usually, individual people doing the work.
yep. heres hoping BRICS has what it takes to topple this rotten empire. but its also a scary thought, because the US will lash out even harsher the more inevitable its collapse becomes
BRICS is a trading alliance that works WITH other systems. It is NOT a military/strategic alliance. Please understand BRICS (goals, how it works, etc.) before assuming/misunderstanding things.
BRICS may well topple the empire simply through economics, not necessarily military force. If the US dollar loses its status as reserve currency for the world, the economic collapse of the US will be astonishingly rapid. (Yes I know that is not one of the stated goals of BRICS but it might still be an inevitable consequence of strong multi-lateral trading arrangements not centered on the US.)
You are right about BRICS. Marco Rubio is a lying warmonger, but he spoke the truth when he said losing the dollar as the world's currency meant the U.S. will no longer be able to sanction as punishment those countries not doing it's bidding. The also won't be able to steal billions from any country in BRICS, as they stole a billion in gold from Venezuela and millions from Russia and others. The world is turning its back on the West and Israel. Pushed by Rubio, Trump wants to attack Cuba and Venezuela. So much for him not wanting war. Anyone who supports Israel is pure evil. That includes our Congressional cowards.
Panama Canal. In fact the whole of S. America is at risk.
Agreed, but my fear is that the US is not going to allow that transition without a fight. The sort of fight that might annihilate us all. Unless of course the Empire is foolish enough to have a poke at Iran in the meantime.
I hope so too, forceOfHabit, in spite of Chang's pessimism!
Indu, it's not pessimism - it's knowledge of what BRICS is, how it works, etc. and how economic and financial systems work.
Where's my comment?
You are exactly right. vansdan never mentions anything about a military alliance or bringing down the empire militarily, so it seems that Chang Chokaski has decided to employ a classic straw-man rhetorical tactic to imply that you are uninformed.
What exactly is the straw-man ?
Your reply to vansdan states that BRICS is not a military alliance. vansdan never said or implied that it is. You used a straw-man argument.
Vansdan states -> "BRICS has what it takes to topple this rotten empire"
What does that mean? Does it mean topple it militarily? strategically? economically? financially? He didn't specify.
My response: I explained WHAT BRICS is (trading alliance) and what it isn't (military/strategic alliance)
So again, I'm hoping you understand WHAT a strawman argument is - as there is NONE in my response.
>>"If the US dollar loses its status as reserve currency for the world,..."
If the US dollar loses that much value, ALL the countries that hold US dollars (including China owning trillions) will suffer much more than the US. You see, the world is held hostage by the US dollar. That is one of the LARGEST points of leverage the US has over others -> all the other countries have "skin in the game" in keeping the US dollar going (that's one reason why many countries have "fixed" exchange rates pegged to the USD instead of "floating" currencies/rates).
A whole book could be written on why OTHERS lose more than the US. Here is just one reason: US is a net IMPORTER while other countries are net EXPORTERS. If the USD becomes exceedingly weak, it benefits the US and all the other countries (especially periphery and semi-periphery countries) lose out on trade.
Also, why do you think the US has 800-1,000 military bases around the world? One reason is to maintain US Dollar hegemony/supremacy.
The best possible outcome (IMHO), is multiple reserve currencies (or a basket of mixed trading value).
So, your entire argument can be summed up as a *very* large game of chicken. Let's summarise the current situation:
1. The US issues copious sums of worthless fiat currency (debt) backed by nothing except mafiosi-style threats of violence.
2. The US uses this intrinsically worthless currency (debt) to buy massive amounts of imports from the rest of the world, thereby running up a huge, chronic trade deficit. In 2022, excess of imports over exports was $3,500 per capita.
3. The US trade deficit has been saved from falling off a cliff in the last 20 years by a boom in oil and gas exports, facilitated by hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology. The fracking bubble is about to burst in 2025 as production from major oil and gas fields begins to decline. The rate of post-peak decline for fracking is much faster than conventional extraction methods.
4. The rest of the world is scared to abandon the dollar as reserve/trading currency, since this will render their holdings of dollar debt worthless. BRICS implicitly recognises that the dollar system is unsustainable and is gradually transitioning to alternative arrangements.
5. China, Japan, Arab petro-monarchies, et al, are focused on reducing their holdings of worthless paper (US Treasury bonds), and using these dollar holdings to buy real assets (resources, infrastructure, productive capital).
6. If there is a run on the dollar, countries and private interests holding large sums of US-denominated debt instruments will suffer a precipitous decline in value of these "assets". BRICS countries and countries moving into the BRICS orbit understand this risk, and are employing a range of strategies to mitigate risk. They recognise that the demise of the dollar is not a question of "if" but "when", and are preparing for that day.
7. When the dollar inevitably loses its reserve/trading currency status, the empire will no longer be able to maintain its network of mafia-extortion military bases and covert operations covering the entire globe. Once this stage is reached, the dissolution of the US as a federal entity will be rapid.
As an aside, your assertion: "If the USD becomes exceedingly weak, it benefits the US and all the other countries... lose out on trade" is quite comical. Are you implying that all of the countries selling goods to the US in exchange for worthless US debt will lose out if this trade collapses? In the short term, yes, they will no longer be able to give away their products to the US for free, but that was never going to continue long-term anyway and they will find other markets where the buyers will pay in methods that have actual value. In contrast, the US will simply not be able to buy imports in excess of the revenue generated by exports, so a large downsizing of the economy will occur.
Stepher Walker, not only are you absolutely clueless in your understanding of economics and the financial systems, but you present MULTIPLE errors in critical thinking in your comment above.
Here's an explanation (point-by-point):
(1) US currency is not worthless (if it is, why don't you give me ALL your US Dollars?). Debt is a NECESSARY component of ANY/ALL financial systems. Please read up on HOW DEBT works. Too much to go into here, but -> the US Dollar is BACKED by the "force/power" of the US Empire AND the "trust" of the US Govt. (BTW, the same goes for EVERY currency on the planet)
(2) Again, understand WHAT "debt" is, how it works, what it is used for. I recommend reading David Graebor's "Debt: The First 4,000 Years" or Michael Hudson on debt discussions. The trade deficit is irrelevant to the US - in fact, if the US does NOT have trade deficits, all other countries will suffer. So your point is moot.
(3) Again, the trade deficit is inconsequential to the US. Please explain HOW a trade deficit harms the US? This has NOTHING to do with oil/gas/fracking, etc. The US CANNOT be a net exporter. WHY? Who will it export to? Who has the money to pay for the US's imports? Where does the world get the money to import from the US? Answer -> from the US. The US has the power to print unlimited amounts of money. This it then distributes under various guises (aid, loans, etc.). THIS money is then used to buy/import US products. WITHOUT the distribution (and circulation) of US currency, US exports WILL fall off the cliff.
(4) This point of yours is meaningless (i.e. non-sequitor). HOW is the dollar system unsustainable? Can you give EVEN ONE REASON as to how? Again, this has NOTHING to do with BRICS.
(5) >>"China, Japan, Arab petro-monarchies, et al, are focused on reducing their holdings of worthless paper (US Treasury bonds)"
Here is the reality -> WHY do you think MORE people are buying US debt (than less)? The trend is the opposite of your incorrect assumption. US Debt will keep growing -> there is a REAL demand for US Debt (and the interest payments). Maybe study the BOND MARKETS to understand WHO buys US Debt and WHY.
(6) Again, another STUPID/non-sensical statement. Too many IFs (without logic), too many faulty assumptions, not enough reality of how the financial system works.
(7) >>"When the dollar inevitably loses its reserve/trading currency status"
Seriously, what make-believe world are you living in? Are you argueing with FACTS or just wishful-thinking and alternate universe theories? HOW will the dollar lose its reserve/trading status? WHY? What are the probabilities? You need REAL DATA instead of wishes.
I could go on, BUT not a SINGLE one of your points make ANY SENSE. I've heard these narratives from many people that don't understand how the global financial system (and trading markets) work. There are many good books to explain the subject, and I would not be able to do justice to the topic in this limited communication medium.
It seems that your core argument is circular logic, which boils down to: “The US can print as many dollars as it likes forever because it can”. I’m sure that since you’re a self-styled economic genius, this logic will prove absolutely correct and that you’ve published numerous monographs to back up your immaculate theory.
You snidely ask me why I don’t give you all my dollars. It seems that in your insular world everyone has or buys or needs dollars. I don’t have or need dollars. I’m an individual living in another country. I’m not an enterprise engaging in cross-border trade. Maybe, just maybe, this provides a tiny kernel of insight on how the dollar might not be omnipotent forever more.
Yes the chaos that would/will accompany the loss of reserve currency status for the USD will hurt the entire global economy, not just the US, but I think the US will suffer more, and take longer to recover. I don't understand your arguments to the contrary:
"US is a net IMPORTER while other countries are net EXPORTERS."
Umm, yeah, so if the USD collapses US consumers will no longer be able to buy foreign/Chinese manufactured goods. And the US doesn't make most of these things anymore, so severe shortages/inflation etc. That's pretty bad for the US. China loses income, and suffers from excess capacity, but they have no shortage of physical goods.
"The best possible outcome (IMHO), is multiple reserve currencies (or a basket of mixed trading value)."
Sure, but that still means the USD loses its unique and very valuable status as reserve currency. US banks and financial players lose a ton of leverage and trading revenue. The US dollar suffers because foreign companies and governments no longer have to keep large US dollar reserves / US treasuries to facilitate trading etc. Seems to me your "best possible outcome" is still rather dire for the US.
forceOfHabit, I don't understand your "IF" scenarios (or the probabilities). One can literally say ANYTHING with an IF. If the sky falls, if nuclear war breaks out, if we get another super-charged pandemic 100 times stronger than Covid, if, if, if....
>>"if the USD collapses..."
Why would the USD collapse? Under what scenarios? What probabilities? What is the reality of that happening? (anyone can create IF scenarios ad-infinatum, but one needs probabilities attached to those scenarios).
AND, if the US Dollar collapses, BUYING "stuff" will be the LEAST of anyone's worries. There will be MUCH bigger issues to deal with.
Please give me REALISTIC probabilities (not wishful thinking) on any of your IFs. And if any of your IFs happen, what will the impact on the "rest of the world"?
Before I go further, let me clarify ->
I WANT the US (and its systems) to self-destruct, BUT with minimal IMPACT to any other entity. None of the scenarios you describe are realistic or of minimal impact/consequences to others.
Here is some (extremely simplified) logic for IMPORTS/EXPORTS->
(1) When the US exports, it takes payment ONLY in US Dollars (primarily). Similarly, when it imports, it pays ONLY in US Dollars (primarily). So where will countries get these US dollars to buy (import) US products? (a) by exporting to the US. When a country exports to the US, it gets US dollars. Hence, countries (especially periphery and semi-periphery countries) NEED to export to the US (to obtain these valuable dollars to pay for all the necessities that it needs to import) (b) Whatever extra "reserve" US Dollars remain with a country after imports with net exporter countries to the US (eg. China, Saudi Arabia, etc.), the US requires them to buy US debt (by military force if necessary, or sanctions, or a number of other strategies). Hence, its military power serves to maintain a deband for US Debt. (c) There is NO safer investment (in the world) than US Debt. If you don't think so, can you give me EVEN ONE REAL EXAMPLE of how it has been unsafe? And for whom?
Here are some more things to understand->
(1) The US controls the world with ONE MAIN WEAPON -> US Debt. Using this debt, it funds the military. Using the military, it exerts force/pressure on the rest of the world. Using this force, it compells others to CONTINUE buying US Debt.
(2) Interest payments are NOT a problem for the US (despite the false narratives in the media and by politicians). Please read/study MMT (modern monetary theory) to understand in detail WHY. Since the US can print unlimited amounts of money, it can continue paying interest on its debts - i.e. the US Govt. can NEVER run out of US Dollars. If the US decides not to pay interest, it can simply "steal/void" a country's foreign reserves that are held in USD, or sanction a country, or destroy a country, or a number of other strategies.
There's much more to it, but then it goes off-topic into many different tangents.
Hi Chang,
Not sure this is the place to debate economics but here goes. First, when you say
"Here is some (extremely simplified) logic for IMPORTS/EXPORTS->
(1) When the US exports, it takes payment ONLY in US Dollars (primarily). Similarly, when it imports, it pays ONLY in US Dollars (primarily)... "
True. Because the USD is the world's reserve currency. In the absence of a reserve currency, countries, the US included, would presumably buy things, from say China by paying Yuan (instead of the reserve currency or their domestic currency), and sell things to other countries in their domestic currency instead of the reserve currency.
This would be a great blow to the US because currently it profits enormously, financially and in terms of global influence, by having the reserve currency and having the bulk of international trading go through USD.
Now for you question about "IF the USD loses reserve currency status" and what I think the probability is. I think it's a virtual certainty (in the intermediate - roughly a decade-, not the short term) and I think the path to that loss of reserve currency status runs through BRICS. Now that BRICS is large enough in terms of population, resources (human and natural), it can become self-sufficient in terms of trading in domestic currencies between its members. Once that happens, goodbye USD reserve currency status and the boost to prosperity that accompanies it.
No I know that, I follow BRICS closely. But it can economically isolate the US and the west, which will be very bad for capitalists here. If it works like I hope it will the US will crumble under its own weight.
>>"But it can economically isolate the US and the west..."
That is a pipe dream not built on reality and how the world economic, financial and trading systems work.
That's one reason I dislike the likes of Ben Norton (who loves selling such dreams to his audience in hopes of increasing subscribership, etc.).
Better people to listen to on BRICS are Richard Wolf, Michael Hudson, etc. that really understand the interplay between economic systems and global trading relations.
Nothing that a bunch of strangers do, strangers we can't know, can't speak to, is going to be good for us. It will just be like jumping from the fat to the fire. No, we need a totally different strategy. Why don't we make our own currencies? Hmm?
I wish Elyse Stefanik would have had the opportunity to hold the covered body of a Gaza baby, stiff from hypothermia- close to her heart. Perhaps her arrogance and self-righteousness would have been brought down a notch.
But does she have a heart?
Good comment but Stefanik and similar human garbage are true psychopaths. They worship power, brutality, and violence. They don't care about babies especially not "inferior" Palestinian babies. Yeah, I am sure she has something like myocardium-powered 2-stage 4-compartment blood pump in her body but heart - I don't think so.
I doubt she would care.
Sociopaths lack a conscience.
I have heard calls from Roman Catholics, horrified by Stefanik's depravity, for the Pope to EXCOMMUNICATE her!
I would really like to see the Pope excommunicate Stefanik--and Biden. Aiding and abetting genocide really should be excommunicating offenses.
Here's a petition to do just that. I signed it months ago. Not many have. Sign and spread the word:
https://chng.it/qZ5Z7rWFGD
And while you're at it, sign mine as well:
Time to make the Holy Land holy again. The best thing Pope Francis could ever do is to make his stand in Gaza, or Bethlehem. He has an opportunity that is unequalled, to say "no" to genocide. If Gaza is no longer an option, thanks to the total blockade by Israel. He could even go to the West Bank, Beirut, or even Teheran.
May it be his road to Damascus moment, and say, “Not in our name, not on our watch.”
Please sign the petition and share widely.
https://chng.it/gkvBfY44rq
Done and done and shared.
Huh, TRC?
Stefanik is CATHOLIC?
Shee-it, Catholicism ain’t what it was when I was a kid!
I was gobsmacked to learn Stefanik is Catholic. The Pope needs to excommunicate Biden and Stefanik both NOW.
The Church ain't what it used to be.
ABSOLUTELY. Biden should appear in the dock at the Hague as an excommunicated murderer.
Don't think she does, she's utterly utterly reprehensible
Meanwhile, it's just fine to publish images/footage of devastation in Ukraine or Syria but don't even think about showing Israelis the results of their scorched earth strategy in Gaza! It might disturb the poor petals and that, of course, is antisemitic. The murderous show is now going ahead in the West Bank and The Benighted States of America is right behind the IDF-supported 'settlers'. US meatheads have yet to realise that The Gulf of America is an alternative name for the tRump's cranial cavity, and that could take us anywhere.
It looks like Israel's geared up to hammer the West Bank now. It's disgusting that Israel not only gets away with this but is funded, armed and supported by western governments.
It's clear that the Israelis agreed to the ceasefire because a) a pause to regroup suited them and b) it gave them permission to annex the West Bank, whcih they have started to do.
There are probably more gains for Israeli which we'll discover eventually.
I fully agree; the U.S. Empire will continue terrorizing and abusing the world until it is brought to an end. The question is, how and when? The empire can be likened to a chronic alcoholic, existing in a state of perpetual inebriation, unable to distinguish between reality and self-delusion. Drunk with power and unwilling to acknowledge its condition, it is determined to drive the bus and insists all others must be passengers.
Its vision has deteriorated to the point where it cannot see that it is merely driving in circles along the rim of a pit of war. Despite protests and pleas from the passengers, its hearing has become so selective that it filters out everything except the sound of those beating the drums of war.
If you’ve never had to wrestle the keys away from a drunken man determined to drive, you might think persuasion and reason could work. But no, a drunken man, like a drunken empire, does not respond to reason, they understand only force.
If there are no forces great enough from within the empire, those outside will sooner or later have no choice but to take your keys away by force.
What I see today is the USA doing everything it can to accelerate its economic decline. China has sixteen times as many smart people as does the USA. The latter can't compete in a high tech economy any more.
The only alternative to this is nuclear war. No point in worrying about that, so I don't.
Sorry such thinking is in my opinion problematic, China`s rise is not and America`s decline, A fatalist philosophy, the non interventionist who claims things are beyond their control is no better than drunk who insists he must be in the driver’s seat. If you are part of humanity, than its fate concerns you, Inaction, is complicity. If one is aware of a wrong, of an injustice then they have obligation to themselves and all humanity to act, or at least speak up. The fact that you made a comment proves that you do have concern that you are willing to participate, we just differ on what action to take, I say that through shared discourse we will find solutions to prevent war, ideals must be spread for them to take root and blossom.
very very well said and excellent metaphor. i screenshotted so i wont forget
Tre, that was the analogy of the century!
I think the US is not equally as responsible as Israel. I think the US is more responsible. And the US could have stopped sending bombs and weapons of war.
CJ>>"The most horrific thing about the Gaza holocaust is knowing that it’s going to happen again. Even if this ceasefire somehow manages to hold, some other nightmare will be unleashed by the US-centralized empire somewhere else in the world in the coming years."
I think it (ethnic cleansing/genocide) might come sooner than expected - in the West Bank. (I really hope that I'm wrong).
CJ>>"The US empire will continue terrorizing and abusing the world until it is brought to an end, as surely as an object will continue falling until it hits something."
No doubt, hence EVERY COUNTRY on the planet (I don't expect anything from Western puppet states) must try their best to do BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanction) to Israel + USA (yes, I know it's challenging, but can we at least start by boycotting ALL the BIG TECH companies like Amazon, Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft PLEASE?)
The United Nations is once again repeating its mistake made with Gaza: coming out with far too soft words early on, when it knows this is genocide planned and underway.
And not immediately naming and shaming the so-called international community of genocide enablers.
The United Nations has been degenerated by Global Zionist Collusion
I want Trump, every Republican in Congress, and every Democrat in Congress removed from office. Now. Not our war? It is our war when we keep funding it!
Join the (US) Taxpayers Against Genocide--they're starting class action lawsuits to sue their Congress things for illegally using our tax dollars to fund a genocide in Gaza. There's a webinar tomorrow afternoon and probably will be more to come because the idea is spreading quickly. https://bit.ly/TAGjan25
I think those words from Trump, "It's not our war, it's their war," might just ring a little differently, a bit harshly, in the ears of those who have heard for 15 months, that it is in fact "America's war." It suggests a severing of those bonds that Biden forged. May it send a few frissons of fear into those who have, for these long months, been committing genocide.
"Israel depends on the US about as much as any foreign US military base does" - Israel **is** the foreign US military base, just with a much better cover. Ukraine was heading to be that too.
Hello russian_bot, Long time no see... I do agree with your pithy comment.
The initial exchange of hostages is telling insofar as how Palestinians maintain a sense of humanity regarding prisoners as opposed to the evident brutality they face from their Israeli captors:
https://youtu.be/pR4o3Y8dLrA?si=E1ZQN3LL_ppr--sH
~~~
Good to see this from a young Australian songwriter:
https://youtu.be/y29kmnhjtc8?si=XKUqkfZxJfJhhDuO
~~~
https://www.newsweek.com/iyah-may-karmageddon-song-covid-lyrics-video-2008021