The war on Iran has not only ended in a humiliating defeat for the United States, but resulted in a dramatic shift in the balance of power in the Middle East and the Global South.
Ken. Ken. I'm so sorry for you. You should read more widely of world history then you would have more understanding of things.
The so- called civilised world (the Western world) has never been truly civilisational. When Christianity took hold of Europe the first thing that happened was that the remnants of Roman power weaponised that religion. From that vantage point the world and all other cultures, could still be dominated i.e., conquered by a powerful force. Starting point were the crusades which Europeans lost.
That period gave birth to colonialism world wide with all its cruelty, resource theft, control of Indigenous owners of their countries, industrial levels of slavery. For example, how do you think the Industrial Revolution happened.
Colonialism has been going for a thousand years and what you see in this 'rotten' world now is the result of that.
The most curious thing about the treatment of Jewish people is why they never seemed to have learnt anything moral from that genocidal experience. In the basic sense Gaza is a straight forward colonial exercise but at the same time Israel seems to psychologically need to hold someone responsible for all their suffering over time and to be able to continue meting out the cruelest savage punishment to the Palestinians time and time again.
Another suggestion about where could the Israelis go. How about America take the whole population into their country because let's face it they're like brothers in arms, they're close mates. The US is a pretty savage country too, how many wars have they started? how many millions of people have they killed since WW11?
Although the Native Americans might get really upset, Oh No, Not Again!!! They just might set out, collectively and seriously, on the warpath again - all 9 and a half million of them.
Good morning America. I live in New Zealand & for months have been posting comments intended to moderate America's CIVIL WAR. I have agreed with those who contend that Trump is a lunatic & a very nasty person; while questioning the motives of those determined to destroy him at any cost. I have found that I get very little support for my efforts. I am more often savaged by extremists from the political right & the political left. Both of whom seem to be as poisoness vindictive & unforgiving as each other. Which informs me that Trump is far from alone in his nastiness. Even Professor Reich is intent on blaming Trump for EVERYTHING so absolving the political left from any blame. A nation so divided against itself CANNOT STAND. Trump is building an octagon with a cage; in which two animals will fight each other even unto death while being cheered on by other groups of animals. Which informs me that America is no more civilized than the Roman Empire of two thousand years ago.
As a result I have GIVEN UP on America: as I feel that the CIVILIZED world cannot help it. Trying to help America is like trying to help Somalia; deeply entrenched disputes will not allow it. I figure the only thing that the CIVILIZED world can do is try to ride out this storm as best we are able. While leaving America to GO TO HELL on the broomstick of its own choosing.
On the matter of Israel. The Jews suffered a massive GENOCIDE at the hands of the GESTAPO who held their activities to be justified. In addition the Jews suffered from anti-semetic movements all round the world. All of which they held to be hugely UNJUST & WE AGREED. This has been the basis for our support for Israel over the last few decades.
Today Israel is committing a GENOCIDE against its neighbors & one that they hold to be justified; while we STRONGLY DISAGREE. Yet the reason that Israel is fighting with such INTENSITY today; is due to them being persecuted for most of history with no safe haven available to them.
While we dismiss Israel's claims it is only acting in SELF DEFENSE. Our only problem is where can 6 million Jews go if they get kicked out of the area called Israel? As these are people who have suffered from persecution for much of history this question has no easy answer,
Today Trump insists that Iran forfeiting its enriched Uranium is a precondition for peace. Yet this was not a major stipulation before his war began; so WHAT CHANGED? Before there was a remote POSSIBILITY that if Iran had nukes it would use them to attack America; given the way Trump has treated Iran this possibility has increased to near CERTAINTY. Now Trump has to restrict Iran's ability to obtain nukes in order to fix HIS OWN STUFF-UPS.
As for America; Trump supported Israel to the extent of threatening to destroy an ancient civilization if Iran did not submit to his will. As a result America may have to come to Israel's aid again & again; unless it wants to become complicit in destroying an ancient civilization called the Jews.
America is a great power in a rotten world. As such it cannot avoid being complicit in some monstrous act or other,
Ken, I don't think Jews can constitute an ancient civilization.........although they may have been part of one in Biblical times. For the last 2 thousand years they have formed a part of many civilizations, including the Persian civilization.
I wish the west knew more about other ancient civilizations.........like that of Persia as just one example. Perhaps then it would not be the world purveyor of so many simplistic notions, trotted out as 'civilizations'.
The Palestinians for example, could be one such ancient civilization.......certainly they have inhabited the area for centuries. Unfortunately, western imperial arrogance usually fails to allow those parts of the planet it intends to colonize, steal and rape to be called 'civilizations'
From what I've learned over my lifetime, I'm leary of calling the west a civilization. Too many genocides, land thefts, massacres of the indigenous, have gone into our high blown sense of ourselves.........for me to call the west civilized. China maybe.............she's an old country, and one that has experienced western occupation.
Perhaps she might have some ideas about what to do with a much persecuted people, dispersed long ago throughout the world................and now willing to do just about anything to hold onto..........and expand...........a little strip of the Middle East they stole from the folks who had farmed it since the time of Christ.
We in the west, just backed the wrong horse.........and are dumb drunk enough on our own 'civilization' to be determined to continue doing so. For us, doubling down has always been easier than admitting we were wrong in the first place.
Ken. Ken. I'm so sorry for you. You should read more widely of world history then you would have more understanding of things.
The so- called civilised world (the Western world) has never been truly civilisational. When Christianity took hold of Europe the first thing that happened was that the remnants of Roman power weaponised that religion. From that vantage point the world and all other cultures, could still be dominated i.e., conquered by a powerful force. Starting point were the crusades which Europeans lost.
That period gave birth to colonialism world wide with all its cruelty, resource theft, control of Indigenous owners of their countries, industrial levels of slavery. For example, how do you think the Industrial Revolution happened.
Colonialism has been going for a thousand years and what you see in this 'rotten' world now is the result of that.
The most curious thing about the treatment of Jewish people is why they never seemed to have learnt anything moral from that genocidal experience. In the basic sense Gaza is a straight forward colonial exercise but at the same time Israel seems to psychologically need to hold someone responsible for all their suffering over time and to be able to continue meting out the cruelest savage punishment to the Palestinians time and time again.
Another suggestion about where could the Israelis go. How about America take the whole population into their country because let's face it they're like brothers in arms, they're close mates. The US is a pretty savage country too, how many wars have they started? how many millions of people have they killed since WW11?
Although the Native Americans might get really upset, Oh No, Not Again!!! They just might set out, collectively and seriously, on the warpath again - all 9 and a half million of them.
But something better is happening.
The global South is Rising.
Ken, Pack up and head for the North Pole.
Thanks for this.
Good morning America. I live in New Zealand & for months have been posting comments intended to moderate America's CIVIL WAR. I have agreed with those who contend that Trump is a lunatic & a very nasty person; while questioning the motives of those determined to destroy him at any cost. I have found that I get very little support for my efforts. I am more often savaged by extremists from the political right & the political left. Both of whom seem to be as poisoness vindictive & unforgiving as each other. Which informs me that Trump is far from alone in his nastiness. Even Professor Reich is intent on blaming Trump for EVERYTHING so absolving the political left from any blame. A nation so divided against itself CANNOT STAND. Trump is building an octagon with a cage; in which two animals will fight each other even unto death while being cheered on by other groups of animals. Which informs me that America is no more civilized than the Roman Empire of two thousand years ago.
As a result I have GIVEN UP on America: as I feel that the CIVILIZED world cannot help it. Trying to help America is like trying to help Somalia; deeply entrenched disputes will not allow it. I figure the only thing that the CIVILIZED world can do is try to ride out this storm as best we are able. While leaving America to GO TO HELL on the broomstick of its own choosing.
ken.maynard7@gmail.com
Thanks Chris!
On the matter of Israel. The Jews suffered a massive GENOCIDE at the hands of the GESTAPO who held their activities to be justified. In addition the Jews suffered from anti-semetic movements all round the world. All of which they held to be hugely UNJUST & WE AGREED. This has been the basis for our support for Israel over the last few decades.
Today Israel is committing a GENOCIDE against its neighbors & one that they hold to be justified; while we STRONGLY DISAGREE. Yet the reason that Israel is fighting with such INTENSITY today; is due to them being persecuted for most of history with no safe haven available to them.
While we dismiss Israel's claims it is only acting in SELF DEFENSE. Our only problem is where can 6 million Jews go if they get kicked out of the area called Israel? As these are people who have suffered from persecution for much of history this question has no easy answer,
Today Trump insists that Iran forfeiting its enriched Uranium is a precondition for peace. Yet this was not a major stipulation before his war began; so WHAT CHANGED? Before there was a remote POSSIBILITY that if Iran had nukes it would use them to attack America; given the way Trump has treated Iran this possibility has increased to near CERTAINTY. Now Trump has to restrict Iran's ability to obtain nukes in order to fix HIS OWN STUFF-UPS.
As for America; Trump supported Israel to the extent of threatening to destroy an ancient civilization if Iran did not submit to his will. As a result America may have to come to Israel's aid again & again; unless it wants to become complicit in destroying an ancient civilization called the Jews.
America is a great power in a rotten world. As such it cannot avoid being complicit in some monstrous act or other,
ken.maynard7@gmail.com
Ken, I don't think Jews can constitute an ancient civilization.........although they may have been part of one in Biblical times. For the last 2 thousand years they have formed a part of many civilizations, including the Persian civilization.
I wish the west knew more about other ancient civilizations.........like that of Persia as just one example. Perhaps then it would not be the world purveyor of so many simplistic notions, trotted out as 'civilizations'.
The Palestinians for example, could be one such ancient civilization.......certainly they have inhabited the area for centuries. Unfortunately, western imperial arrogance usually fails to allow those parts of the planet it intends to colonize, steal and rape to be called 'civilizations'
From what I've learned over my lifetime, I'm leary of calling the west a civilization. Too many genocides, land thefts, massacres of the indigenous, have gone into our high blown sense of ourselves.........for me to call the west civilized. China maybe.............she's an old country, and one that has experienced western occupation.
Perhaps she might have some ideas about what to do with a much persecuted people, dispersed long ago throughout the world................and now willing to do just about anything to hold onto..........and expand...........a little strip of the Middle East they stole from the folks who had farmed it since the time of Christ.
We in the west, just backed the wrong horse.........and are dumb drunk enough on our own 'civilization' to be determined to continue doing so. For us, doubling down has always been easier than admitting we were wrong in the first place.