Tag: World Affairs

Democracy For A Peaceful World

Since the early years of my schooling I was taught that the US was a beacon of freedom and democracy in this world.

The original mission statement for the Department of State was that it was to promote democracy and human rights….I believe that mission statement has been changed in the last few months.

The high moral ideal that democracy promotes peace is being challenged these days.

This is an article from Switzerland…..

Switzerland is not only a peaceful, democratic country, it is also – as stated in its constitution – committed to democracy and the peaceful “coexistence of peoples” worldwide. The extent to which democracy and peace are linked from a Swiss perspective is demonstrated by the fact that the promotion of democracy is the responsibility of the “Peace and Human Rights” department in the foreign ministry.

The perspective that democratisation brings peace has also had an impact internationally since 1945. Since the Second World War, the number of interstate wars has decreased and the number of democratic states has increased.

In 2024, there were once again more autocratic states than democratic ones. And liberal democracies, which respect the rights and freedoms of the individual, have even become a rare form of government. Only 900 million people live in a liberal democracy. In contrast, 72% of the world’s population live in a dictatorship. This is the highest number since 1978. At the same time, Western countries, above all the US, are scaling back their promotion of democracy abroad.

Are these developments linked to the many conflicts that exist around the world?

In addition to peace, prosperity in particular has long been a promise of democratisation, political scientist Karina Mross told Swissinfo. “But the example of China has undermined this argument. Especially since China is trying to define its own form of democracy,” she said.

A few years ago, China presented an argument as to why dictatorship is “a democracy that works”External link. Authoritarian states are trying – also in international organisations – to counter the liberal order with their own alternative model of values and prosperity.

If the economic argument is dropped, the question arises as to whether democratisation is at least a guarantee for peace.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/global-elections/does-democracy-really-make-the-world-more-peaceful/89646855

In recent years I have not seen the promise of democracy brings with it a peaceful world.

Has anyone else had this vision?

What makes anyone think that a country that spends a trillion dollars on war prep is working for a more peaceful world?

Indicators point o a problem….

In 2024, the number of state-based conflicts worldwide reached its highest level since 1946. Military expenditures have risen for 10 consecutive years, surpassing $2.7 trillion annually.

A record number of children have been victims of armed conflict, and gains in women’s rights hang in the balance around the world amid record levels of conflict.

The world is confronting converging crises. In September 2024, the United Nations convened the Summit for the Future, an initiative by the UN secretary-general aimed at addressing the collapse of the post-Cold War multilateral system, as well as the increasing number of conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. All of this is occurring in the climate change era.

https://theconversation.com/the-world-on-the-brink-why-governments-must-invest-in-peace-not-just-arms-264543

The world does not need more wars….even our once proud nation has been slowly drifting away from being a safe place….

Global Peace Index (GPI), released annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace, provides a look at the country’s overall safety and security—and it’s concerning. The Index rates more than 160 nations on factors like crime, conflict, and military spending. In the most recent report, the United States ranks near the bottom.

The 2025 results officially place the U.S. among the least peaceful countries in the world. Here’s more insight into why America’s score is so low and how it compares with other nations.

https://www.thetravel.com/study-shows-us-one-of-least-peaceful-countries-in-the-world/

How sad is that?  But not to worry it will make america great again, right?

Just wondering.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Big Three Meet

Over the weekend three members of the BRICS, China, Russia and India, met and discussed the happenings of the day…..

At a summit in Tianjin, eastern China, on Monday, the leaders of China, Russia, and India offered a carefully choreographed show of unity aimed at the West. Cameras caught Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi exchanging handshakes and laughter, with Modi at one point linking hands with Xi and Putin, who represent an alternative world order challenging the US, per the New York Times. The summit was part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which drew over 20 regional leaders and featured speeches that subtly rebuked US foreign policy. Xi urged members to reject “Cold War mentality” and “bloc confrontation,” while Modi endorsed multilateralism and a larger global role for countries like India.

The discussions, coming as the US escalates tariffs on India and tightens its stance toward China and Russia, are seen as a response to Washington’s hardline trade policies, which have nudged India closer to the other two powers. Modi’s warm gestures, including a shared limousine ride and lengthy conversation with Putin, marked a shift from India’s traditionally cautious approach to relations with China and Russia.

While China and India remain at odds over territorial issues, Modi said there was an “atmosphere of peace and stability” between them, per the BBC. India’s economic reliance on the West cannot be easily replaced by Russia, whose economy is weakened by sanctions. But as one analyst tells the Times, “the White House should grasp that its policies will result in other countries looking for alternatives to meet their interests.”

Interesting since China and India have been at each others throats over some deposited border territory….did they make nice?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday, and told the Russian leader that New Delhi and Moscow should deepen cooperation in “all sectors.”

The comments from Modi are the latest sign that tariffs and other pressure from the US won’t impact India’s import of Russian oil and its trade relationship with Russia in general. In a post on X, Modi shared a photo of himself and Putin in a vehicle en route to their meeting, and said conversations with the Russian leader were always “insightful.”

After the meeting, Modi described the talks as “excellent” and said they discussed “ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all spheres, including trade, fertilizers, space, security, and culture.”

In Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered remarks in which he criticized “bullying” practices, an apparent reference to US sanctions and other economic pressures. Xi, Modi, and Putin briefly huddled together at the summit, and the 10 SCO member states called out the US by name in a joint declaration that condemned the recent US-Israeli war on Iran, which is an SCO member.

The statement said that the SCO states “strongly condemn the June 2025 Israeli and US military aggression on Iran targeting civilian nuclear infrastructure, causing casualties (and) violation of international law and UN Charter principles.” They also strongly condemned “acts causing civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters in Gaza.”

(antiwar.com)

Is it possible that Donny and his silly foreign policy have brought together these partners for mutual security?

Think about that….3 heavily nuked up countries.

The New Cold War is getting hotter?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

3 From The East

A couple of nations from the diabolical East will meet and compare notes….China, Russia, North Korea…..should we be worried?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a bold diplomatic play as he prepares to host both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, which ended its occupation of regions of China. It’s the first time the three leaders will gather together. The Sept. 3 gathering in Beijing, to bring together leaders from 26 countries in all, including Indonesia, Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, and Malaysia, serves as a high-profile showcase of China’s expanding influence on the world stage, per the BBC and NPR. While President Trump continues to struggle for a diplomacy breakthrough in Ukraine and seeks another meeting with Kim, Xi is demonstrating his ability to convene key players.

Kim’s presence is especially notable, marking the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959. Despite speculation that Kim’s growing alignment with Putin might have frayed ties with Beijing, his first visit to the country in six years signals otherwise. The visit also offers Kim “legitimacy,” per the BBC, as he shares a stage with other world leaders. Xi, meanwhile, stands to gain leverage in upcoming negotiations with Washington. Trump, who’s under pressure to resolve trade tensions and will be in the region at the end of October, has said he’s open to meeting Xi. As the BBC reports, “Xi will want the strongest hand possible as negotiations go on” and, following this visit, “he may even have information his US counterpart does not.”

Is this a strategy session on dealing with the US?

Are we looking at a new bloc to counter US adventurism?

Will this be more troubles in the Pacific?

Will this be money thrown at a ‘rising’ threat?

Should we be worried?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

 

China In The Crosshairs

Donny has been rabid about the tariffs and sanctions he has placed on China some go as high as 125%…..and then out of the blue a pause to give China time to do whatever it is they think it will do.

Is this competition with China a winning strategy or is it just BS from a cluttered mind?

China’s economy is already one-third larger than the U.S. economy and growing far more rapidly. This was true before Donald Trump took office, but the growth gap has been even larger in the first six months of this year.

China’s economy has been growing at more than a 5.0 percent annual rate. Meanwhile the US economy grew at just a 1.2 percent annual rate. Put in dollar terms, China’s economy has grown by roughly $1 trillion in the last six months, while the US economy has grown by just $180 billion.

This comparison doesn’t really mean much to any of us in our daily lives. People care about whether they have jobs, rising wages, and living standards. Things don’t look great on the wages and living standards front either, but I’ll leave that one for now.

The point here is that if we envision ourselves in a Cold War competition with China, we’re losing badly. I know that China’s growth statistics must always be viewed with skepticism (that may be true here soon as well), but there is little doubt that over long period of times they are pretty much on the mark.

Over the last half century China has gone from Sub-Saharan Africa living standards to upper middle-income living standards. This means that even if the 5.0 percent growth reported for the first half of the year may not be exactly right, it is likely in the ballpark.

So, we shouldn’t be like Donald Trump and say we can ignore the numbers. We are behind China and falling further behind. Those are the facts that the New Cold Warriors need to recognize.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/08/11/in-trumps-competition-with-china-china-is-winning/

Will all these half-ass policies actually make China greater?  After all we are having a mini Cold War with China in and around the South China Sea……

Two certainties have emerged after seven months of Donald Trump’s control of America’s national security policy. First of all, there is no comprehensive national security policy and no likely candidate in the administration for formulating and managing a comprehensive policy. Second, the greatest challenge in the national security arena is China—the most important bilateral policy in the entire global arena—and the Trump administration is doing everything it can—whether intentional or not—to make China great and to worsen America’s standing vis-a-vis China. The dumbing down of the United States continues under Trump, and China’s standing in the global community is becoming stronger.

Over the past 75 years, China has rarely relied on the use of military power—in Korea in the 1950s to stop the advance of U.S. forces, and in 1979 to “teach the Vietnamese a lesson,” which didn’t go well for Chinese forces. Conversely, the United States has relied on the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to pursue wars that were neither winnable nor affordable (Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq), and to use covert action unsuccessfully in overthrowing democratic governments in Iran, Guatemala, the Congo, and Chile.

U.S. military engagements that were designed to last weeks and months turned into decades of military engagement and occupation. Nearly every administration claimed it was not engaged in nation-building, but hundreds of billions of dollars were wasted in doing exactly that—nation-building. And, of course, the ridiculous absurdity of the Iraq War that was going to introduce democracy as a model for the entire Arab world. No strategic purpose was served by any of these interventions. And apparently no lessons were learned.

Meanwhile, China has transitioned from one of the poorest nations in the world to the second-largest economy with nuclear-armed forces growing at a record pace. Over the past 40 years, China has had the world’s fastest-growing economy with annual growth rates that often exceeded 10% a year. China’s economy grew over five percent in the first half of this year; the U.S. economy expanded by one percent. Meanwhile, U.S. tariff policy is losing friends around the world.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/08/08/trumps-policies-will-make-china-great-again/

The only people that are suffering the consequences of this competition are the consumers…..when will that be accounted for?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What Are The Odds?

Let’s have a little fun on this Friday….

I thought I would close today with a small question on a larger issue…

Since taken office Donny has made it clear that he wants the Nobel Peace Prize…..one of his MAGA stoolies in Congress has nominated then that brutal warmongering prick BiBi has also jumped on the band wagon….next was Pakistan nominating because of Donny’s help with the India situation and now anew slug has also joined in the nominating process….Cambodia.

Cambodia has joined Pakistan and Israel in nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting the US president with “visionary and innovative diplomacy” that ended border clashes with Thailand.

A letter from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee said he wished to nominate Trump “in recognition of his historic contributions in advancing world peace”.

“President Trump’s extraordinary statesmanship – marked by his commitment to resolving conflicts and preventing catastrophic wars through visionary and innovative diplomacy – was most recently demonstrated by his decisive role in brokering an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand,” Hun Manet’s letter said.

(aje.com)

Contributions for world peace?

Seriously?

Blind obedience to Israel and its brutal destruction of Palestine, unprovoked attack on Iran and threats to go to war over an island….none of that sounds peaceful to me….but that aside….just for fun what are the odds that he will win the coveted Peace Prize?

The nomination has sparked renewed attention on Trump’s chances of winning the prestigious award. According to betting aggregator Oddschecker, Trump’s current odds of securing the prize range from 17/2 (10.5%) to 6/1 (14.3%), placing him as the second favorite among bookmakers. Leading odds makers including Ladbrokes and Coral list him at 6/1, while William Hill offers 11/2 (15.4%) and Sky Bet and Paddy Power give 17/2. Russian political figure Yulia Navalnaya, widow of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, remains the frontrunner for the prize following her husband’s death in prison last year. Trump’s candidacy reflects the high-profile yet polarizing nature of his international diplomacy. While his influence is undeniable, experts note that the Nobel Committee often weighs broader geopolitical implications and controversies surrounding nominees. Other contenders for the award include United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

(knewz.com)

Do you have an idea on the odds?

That does it for me today….enjoy your weekend and as always….Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Will Putin Do It Again?

Will he launch more drones on Ukraine?

Will he try another massive military push in Ukraine?

Good questions but for this post they are moot….it seems some analyst thinks Putin will make a move on Moldova and soon.

A US intelligence expert believes the nation will be making ‘another offensive military campaign’, as it was suggested another post-soviet State would be attacked: Moldova, on the border of Ukraine.

The small country has been subject to severe pressure from Russia in the past and has a large Russian-speaking population.

Ivana Stradner, who studies Russia’s security strategies and military doctrines, explains in The Telegraph that its media spreads ‘outlandish claims’ that Moldova is laced with Western intelligence services. Adding to reasons why the nation may target the Eastern European spot, the media also claims ‘MI6 is taking control of the Moldovan elections’.

Plus, Moscow has even made claims that intelligence in Moldova has been working with Ukraine to ‘sabotage Russia’.

So, these claims would suggest Moldova is being used as a weapon against Russia by the West. Therefore, it could lead to it falling into the same situation as Ukraine.

US intelligence expert Rebekah Koffler also explained the idea Russia may launch another attack in the coming years.

“As a military intelligence analyst specialising in Putin’s thinking and Russian military strategy, I agree with Rutte’s assessment about Russia’s readiness for another offensive military campaign in just a few years,” she wrote for The Telegraph.

“I’m less convinced that a NATO country is likely to be the Kremlin’s next target, unless the alliance directly intervenes in Ukraine by deploying troops onto the battlefield.

“Nevertheless, what NATO does or doesn’t do in the next few years could be highly significant in determining whether Putin decides to attack another post-Soviet state, such as Moldova.”

(ladbible.com)

My thoughts are…..first does he have the assets to start another conflict?  I mean he cannot close his adventure into Ukraine so does that bode well for another conflict?

Granted I do not have access to classified info but by the accounts that are in the public domain I do not see another adventure in the best interests of Putin.

Moldova might be an easy target for him but will it really help the situation in the region?

Donny has given Putin 10 or 12 days to bring the Ukraine adventure to a close….but will that just be another yo-yo policy from the administration?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Is The War On Terror Over?

This meme has been lacking in the news reports for a couple of years now…..after 9/11 GW vowed to make terrorists pay with his War on Terror and from that day on the US went around the globe to take on every piss ant group that he deemed “terrorists’.

The question remains….is the War on Terror over?

First my thought….one cannot go to war on an idea for terror is just that not some entity…..but I guess it made the whole adventure more palatable to the weak minded…..

But what about the question?

n Sept. 16, 2001, five days after the attacks on New York and Washington, DC, President George W. Bush declared, “This crusade – this war on terrorism – is going to take a while. And the American people must be patient. I’m going to be patient. But I can assure the American people I am determined.”

Four days after that, President Bush declared the “war on terror” to be primarily against al-Qaeda. “Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda,” he said in an address to Congress and the nation, “but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated.”

He described the enemy thus:

This group and its leader — a person named Osama bin Laden — are linked to many other organizations in different countries, including the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.  There are thousands of these terrorists in more than 60 countries.

Bush was correct in his assessment of the group.

One of those countries into which al-Qaeda jihadists implanted themselves was Syria, where from 2011 – with the support of the Obama Administration – they attempted to overthrow the secular leader, Bashar al-Assad, using terrorist tactics they had been well-trained in.

They soon changed their name – but not their stripes – and became the Al-Nusra Front, headed up by an experienced jihadist who fought against US troops in Iraq by the name of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. His group was known for chopping off heads. Perhaps even American heads.

Last December Jolani’s jihadists – with support from the US, Turkey, and Israel – finally brought down the Assad government and quicker than you can say “Washington PR makeover” he clipped his beard, switched out his tactical military watch for a $90,000 Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph, and declared himself president.

The “civilized world” cheered the re-emergence of democracy in Syria!

At their first meeting earlier this year in Saudi Arabia, President Trump praised jihadist Jolani as “a young, attractive fellow” and “a tough guy, a fighter, with a very strong background. He has a lot of potential, he’s a real leader.”

https://original.antiwar.com/daniel-mcadams/2025/07/13/the-global-war-on-terror-is-over-terror-won/

So the US has supported some of the same people that supported the attacks on 9/11….where is the logic?

Outta sight outta mind I guess…..

The idea remains so one cannot infer that the “war” has been won.

How long before it strikes again?

I know there were some strong opinions after 9/11 but are those same opinions still valid?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What Game Is This?

We all know that US assaulted Iranian nuke sites recently and the whole affair ended in a tentative ceasefire….but as with most things within Donny’s foreign policy world there are questions….

It was reported shortly after the US airstrikes that Iran had been alerted….time enough to move their enrichment process.

The after strike assessment run the gambit of BS….Donny says the sites were ‘obliterated then US intel disputed that claim and then everyone fell in line with Donny, whatever pressure he used, and the story now is they were heavily effected.

The Iran retaliated by an attack on the US base in Qatar….the report is that it was an ineffective attack….

Donny has stated that Iran warned the US before the attack….

President Trump said Monday the Iranian government offered “early notice” about a series of missile strikes that targeted the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, downplaying Iran’s response to the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend as “very weak.”

“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured,” Mr. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

The president did not specify how much early warning Iran gave or how the warning was delivered. But Mr. Trump’s message seemed to confirm speculation that Iran could telegraph its plans for retaliation in advance, giving the United States a chance to minimize the damage and avoid an escalation.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-early-notice-qatar-attacks-us-base/

It is said that Iran told Qatar of the impending airstrike knowing the Qatari government would tell their good friend about it.

To me it was just a way for the Iranians to save face after all the harsh rhetoric they had uttered.

What is going on in US foreign policy?

Iran was warned then Iran warmed of their intentions….what page is this from in the foreign policy handbook?

After looking over the reports all I can say is WTF?

Is this the new foreign policy….tough talk and then behind the scenes making nice with however we are at odds with?

At least all of Israel’s efforts and those US airstrikes have stopped Iran’s nuke program…..or did it?

President Trump is not going to like the new interview from the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Speaking to Face the Nation on CBS News, Rafael Grossi downplayed the damage done to Iran’s nuclear sites by US bombs.

  • Iran could start enriching uranium again, at least to a small degree, in a “matter of months,” said Grossi, per the BBC.
  • In his interview with Margaret Brennan, Grossi said it’s “clear that there has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage.” What’s more, “Iran has the capacities there; industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.”
  • Gross’s comments sync with a leaked preliminary assessment by US intelligence, though the assessment’s conclusions have been aggressively disputed by Trump and defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump most recently asserted that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back years, if not “decades.” But Grossi’s contention is that diplomacy, not military strikes, is the only way to get a permanent solution.

Sitting and shaking my head.

Then there is the intercepted call on the damage….

Intercepted conversations among top Iranian officials indicate that the recent US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites caused less damage than the officials expected, contradicting President Trump’s claims of “obliteration.” Four people familiar with the intercepted Iranian communications anonymously shared the information with the Washington Post, prompting pushback from the Trump administration. “It’s shameful that the Washington Post is helping people commit felonies by publishing out-of-context leaks,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “The notion that unnamed Iranian officials know what happened under hundreds of feet of rubble is nonsense. Their nuclear weapons program is over.”

The intercepted communications revealed surprise that the US strikes were less damaging than anticipated, with speculation about why the attacks did not inflict greater destruction on nuclear sites, the sources say. The debate over just how much damage was truly inflicted continues to rage; another Trump administration official said the intercepted communication was incorrect because the US destroyed critical elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including a key metal conversion facility, which officials claim will take years to rebuild. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told lawmakers the same thing during a classified briefing last week, sources tell the AP.

Apparently Donny’s definition of the term ‘obliterated’ and mine are different.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Is It A Ceasefire?

Yes the US had hits on Iran’s nuke facilities and the world braced for the possible retaliation after all the tough talk….and then….

Iran has made its first retaliatory response to the US airstrikes—it fired a barrage of missiles at an American military base in Qatar on Monday, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, Qatar said it had successfully intercepted the missiles, or at least the first round of them. Sources tell the New York Times that Iran warned Qatari officials about the strikes in advance to minimize civilian casualties—and the attack came shortly after Qatar shut down its airspace.

Iran confirmed the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base after explosions were heard there. An announcement on Iran state TV boasted of “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression,” per the AP. The base, headquarters of US Central Command, is the biggest American military installation in the Mideast. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties there.

After attack analysis…..

The Pentagon says it has no reports of injuries or deaths at its military base in Qatar after Iran fired a barrage of missiles, reports the Washington Post. And the AP notes that Iran made a point to say that it used the same number of missiles as the US dropped on Iran, which the outlet sees as a “likely desire to de-escalate.” Whether that’s an accurate read remains to be seen, but a few other details suggest that Tehran kept things relatively contained:

  • The New York Times, citing three Iranian officials, reports that Iran gave Qatar a head’s up about the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in order to limit casualties. Qatar says it was able to intercept all the missiles, and the nation also shut down its airspace as a precaution.

After the smoke and dust had cleared Dear Clueless Leader announces a ceasefire…..

President Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, ending what he called “The 12 Day War,” an announcement that came amid heavy Israeli attacks on Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said in a post on X that there was no “agreement” on a ceasefire but said Iran would cease counterattacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes, which has been Tehran’s position.

“As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around. As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” Aragchi said.

“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards. The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he added.

https://news.antiwar.com/2025/06/23/trump-says-iran-and-israel-have-agreed-to-a-ceasefire/

One note here….Neither Israel nor Iran immediately confirmed Trump’s announcement that they had agreed to a ceasefire.

Tit for tat warnings?

The New York Times, citing three Iranian officials, reports that Iran gave Qatar a head’s up about the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in order to limit casualties. Qatar says it was able to intercept all the missiles, and the nation also shut down its airspace as a precaution.

I am sure that Qatar shared that info with the US.

Then there was a report that the US told Iran of the upcoming airstrike….

Vice President JD Vance raised major questions about the success of the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities after suggesting that Tehran’s near-bomb-grade uranium was moved before the attacks.

Israeli sources were quoted as saying that Iran moved as much as 880 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity from a secure nuclear storage plant in the ancient city of Isfahan.

“Iran has made no secret that they have protected this material,” Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told CNN.

Announcing the raids, the president said the nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz were “completely and fully obliterated.”

(thedailybeast.com)

The physical sites may have been obliterated but the material remains….where was the success?

The situation is still fluid in my opinion and subject to stupid thinking.

If the ceasefire is a reality then I say bully for not escalating this to the breaking point.

Here is a closing thought….the hope was the attack would cause a popular uprising against the standing government in Iran….so far that has not happened….

However, this strategy has already backfired. Instead of provoking division, namely between opponents of the Iranian government and its backers, the attacks have galvanized national unity across ideological lines. Millions have taken to the streets in cities across Iran including Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan—not only in protest of foreign aggression, but in defense of Iran’s sovereignty. Even longstanding critics of Iran’s government have closed ranks, recognizing that the existential threat posed by US-Israeli aggression transcends domestic political grievances. Iranians around the country are now even assisting security forces to counter and dismantle espionage networks working with Mossad inside Iran. This convergence of sentiment, seen in everything from volunteer enlistments to mass mobilization efforts, underscores a recurring lesson of imperialist miscalculation: external pressures often consolidate, rather than fracture, national identity.

Does not look like ‘regime change’ is in the wind….for now….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

 

The ‘Ultimate Ultimatum’

The Middle East is busting with conflict and of course our clueless leader had to bring the US into it full bore…..

First he demands that Iran unconditionally surrender…..

President Trump ramped up his rhetoric against Iran in significant fashion on Tuesday, with a demand for the nation’s “unconditional surrender” as its conflict with Israel unfolds, reports the Wall Street Journal. Trump issued the all-caps demand on Truth Social.

The comments came after Trump left the G7 summit in Canada a day early on Monday to deal with the Israel-Iran conflict, though he made clear he didn’t just want a ceasefire but a “real end” to the war. He didn’t elaborate on what that meant. One option is to more directly join Israel’s military attack with bunker-busting weaponry; another is to push for new talks aimed at getting Iran to abandon its nuclear program, though Trump expressed frustration with Tehran’s unwillingness to do so in earlier negotiations. “They should have done the deal,” he told reporters. In the view of the AP, Trump “appears to be gradually building the public case for a more direct American role in the conflict.”

As usual Donny would not elaborate….he likes leaving things open ended so not matter the outcome he can claim victory.

After that demand he went and gave what he calls the ‘ultimate ultimatum’….

When asked if he gave Iran an ultimatum, Trump said he gave it the “ultimate ultimatum,” but he didn’t elaborate, reports ABC News. Trump added, per USA Today: “The next week is going to be very big, maybe less than a week.”

There you go….he left it undefined and open ended so he can claim victory no matter the outcome.

He is playing the media and the people of this country and he is full bore on propaganda to get the Congress and the population on his side when he throws the US military to the wolves of war.

Despite Donald Trump’s election night promise not to “start wars” and instead to “stop wars,” the United States is already fighting Iraq War 2.0 by defending Israel militarily, by arming Israel, by sharing intelligence with Israel, and by failing to stop Israel despite having advance notice of the war. President Trump called Israel’s attacks “excellent” last week and more recently said the U.S. military “could get involved.” Referring to Iran, Trump told ABC News, “There’s more to come, a lot more.”

If I am not mistaken he is starting this war in defense of Israel.

All this got my memory flying back to my 20s….

As I watch the conflict unfold I think back to the 1960s and a song that pretty much sums up my feelings about this stupidity in the Middle East….

We are moving ever closer, yet again, to all out war that could be the end to end all ends.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”