USA vs Russia, USA vs China, China Helps Saudi Arabia Welcome Iran
Or, there is a crazy little thing called love
[Image: a slipped reef knot. Thank you, Lamberto.]
Published 2023-03-16
Writers and writing as the world moves
Chris Hedges has echoed the instruction by Eric Blair (his nom de plume was George Orwell), "to write one must read, read, read and read". I have collected for you an array of writers I respect on the central topic which I have been attempting to describe, a fundamental change in world relations.
A new term has gained currency, the "multi-polar world". The collection of nations forming relations to escape the "rules-based order" are also considering how best to create a currency for their trade. This tectonic shift in international relations is a Newtonian response to the actions of a singular "super-power", the USA, after the dissolution of the USSR.
This equal and opposite reaction has been facilitated by China's industrial and economic rise. The USA's militaristic response to this change has been produced by its own actions.
To save labour costs, and thus improve profits, the USA's non-military industry was moved to east Asia, with China being a key destination. The USA then, when China raised its productivity from primary to secondary exports, accused China of stealing its intellectual property, its industrial secrets. The accusation is irrelevant, USA. You destroyed your own industry and gave it to China (and Vietnam etc.). The only profitable industry you still possess, excluding the digital components of film production, narrative management (AKA "news") and social media, are weapons manufacturing and grain exports.
The USA's responses to China's rise were to create wars, fueling its arms manufacturers. The USA used its "digital" industry, its "soft power", to create this, to promote profits for their blood soaked armaments industry. Meanwhile, China made toys, noodles and phones.
The parallel of the export of USA industry to east Asia was a conversion of the USA's financial institutions. The "chinese walls" between local or value-based banking (mortgages etc.) and speculative banking (the issuing of loans to speculative projects), were broken (see Glass-Steagall). Any bank could do whatever they wanted. The speculative side became dominant. Spectacular results were achieved when the "Internet" (previously ARPAnet) was transitioned from the military (and universities) into commercial hands. The created 2007 "Global Financial Collapse" is a result of this "financialization" or transitioning of USA banking into the hands of the speculators.
We now move into more recent events, and the commentary provided by persons I respect. I ask you to read their articles.
The Détente between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
This political development, the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between these two important nations in West Asia, is of serious import. The agreement was signed in China's capital, Beijing. Please read Patrick Lawrence's article to understand how this event changes not only relations in West Asia but also changes international power dynamics.
The most significant sentence in Lawrence's article is:
It is a remedy.
He acknowledges the narrative being developed in the west and helps us understand what is actually happening. The losers in the outcome are Israel and the USA, but a 7 year long war in Yemen may be able to be ended. This war, prosecuted with USA and UK weaponry, facilitation and maintenance was reported by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian disaster in decades while the Ukraine civil-war was also occurring.
Proxy Wars
Chris Hedges summarized his over three decades long experience of reporting on war. He asks us to consider who are the actors? Who creates these conflicts? What narratives are used to justify them? And, most importantly, who is abandoned, whose land is poisoned, who dies?
The outcome of the war in Ukraine will follow history. It is, literally, a dead end. Its horror encompasses the suffering which is happening, day by day, and that realised by its creation. Who asked for discussion, a way to prevent the war? Who ignored the opportunity?
Seven years ago John Pilger created and published "The Coming War on China". Recently, Caitlin Johnstone has been sharing her fear created by the ongoing media campaign in Australia to drum up popular support towards the same objective. Dave DeCamp at Antiwar.com has been dedicated in reporting events. These, sadly, support Pilger's prediction and Johnstone's fears.
One may ask whether the existing Ukraine conflict is similar to the threatened conflict over Taiwan. The question is irrelevant. The answer is that wars are the stupidest, the most insane things humans do. They MUST be avoided.
A recent interview with Karina Kneissl, on the decline of western diplomacy, provides some comment on how these wars occur.
Let's ask more important questions! Shall we plant wheat or legumes on this field next season? Shall the local government sell this building or could a child care center be established?
Let us look to ourselves, the love we have for our family and children. Peace is a foundation of our relations. Upon it, is created the shared love which sustains us.
Sources
China’s Great Leap in the Middle East, Patrick Lawrence, Scheer Post, 2023-03-14
Ukraine’s Death by Proxy, Chris Hedges, Scheer Post, 2023-03-12
The Coming War on China, John Pilger, his website, 2016
The Drums Of War With China Are Beating Much Louder Now, Caitlin Johnstone, her newsletter, 2023-03-13
US-Philippines Annual Military Drills Will Be the Biggest Ever, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com, 2023-03-14
China-US on collision course?, Marzieh Hashemi interviews Gilbert Doctorow and Jim Cavanagh, Spotlight by PressTV, 2023-03-14
Private Opulence and Public Squalor in the US, Robert Scheer interviews Professor James Galbraith, Scheer Post, 2023-03-24
Culture
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Official Video), their channel at youtube, uploaded 2008-08-01
Usual story. Do not watch. Listen.
If you are listening to this song and not dancing, you are doing it wrong. Tap a foot. Click your fingers. Your shoulders and hips want to move. Release them. Dance!!
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