I just heard a dialogue between John Mearsheimer and Yiannis Varoufakis. They both made the point that the American Empire has paradoxically gotten stronger and stronger since the 1970s, even though it has consistently largely lost almost every war it has launched! They attributed this to the strength that comes from presiding over the world's reserve currency, and adopting the "petrodollar” to back it up, after Nixon's coup against Bretton Woods and the dollar's gold convertibility in 1971.
But they also agreed that this time could be different, though, because the attack on Iran now threatens to critically destabilize the dollar recycling from Gulf states, whose capital flows have been instrumental in boosting the dollar's hegemony for the past fifty years. Choking off the Strait of Hormuz could easily backfire spectacularly on the United States, like no other past blunder yet has.
Varoufakis in particular thinks that the calculation made by Trump and co. to downplay the known risks of shutting off trade through the Strait was acceptable to them, as part of also choking off energy resources to both China and Europe, thereby being able to effectively hold the whole world hostage to the US based oil and gas industries. But he thinks that this will turn out to have been a decisive miscalculation. Because the instability this will cause does not portend a favorable long term environment for ANY of the big oil and gas majors. Not to mention that the US does not really enjoy anything remotely like “energy independence", despite superficial appearances, but it actually relies heavily on imports for many practical purposes, such as diesel production. So a decline in such imports will be irreplaceable with domestic supplies, and force a sharp economic contraction if maintained much longer.
The Trump crew are convinced of the virtue and necessity of what they would call “economic nationalism", which includes things like “industrial policy", but lack any of the discipline and managerial competence to pull it off. And temperamentally, they are incapable of subordinating their own egos to any genuine, long term collective project, regardless of overall political hue. (For example, notably, Singapore has long pursued the kind of economic nationalism they favor, while hardly being considered “leftwing". In fact, they are, like Trump and co., "rightwing nationalists", but of a completely different character.)
Just saw a clip of Hesgeth facing a Congressional committee. Ritter is absolutely correct, with Hesgeth you can easily see that combination of arrogance and stupidity and what a lying moron he really is.
US people must know. The truth their are constitutionally entitled to know, all the truth their successives governments and CIA have hidden from them. That is simply a ‘nationicide’ to give the power the zionist paedophilic epstein Rothschild freemason nee world order. Wake up US people, Wake up!
also no one needs to take over anyone else. stop the conquering. everyone wants access to free and fair markets, it's not like Iran is not going to sell it's oil if the USA goes home.
Neither side has secured a total victory, but the conflict has evolved into a grinding war of attrition where Ukraine has significantly shifted the momentum in its favor. While Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory, Ukraine has successfully countered Moscow’s operational objectives.
I just heard a dialogue between John Mearsheimer and Yiannis Varoufakis. They both made the point that the American Empire has paradoxically gotten stronger and stronger since the 1970s, even though it has consistently largely lost almost every war it has launched! They attributed this to the strength that comes from presiding over the world's reserve currency, and adopting the "petrodollar” to back it up, after Nixon's coup against Bretton Woods and the dollar's gold convertibility in 1971.
But they also agreed that this time could be different, though, because the attack on Iran now threatens to critically destabilize the dollar recycling from Gulf states, whose capital flows have been instrumental in boosting the dollar's hegemony for the past fifty years. Choking off the Strait of Hormuz could easily backfire spectacularly on the United States, like no other past blunder yet has.
Varoufakis in particular thinks that the calculation made by Trump and co. to downplay the known risks of shutting off trade through the Strait was acceptable to them, as part of also choking off energy resources to both China and Europe, thereby being able to effectively hold the whole world hostage to the US based oil and gas industries. But he thinks that this will turn out to have been a decisive miscalculation. Because the instability this will cause does not portend a favorable long term environment for ANY of the big oil and gas majors. Not to mention that the US does not really enjoy anything remotely like “energy independence", despite superficial appearances, but it actually relies heavily on imports for many practical purposes, such as diesel production. So a decline in such imports will be irreplaceable with domestic supplies, and force a sharp economic contraction if maintained much longer.
The Trump crew are convinced of the virtue and necessity of what they would call “economic nationalism", which includes things like “industrial policy", but lack any of the discipline and managerial competence to pull it off. And temperamentally, they are incapable of subordinating their own egos to any genuine, long term collective project, regardless of overall political hue. (For example, notably, Singapore has long pursued the kind of economic nationalism they favor, while hardly being considered “leftwing". In fact, they are, like Trump and co., "rightwing nationalists", but of a completely different character.)
That’s all over now. The petrodollar is dead so is Americas economic hegemony
Just saw a clip of Hesgeth facing a Congressional committee. Ritter is absolutely correct, with Hesgeth you can easily see that combination of arrogance and stupidity and what a lying moron he really is.
Yeah, I’m just an old retiree in a small town in SW. NM & I understand this; because I read & listen to many different people.
You have my vote future Congressman!!!!!
US people must know. The truth their are constitutionally entitled to know, all the truth their successives governments and CIA have hidden from them. That is simply a ‘nationicide’ to give the power the zionist paedophilic epstein Rothschild freemason nee world order. Wake up US people, Wake up!
also no one needs to take over anyone else. stop the conquering. everyone wants access to free and fair markets, it's not like Iran is not going to sell it's oil if the USA goes home.
it's 2026 ffs, leave other countries alone!!!
Neither side has secured a total victory, but the conflict has evolved into a grinding war of attrition where Ukraine has significantly shifted the momentum in its favor. While Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory, Ukraine has successfully countered Moscow’s operational objectives.