Tag Archives: US decline

Some quick thoughts on Venezuela from a comrade

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Some quick thoughts on Venezuela from a comrade:

1. Reuters confirms agreement to divert Venezuela oil to US will not affect China much even short term. Only 4% of imports with ample supplies from Russia and Iran:

https://archive.is/GHjCK

2. That immediate agreement is stronger evidence for US not needing an exit plan because not aiming to hold power in Venezuela but only to compel by raid. Strongly suggests regime elements acquiescence made raid easy without US risk.

3. Major military mobilization plus unnecessary killing despite lack of resistance is consistent with the certainly increased salience of American stupidity. 

4. But even more consistent with throwback to US posturing during and after defeat in Vietnam could have made it obvious that it was in serious decline as a superpower HALF A CENTURY AGO. eg Xmas bombing of Hanoi to pretend they had not abandoned puppet regime and subsequent major mobilization to triumphantly defeat the non existent armed forces of Grenada (pop ~50,000?) to announce the “Vietnam syndrome” was over. 

5. US abandonment of Europe is a much bigger decline. Aggressive posturing is characteristic of weak and declining regimes lacking popular support – like former USSR and Iraq, current Russian Federation, USA, Belarus, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, DPRK.

6. Collapse of Assad regime and reawakening of Iranian revolution are unintended side effects of Zionists NOT just posturing. Hopefully even posturing could eventually help Venezuelans and Cubans to get rid of their zombie regimes.

7. I cannot be confident of anything. The US declaratory policy is now officially aggressive posturing. Which makes it hard to guess how far that differs from actual policy.

8. Normally governments engaged in posturing don’t openly proclaim that is what they are doing. But perhaps it makes some domestic sense given that Trump’s opponents in both major parties went bat-shit crazy with conspiracy theories and denunciations of the majority of Americans for despising them so much that they supported Trump. Watching “the ‘splodey heads splode” whenever Trump asks them to is quite entertaining but indicates political skill and cunning rather than mere stupidity.

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Afghanistan, the Taliban and women/girls – and a poem

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(contribution by Tom Griffiths)

With the Afghan government’s ignominious defeat on the tail of the US government’s humiliating withdrawal, a lot – and I mean a lot – of gloating has been in evidence on Farcebook by ostensible leftists, some of whom are former comrades, celebrating another defeat for good ole US imperialism.

Pointing out the defeat and the role of the US in effectively setting up this situation is not the problem. What the problem is is the total (this might be an exaggeration, but not by much) silence on the fate of the Afghan people, in particular Afghan women.

Nowhere amongst my former comrades do I see an ‘ok, now the Yanks and their lackeys have gone the main enemy of the people is the Taliban and the most likely means of defeating them will be through armed struggle.’ Instead, there is silence. If this continues for more than a nanosecond this silence transforms into collusion. Left in form, right in essence we could call it.

A year or so ago I wrote a poem celebrating the bravery and example of a 15 year old girl in regional Afghanistan who, in response to her parents being gunned down before her sought out her father’s machine gun and killed the murderers, at least one of whom was Taliban. I reprint it below:

Qamar Gul and a father’s teaching

As others forgot to question

And rushed to defend the

Old verities and

Inherited wisdom.

As others remained fast

Confusing darkness for light

The old spell began to break

And its truths began to decay

As others panicked

Shielding themselves

From the revealing light

Confusion spread and freedom beckoned.

From the depths ghouls and false healers emerged

Screaming and cajoling

Harnessing death and instilling fear

Settling old scores and new alike.

Such times are indeed dangerous.

How was this man to protect his family?

What if he should fall?

Can friend still be seen from foe?

What if he should fall?

Tradition dictates his daughter’s marriage

The past may still protect…

But what if these ways are not enough?

What if they should fail?

He placed his gun into her hands

He’ll teach her what to do

If fall he should and well he may

Let new ways show the way.

When death came bursting through the door

Stealing her parents from her

This father’s girl knew what to do

And didn’t fail to do it.

Conquering fear

Harnessing anger

She honored her father’s teachings

And moved into the light.

Postscript:

I wrote this poem a year ago when news of Qamar Gul’s actions made international news. I was very impressed by her bravery and the example she was setting – and worry about her safety now given that the Taliban are back in control. When I completed the poem I sent it to a young Afghani colleague and asked her to check the accuracy of its ‘line’ and suggest corrections if necessary. She gave it the thumbs up.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-22/afghan-girl-kills-two-taliban-after-they-killed-her-parents/12479568