Dear Patrick, too early to speak optimistically about Trump and his government, all pro-genocide...for now I only read about bombs and bombs for Israel....
As is evident from the doubts and hesitations voiced in the comments, at best we're at the beginning of a long and risky journey.
What you capture so well, however, is the sense of possibility that's suddenly opened up. Yes, it brings with it very real dangers and one can't but wonder at the capacity of Trump and his team to follow through. Nevertheless, the suffocating, duplicitous mockery of international relations that we've been forced to live with in recent decades has vanished.
Your "easier" qualification is undoubtedly justified. So much could, and may still, go wrong, and putting AI anywhere near nuclear weapons would guarantee an (eventual) disastrous outcome.
As a species, we have a talent for occasional hallucinogenic stupidity. The previous administration, knowingly or not (I imagine the latter), had us on a sort of autopilot to Armageddon. Flicking the autopilot to off may be one of the most consequential "little" acts ever.
I think Russia should be very careful about what it does with Amerika. Amerika is out for its own interests and should not be trusted. I think the main purpose behind trying to improve relations with Russia is to pry Russia away from China, which would be a huge huge mistake. China and Russia together threaten Amerika , but both of them together, help the world. It would be interesting when Russia and Amerika meet, if Russia took along a Chinese representative also to reinforce Russia’s commitment to China and growing together with China, if they truly are committed to each other. I personally believe Russia is insecure, psychologically like a teenager wanting to fit in with the “in” crowd even if that crowd isn’t good for him. I think Russia feels like it will be verified if it’s in relationship with America. If I were Russia, I would keep my relationship with America at arm’s length but stick close to China and the rest of the civilized world.
Amen to your advice! I hope Lavrov and Putin are too smart to be fooled by American diplomats thinking like middle schoolers. (I taught middle schoolers for more than thirty years.)
It just seems that Russia has been burned by America numerous times, but keeps going back to try to work something out. Like you said, middle schoolers, or an abused person in a relationship who keeps going back to the abuser.
Hatching the Mujahideen (et al) and this coup energy in general that's been let loose are both kinda like tsunami cracking up the Fukushima complex; you don't know what the fallout's gonna end up, nor when you can stop worrying about it. The Ukraine regime right now kills (what it believes are) its own civilians, hits'em with petal bomblets, lobs missiles straight into Russia, and has been known to try to mess up organization at the Zaporizhzhia Power plants location. The fanaticism has trickled down from Biden, across the ocean, and all the way across Europe; though granted the Bandera crowd is like a step up transformer. As there are all kinds of Samson options the regime could pull off, if I were Russia I'd treat'em gingerly too. Our PTB definitely need to go on a SERIOUS search for their thinking caps. I mean deep state too, cause they'll [you'll] be around in '28 when Trump has to step down.
Give the top jefes amnesty, lots of dough, plane tickets, ankle monitors, and let the people vote/pick from the next tier down? (if Russia will agree) I mean, the good ole USA put these guys up to it.
I don't think Russia has any illusions about the necessity of maintaining strong relations with the Chinese as a shield against America. On the other hand, I also don't think that the Russians are under any illusions about the desirability of strong relations with Russia to hedge against the Chinese.
As a citizen of the rest of the world, I would worry about the three big pigs getting together to carve up the world into 3 all you can eat sized slices. Greenland, Canada, South America to the US. Eastern Europe to Russia. Taiwan, South China Sea and environs to China. Whither Europe, India, and Africa?
These developments will certainly change things in the West, no matter its outcome. All of a sudden things dont seem so certain anymore. We (I am a Dutch citizen, living in Antwerp) thought things were clear: monster Putin would get his well-deserved lesson in humility and, with RUssia reduced to rubble, the West would continue calling the shots. Truly stunning how deceived we are. Europe is lost without America fighting this war, a war Europe would never have gotten itself into, if it weren't for America's influence that Europe has allowed itself to be burried under. I may agree with Vance, to a certain point, though I find his remarks hypocrytical. (Aaron Mate had some intelligent things to say about it). The biggest enemy Europe has is America. This may be the beginning of the end of that unholy "alliance"; we've become arrogant puppets, imagine that. God help us all.
So few with your experience and awareness of the world show principle these days, that it is outright exciting that you continue in this way. I’m a lifelong pacifist, and newly (last decade or so) anti-tribalist (because both sides were so clearly coopted toward the endorsement of state evil). Was horrified watching the Guardian go bad (destroyed Corbyn – just imagine if he was at the helm, NOW!) and also shocked at how many evils people were willing to overlook, on what I had long considered my natural (left) tribe. Has to be principle first (and anyhow, division is itself a kind of complicity), and that means recognizing the useful work of people we dislike, just as surely as the sins of those who seem nicer.
You, Seymour Hersch, Robert Scheer, Eric Margolis (much missed Pilger and Fisk, also) and an assortment of mostly younger, substack-discovered thinkers, are my new pantheon and source of strength.
If you’ll pardon the indulgence, I suspect you might find my entry to my obsession, sympathetic. I’ve been a pacifist for as long as I can remember, but I became a keener for studying the history we are actually living through when, as a small boy, I went to sleep reading Churchill’s “Frontiers and Wars” (British in Afghanistan and Sudan) and the next day went off to do my newpaper route with the bold and frigtening headlines about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Realized right then, context and motives emerge over time, but clues are always perishable – you have to watch and care, to have any hope of even trying to think for yourself, or make sense of any of it!
Cheers for your work, your dedication and the enduring inspiration you so generously offer us!
(and I must guiltily admit, I outright laughed in Vance’s speech, more than once – so well deserved!)
THANK YOU! Thanks for describing things as they are. To the things themselves! I was reading earlier today the book linked below, and, going back just now to your mention of Husserl and Lévinas (Jan 27)...I see Lévinas and Freud seem to have gone a similar path in terms of their reactions to WWI. Maybe I'll find that masterwork by Lévinas somewhere!
The return of competent authors of foreign policy to the United States Dept. of State is both welcome and long overdue. Also welcome is the return of open dialog - thought to be too good to be true less than a year ago. ¡Libertad!
I think competent could be a stretch . I don’t think Marco Rubio is an example of a good states person. He’s like a mafia figure and thug against Cuba and Venezuela.
Dear Patrick, too early to speak optimistically about Trump and his government, all pro-genocide...for now I only read about bombs and bombs for Israel....
Excellent, Patrick.
As is evident from the doubts and hesitations voiced in the comments, at best we're at the beginning of a long and risky journey.
What you capture so well, however, is the sense of possibility that's suddenly opened up. Yes, it brings with it very real dangers and one can't but wonder at the capacity of Trump and his team to follow through. Nevertheless, the suffocating, duplicitous mockery of international relations that we've been forced to live with in recent decades has vanished.
We can breathe again.
Your "easier" qualification is undoubtedly justified. So much could, and may still, go wrong, and putting AI anywhere near nuclear weapons would guarantee an (eventual) disastrous outcome.
As a species, we have a talent for occasional hallucinogenic stupidity. The previous administration, knowingly or not (I imagine the latter), had us on a sort of autopilot to Armageddon. Flicking the autopilot to off may be one of the most consequential "little" acts ever.
Yes, easier. I gave this comment of yours a Like. Sometimes I wonder, though, how we keep breathing at all. Looking up this topic below is funny; I get to a site and when I try to get there again it's gone. Not in history either. But second try did bring up this from The Bulletin. https://thebulletin.org/2022/02/giving-an-ai-control-of-nuclear-weapons-what-could-possibly-go-wrong/
I think Russia should be very careful about what it does with Amerika. Amerika is out for its own interests and should not be trusted. I think the main purpose behind trying to improve relations with Russia is to pry Russia away from China, which would be a huge huge mistake. China and Russia together threaten Amerika , but both of them together, help the world. It would be interesting when Russia and Amerika meet, if Russia took along a Chinese representative also to reinforce Russia’s commitment to China and growing together with China, if they truly are committed to each other. I personally believe Russia is insecure, psychologically like a teenager wanting to fit in with the “in” crowd even if that crowd isn’t good for him. I think Russia feels like it will be verified if it’s in relationship with America. If I were Russia, I would keep my relationship with America at arm’s length but stick close to China and the rest of the civilized world.
Amen to your advice! I hope Lavrov and Putin are too smart to be fooled by American diplomats thinking like middle schoolers. (I taught middle schoolers for more than thirty years.)
It just seems that Russia has been burned by America numerous times, but keeps going back to try to work something out. Like you said, middle schoolers, or an abused person in a relationship who keeps going back to the abuser.
Hatching the Mujahideen (et al) and this coup energy in general that's been let loose are both kinda like tsunami cracking up the Fukushima complex; you don't know what the fallout's gonna end up, nor when you can stop worrying about it. The Ukraine regime right now kills (what it believes are) its own civilians, hits'em with petal bomblets, lobs missiles straight into Russia, and has been known to try to mess up organization at the Zaporizhzhia Power plants location. The fanaticism has trickled down from Biden, across the ocean, and all the way across Europe; though granted the Bandera crowd is like a step up transformer. As there are all kinds of Samson options the regime could pull off, if I were Russia I'd treat'em gingerly too. Our PTB definitely need to go on a SERIOUS search for their thinking caps. I mean deep state too, cause they'll [you'll] be around in '28 when Trump has to step down.
Give the top jefes amnesty, lots of dough, plane tickets, ankle monitors, and let the people vote/pick from the next tier down? (if Russia will agree) I mean, the good ole USA put these guys up to it.
I don't think Russia has any illusions about the necessity of maintaining strong relations with the Chinese as a shield against America. On the other hand, I also don't think that the Russians are under any illusions about the desirability of strong relations with Russia to hedge against the Chinese.
As a citizen of the rest of the world, I would worry about the three big pigs getting together to carve up the world into 3 all you can eat sized slices. Greenland, Canada, South America to the US. Eastern Europe to Russia. Taiwan, South China Sea and environs to China. Whither Europe, India, and Africa?
These developments will certainly change things in the West, no matter its outcome. All of a sudden things dont seem so certain anymore. We (I am a Dutch citizen, living in Antwerp) thought things were clear: monster Putin would get his well-deserved lesson in humility and, with RUssia reduced to rubble, the West would continue calling the shots. Truly stunning how deceived we are. Europe is lost without America fighting this war, a war Europe would never have gotten itself into, if it weren't for America's influence that Europe has allowed itself to be burried under. I may agree with Vance, to a certain point, though I find his remarks hypocrytical. (Aaron Mate had some intelligent things to say about it). The biggest enemy Europe has is America. This may be the beginning of the end of that unholy "alliance"; we've become arrogant puppets, imagine that. God help us all.
Hi. Can you please link to Aaron Mate's comments? Or point me to where to find them?
You can hear Aaron's comment on 'Useful Idiots' (of Feb 17th) at 8min.
Cannot find it - link please? Thank you!
That appeasement argument that worked out so well at Suez...
Thank you sincerely for this, Patrick
So few with your experience and awareness of the world show principle these days, that it is outright exciting that you continue in this way. I’m a lifelong pacifist, and newly (last decade or so) anti-tribalist (because both sides were so clearly coopted toward the endorsement of state evil). Was horrified watching the Guardian go bad (destroyed Corbyn – just imagine if he was at the helm, NOW!) and also shocked at how many evils people were willing to overlook, on what I had long considered my natural (left) tribe. Has to be principle first (and anyhow, division is itself a kind of complicity), and that means recognizing the useful work of people we dislike, just as surely as the sins of those who seem nicer.
You, Seymour Hersch, Robert Scheer, Eric Margolis (much missed Pilger and Fisk, also) and an assortment of mostly younger, substack-discovered thinkers, are my new pantheon and source of strength.
If you’ll pardon the indulgence, I suspect you might find my entry to my obsession, sympathetic. I’ve been a pacifist for as long as I can remember, but I became a keener for studying the history we are actually living through when, as a small boy, I went to sleep reading Churchill’s “Frontiers and Wars” (British in Afghanistan and Sudan) and the next day went off to do my newpaper route with the bold and frigtening headlines about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Realized right then, context and motives emerge over time, but clues are always perishable – you have to watch and care, to have any hope of even trying to think for yourself, or make sense of any of it!
Cheers for your work, your dedication and the enduring inspiration you so generously offer us!
(and I must guiltily admit, I outright laughed in Vance’s speech, more than once – so well deserved!)
THANK YOU! Thanks for describing things as they are. To the things themselves! I was reading earlier today the book linked below, and, going back just now to your mention of Husserl and Lévinas (Jan 27)...I see Lévinas and Freud seem to have gone a similar path in terms of their reactions to WWI. Maybe I'll find that masterwork by Lévinas somewhere!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1201681.Greatness_and_Limitations_of_Freud_s_Thought
Trump/Vance/Hegseth are no friends of democracy and are simply going to install their own authoritarian puppets in Europe.
And they mean to try and peel off the Russian nation from its alliance with China. Which won’t work. Nor can those two survive if the us destroys Iran
Genuine and stable peace requires values that the Trump-fronted nerd reich don’t have. Not any more than the Biden-fronted deep state administration.
The return of competent authors of foreign policy to the United States Dept. of State is both welcome and long overdue. Also welcome is the return of open dialog - thought to be too good to be true less than a year ago. ¡Libertad!
I think competent could be a stretch . I don’t think Marco Rubio is an example of a good states person. He’s like a mafia figure and thug against Cuba and Venezuela.