The Empire’s Sea of Woes, by Robert Gore
Empire is America's noose, hubris America's curse. Once upon a time it didn't matter much to the American people or their politicians what happened in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or even Europe. During the nineteenth century, for the most part we minded our own business, and what a business it turned out to be. America became the world's industrial, technological, and commercial powerhouse.
Success may be the hardest human condition to endure. Few individuals withstand it. For empires, it's always temporary. They fail and topple from the pinnacle with monotonous regularity. Preceding the fall is that heady feeling of invincibility, just as the those you scorned, ignored, or subjugated on the way up are putting in place their plans to take you down.
This is an excerpt. For the complete article, please click the above link.
Success may be the hardest human condition to endure. Few individuals withstand it. For empires, it's always temporary. They fail and topple from the pinnacle with monotonous regularity. Preceding the fall is that heady feeling of invincibility, just as the those you scorned, ignored, or subjugated on the way up are putting in place their plans to take you down.
This is an excerpt. For the complete article, please click the above link.
Africa may not be on many people's radar, but Trump policies there have also had positive effects. Somalia's Al Shabab terrorists have been subject to increasingly effective airstrikes by US forces. The price the African Alliance has had to pay is transparency in US aid efforts. No more aid money going into African bureaucrats' bank accounts, with money going where it can help the people. The Trump foreign policy is a strong quid pro quo. No more American dollars and lives for nothing.
The nineteenth century isolationism worked because we had few international connections, thanks to an abundance of domestic resources. We are now so internationally wound into the world market flow of goods, services, and finance that we ignore foreign crises at our peril. It would be exceedingly difficult to disentangle ourselves from the world and become isolated again, maybe impossible. Is that a globalist plot, or the circumstance of our success?
I agree with much of what you present.This I wholeheartedly disagree with. “Trump’s foreign and military policy is indistinguishable from the policy of Bush father and son, Clinton husband and wife, Cheney, Obama, and the rest of the neoconservative/neoliberal clown posse who run this country. “
The deep state is his enemy and all you mentioned in the above statement are part of it except Trump. He has made tremendous progress in Korea he wiped out ISIS formed by Obama and HRC . He is getting NATO members to pay up and he will solve the Iranian
Nuke efforts. He certainly won’t be sending them planes full of cash.
I will also add the renegotiated trade deals and
Leaving the Paris Climate accord.
Meanwhile, Trump's Middle Eastern policy is essentially to ask how high when the Saudis, Israelis, and US neocons say jump. Nothing new there. He's upped Hillary Clinton and Obama's vitriol towards Russia, after saying during the campaign he would pursue a different path. We are still in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria with no signs of getting out. We still have over 800 military bases around the world, and spend more on military and intelligence than the next seven nations combined. In light of all that, I would hardly say Trump is the Deep State's enemy. He's pursuing policies they've long promoted and providing ample funds, much of which will undoubtedly go to waste, as it has in the past.
So yes, he gets some style points for the North Korean effort, the climate accord, and perhaps for making Europe pay, but these are marginal, overwhelmed by the Deep State policies he hasn't changed at all.
In two short years he has done more fighting for my values then all presidents combined in my life .
You are right that the Firmly entrenched deep state policies are overwhelming.
We agree on many issues Robert , I try to read all your essays . I can’t say what Pompeo or Bolton’s influence is that you may be privy too. I think Trump may have an impossible task but he is fighting for US and the more the left freaks out about him the more progress he is making. I
Follow Q drops as you know. Q is close to Trump
and they are working hard to Awaken the public, with the fake news that is impossible. Q is direct to the public. We have seen the cleaning out of the FBI the DOJ , plus Kavanaugh and Gorsich and we will soon see the 65,000 sealed indictments bring pain to the bad actors.
An estimate of 60,000,000 worldwide follow Q.
Many yellow jackets had Q references on them.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Q+ano...
Peace to you and your family this Holiday Robert
The thing that bothers me most and it's not directed at you nor your articles, (which I have always enjoyed) is the blame upon, "America" in general, (that's what hurts), and not specifically directed at a government that hasn't represented "America" in a very long time.
Can you relate to that, Robert?..or am I oversensitive.
We all bare a responsibility but even when we exercise that responsibility, they do what they want anyway. We should have recalled them as quickly as possible...but of course, I am assuming that everyone is engaged and aware and I too, have not always been.
It's a full time job.
In the future, I'll try to make a clear differentiation between the US government and its people, either individually or collectively.
Kakistocracy is my favorite but in the context inwhich we are discussing...it's not effective because the world is ruled by the worst and least qualified.
The noun needs to be specific to the subject...perhaps US government would suffice but I can't help feeling there must be a better designation that perhaps would have the impact that is needed.
The "deep state" is a good one but it triggers thoughts of conspiracy...even though it really is, our readers get turned off. That is not what we want but we want to be honest at the same time too.
I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.
It will be interesting to see if it has the desired effect on the amount of reviews you receive.
Seafaring nations found it expedient to 'bribe' the pirates. The Europeans had treaties with the pirates. Tribute was paid for passage through the Mediterranean.
After independence, the US was not given the safe passage being no longer part of the agreement with Britain. Muslim pirates held that they had the right to plunder American ships as Americans were infidels.
Pres Jefferson disagreed. The resultant war was long with a settlement in 1815.
Principles of non intervention, minding one's own business, keeping to one's own borders, transactions only by mutual agreement and such like have a fine sound but are worthless against those who do not hold them. They want what you have got, they will take it if you do not defend.
I don't think we'll get there, but I've been wrong before. While reading this I can't help but think of California. We are in very serious trouble out here. Can no longer escape the homeless: drug-addled, mentally ill, down on their luck. They're everywhere - approaching us in out little neighborhood park, camping along the river for many miles, standing at every busy intersection. I'm hearing a lot of people around here speaking in despair...working, family people.