President Biden sees the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an opportunity to end the war in Gaza. “It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home,” Mr. Biden said to reporters Thursday in Berlin. He said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how “we secure Gaza and move on.” Based on a fundamental misunderstanding of Middle East realities, this gambit is likely to fail.
The presidential election makes a peace initiative irresistible to Democratic Party leaders. If a cease-fire were achieved, Kamala Harris could celebrate it not only as a major foreign-policy achievement, but also one that benefits Israel. She could counter attacks from Donald Trump that she is inexperienced and hostile to the Jewish state.
[…]
Mr. Biden’s cease-fire initiative will likely come with a demand for even more restraint by Israel against Iran. Mr. Netanyahu may or may not heed such counsel. If he does, he will then pursue “total victory” in Gaza and Lebanon even more urgently—if only to prove that Iran and its proxies can’t use America to restrain Israel so they can shoot at it with impunity.
I didnt know that one thanks
Yes shamblings string pullers are rather sloppy whose in charge flip a coin
Meanwhile hezbollah tried to drone bibis summer home because reasons
All told its always better to ignore the regime frankly prince salman should have kept bombing thr houthis
Yes, we are very aware of the Silver Clock, tick, ticking, ticking.
I am now 78 and my Darling Wife will 78 in Oct.
I am a Prostate Cancer Survivor. My Wife has been in treatment for Lymphoma since Feb, with more to come (if anyone knows what CAR-T is, then you know much more to come).
We have lived, I think, full lives. No kids, not by choice. We have traveled the World. Looking to the future, we have a vacation scheduled for Ap, 2025.
Yes, the Silver Clock is ticking, ticking, ticking.
Just another open-thread comment from someone who’s no fun at parties.
Given the current political circumstances, I’ll happily vote for Trump, but I won’t pretend to like his personality. To me, it’s obvious that DeSantis would be a better president, and it’s troubling to consider the reasons why so many more people are inspired by Trump. Harris is too awful to contemplate, and despite recent polls, I still think that we’ll soon be blessed with our first female president.
As a natural pessimist, it’s no surprise that I’d like to recommend Joel Kotkin’s latest opinion piece entitled “Can the West survive four years of Harris or Trump?” (https://tinyurl.com/2hmypz24).
Here’s Kotkin’s second paragraph:
“The US, still the world’s only true empire, now confronts the reality of two unserious presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, each threatening its viability. Americans and the rest of what’s left of the liberal world have to hope that our intrinsic advantages in demography, finance, technology and resources will survive the presidencies of either of these awful candidates.”
For the rest of the essay, Kotkin takes the trouble to explain himself. Even if I don’t agree with all of it, I’m sympathetic, and I think it’s worth a look.
Cornflour,
I understand what you are saying if this was 2016. However, we now have data on what sort of administration Trump will have from 2016 to 2020. And, I think he learned from his mistakes in the previous term and I don’t think he will repeat them.
The US was thriving under Trump’s first term, and was derailed by COVID. I don’t know how one can ignore that fact.
I actually switched my registration from independent to GOP thinking I was going to vote for DeSantis in the primary as temperamentally I like him better…that didn’t happen obviously. I’m fine with Trump now, and hoping for DeSantis in 4 years.
Hamas members starting to surrender? Just saw “400+ Palestinians Killed in North Gaza Assault” under Explore on X – followed it and:
Is hamas surrendering
Answer
Based on the information available up to October 19, 2024, there are conflicting reports and sentiments regarding Hamas’s surrender. Here’s what the data reflects:
Public Statements and Social Media: There are posts on X suggesting that hundreds of Hamas members have started to surrender, particularly in northern Gaza. These posts mention an ultimatum given by the IDF, indicating that some segments of Hamas might be choosing to surrender rather than face continued military action.
• Official and Unofficial Reactions: However, there’s also mention of Hamas officials, like Khalil al-Hayya, stating that the death of a leader like Yahya Sinwar would only strengthen their resolve, suggesting no immediate intention to surrender as a group.
• Misinformation and Speculation: There have been instances of misinformation, for example, claims circulated on social media about Hamas surrendering or major leaders surrendering which were later debunked.
• Military and Political Context: The Israeli military operations aimed at Hamas have led to significant casualties among Hamas fighters and infrastructure damage. This might pressure some members or factions within Hamas to consider surrendering, but organizational surrender or a formal capitulation from Hamas leadership has not been confirmed.
• Public Sentiment and Media: X posts reflect a variety of sentiments, from calls for Hamas to surrender to observations of individual or small group surrenders, but these do not necessarily represent an official or widespread surrender by Hamas.
Given this, while there are reports of individual surrenders and tactical retreats by some Hamas members, there’s no conclusive evidence or official statement indicating a comprehensive surrender by Hamas as an organization. The situation remains fluid, with actions on the ground potentially not fully aligned with official stances or broader organizational policy. Always consider that real-time events can be misrepresented or exaggerated on social media, and official statements from recognized authorities or neutral observers would be necessary to confirm such significant developments.
(UPDATE – Note: updated my X subscription from $8 a month to $84 a year (think that was it??) yesterday.
Re: Harris / law school
______________________________________
‘SAN FRANCISCO — As a scandal rocked the city’s crime lab in 2010, District Attorney Kamala D. Harris was increasingly at odds with the city’s elected public defender, Jeff Adachi. He accused her of being “unethical,” and she said he was “playing politics with public safety,” according to media reports at the time.
The fight was, on one level, an example of a prosecutor and defense attorney playing their respective roles. But it was all the more extraordinary because the two had been friends for years.
Adachi had been Harris’s tutor when they were at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
I know a few lawyers. None of them received tutoring.
Well, that video was a weird musical interlude. A very sweaty one, I might add.
There is that strange instrument too. It could be a violin or an electronic keyboard with a pitch wheel, but it actually sounds like a theremin to me. No indication on the Youtube site about it.
From sdferr’s WSJ opinion link: “[Biden} said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how “we secure Gaza and move on.”
What do you mean, “we,” Kemosabe? Biden has tried to thwart Netanyahu on securing Gaza from the beginning.
Netanyahu’s response to the drone attack that hit his private residence earlier today:
Short video of Bibi at link. (He’s talking to Biden there too, among others of his enemies.)
In what sense is the U.S. “the world’s only true empire”?
In the book AI Snake Oil, the authors report that someone asked ChatGPT to explain how to remove a peanut butter sandwich from a VCR player–and to do so in the style of the King James Bible, I thought it did a pretty credible job, and I asked Perplexity to summarize the Cuban Missile Crisis in biblical style. Here’s what it said:
Special Edition of Israel Update with Mike and Gadi discussing “Sinwar is Dead: What’s Next?” (1:01:52): https://youtu.be/dOxXwkwtX2k
Many people i know wanted to make sure that desantis was available for florida
To say Trump is unserious is itself unserious
David+Foster, could you copy and paste the perplexity texts that were generated, as when I go to the link, I get referred to its home page: https://www.perplexity.ai/
Thanks.
Gringo..will do in a minute, surprised that the link didn’t work.
Cuban missile crisis, King James style:
And it came to pass in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-two, in the tenth month, that a great tribulation befell the nations of the earth[1].
For lo, the kingdom of the Soviets had secretly placed weapons of terrible destruction upon the isle of Cuba, which lieth nigh unto the shores of America[1][4].
And when it was discovered by the spies of America, President Kennedy, son of Joseph, was sore afraid[4]. He gathered unto him his wise men and counselors, that they might devise a plan to save their people from destruction[2].
And Kennedy spake unto his people, saying, “Behold, our enemies have brought their swords to our very gates. We shall not suffer this transgression, but shall make a wall of ships round about Cuba, that no more weapons may pass”[2][4].
Then did the leaders of America and the Soviets exchange many messages, each man seeking to prevail over the other[2]. And the world trembled, for the shadow of death was upon all the earth[1].
But lo, on the twenty-eighth day of the month, Khrushchev, leader of the Soviets, sent word unto Kennedy, saying, “We shall remove our weapons from Cuba, if thou wilt promise not to invade this land”[1][2].
And there was great rejoicing throughout the lands, for the threat of war had passed[4]. Yet the people knew not that Kennedy had also agreed in secret to remove his own weapons from the land of Turkey[2].
Thus ended the Cuban Missile Crisis, and though peace was restored, the nations continued to watch one another with wary eyes[4]. For the hearts of men are ever filled with suspicion and the desire for power.
A leftist, feminist academic perspective on the Cuban Missile Crisis would likely reframe the traditional narrative in several key ways:
## Challenging the Great Man Theory
The conventional telling of the Cuban Missile Crisis often focuses on the actions of individual male leaders, particularly John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev. A feminist approach would critique this “great man” framing of history[1]. Instead, it would emphasize how the crisis arose from broader systemic issues and involved many actors beyond just the top leaders.
## Exposing Toxic Masculinity
A feminist analysis would highlight how performances of masculinity and machismo exacerbated tensions during the crisis[2]. The emphasis on “toughness” and unwillingness to back down or appear weak likely prolonged the standoff and increased the risk of nuclear war. The rejection of more “feminine” approaches like diplomacy and negotiation would be seen as a dangerous manifestation of toxic masculinity in international relations.
## Centering the Experiences of Marginalized Groups
Rather than focusing solely on high-level political maneuvering, a leftist feminist perspective would draw attention to how the crisis impacted ordinary people, especially marginalized groups. This could include examining the experiences of women, racial minorities, and working-class people who bore the brunt of civil defense preparations and lived under the shadow of potential nuclear annihilation.
## Critiquing Imperialism and Colonialism
A leftist analysis would situate the crisis within the broader context of American imperialism in Latin America and the Caribbean[1]. It would likely be more sympathetic to Cuba’s right to self-determination and critical of U.S. attempts to overthrow the Castro government. The deployment of Soviet missiles would be framed partly as a response to legitimate Cuban security concerns in the face of U.S. aggression.
## Emphasizing Structural Violence
Rather than celebrating the peaceful resolution of the crisis, a leftist feminist view might emphasize how it perpetuated structural violence inherent in the nuclear arms race and Cold War geopolitics[3]. The fact that the crisis was “solved” by secret deals between superpowers, without input from the Cuban people, would be seen as problematic from an anti-colonial perspective.
## Reframing “Strategic Empathy”
Some feminist scholars have reinterpreted Kennedy’s actions during the crisis through the lens of “strategic empathy” rather than masculine toughness[3]. This framing suggests that Kennedy’s ability to understand and relate to Khrushchev’s fears and motivations was key to finding a peaceful resolution, rather than simply outmaneuvering him.
By challenging traditional power-centric narratives and exposing gendered and colonial dimensions of the crisis, a leftist feminist retelling would aim to provide a more holistic understanding of this pivotal moment in Cold War history. It would likely conclude by connecting the lessons of the crisis to contemporary struggles for peace, justice, and decolonization.
“I know a few lawyers. None of them received tutoring.”
How did the Boss say it just yesterday? Something about Kamala “not being the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
Summarizing my post:
This article discusses the 62nd anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis and its relevance to current nuclear threats. The author recounts a personal experience from Boris Chertok’s memoir “Rockets and People,” which provides a firsthand account of the crisis from the Soviet perspective.
Key points:
1. On October 27, 1962, Chertok witnessed increased military activity at a Soviet missile facility, indicating heightened alert status.
2. Colonel Kirillov informed Chertok about orders to prepare a combat missile with a nuclear warhead, replacing a planned Mars probe launch.
3. The article describes the tension and uncertainty felt by Soviet personnel during the crisis, including their concerns about the possibility of nuclear war.
4. A scene is depicted where Soviet officials anxiously await news while drinking cognac and eating watermelon, unsure if it might be their “last drink.”
5. The crisis was ultimately resolved, with Chertok receiving an “All clear” message.
6. Chertok reflects on how few people were aware of how close the world came to nuclear war, and how restraint from both Khrushchev and Kennedy prevented catastrophe.
7. The article emphasizes the lasting impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis and its lessons for current nuclear threats[1][2][3][4][5][6].
I have a problem with French male voices other than Jean-Jacques Goldman (whom I would say is the French Paul McCartney).
Jacques Brel was a great songwriter (film star too). Hands down. I’m happy that he sings so slowly that I have a good shot at understanding the words. I do find his sweatiness odd, as TommyJay notes. Still I prefer English covers of his songs.
Judy Collins did a few Brel songs after she broke out of her folksinger mode. But the one which really jumped out at me was Scott Walker’s electrifying version of Brel’s “La chanson de Jacky.”
Scott Walker was a member of a second-tier mid-60s LA rock group, the Walker Brothers. He moved to Europe and didn’t look back. He even enjoyed a weird resurgence in the 21st century as an avant-garde musician.
Of course, they are both dead. Brel much earlier of lung cancer in 1978. When he realized he was ill in 1973, he devoted the rest of his life to sailing. He seems to have been an admirable man.
Senior American officials voiced serious concern on Saturday following the leak of two US intelligence documents allegedly outlining Israel’s preparations for a potential strike on Iran. These documents were published by a Telegram account linked to Iran.
While both the US Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the leaked documents, they did not deny their authenticity.
The timing of the leak comes as Israel is completing preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran in response to the October 1 missile attack. An unnamed senior Israeli official remarked, “Israel’s defense establishment is aware of the leak and takes it very seriously.”
[…]
The documents included an alleged report from the US Department of Defense’s visual intelligence agency, which had been circulated within the US intelligence community three days earlier. The report detailed alleged recent actions at Israel Air Force (IAF) bases, including the movement of advanced munitions believed to be intended for a strike on Iran. The report also noted that intelligence obtained through wiretaps indicated that the IAF conducted an exercise this week involving fighter jets and drones as part of its strike preparations.
Malley’s moles are very busy.
I can understand the French, with the help of the English subtitles. But what a dreadful song! I went to the funeral of a good friend, thirteen years older, today. She died in faith, hope and love, unlike the sad tick-tock of the silver clock in this song.
If this is a genuine leak from the IDF, the leakers should be identified and shot, whether Israeli or American. Or perhaps it’s a feint.
Don’t think the leak issues from Israel, but from the US. But we’ll have to wait a long time for definitive answers.
Kate:
I don’t think there’s any reason to think Brel is trying to describe every older person’s state. He is speaking of those who are relatively alone, infirm, worn out. It’s a song somewhat similar to John Prine’s “Hello In There,” if you’re familiar with that one.
I suppose, Neo, but he is singing about “les vieux.” The old. Just a very sad and discouraging thing to listen to.
Someone must be having a bad day. There is a Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter circling very low here. Has been circling for 15-20 minutes now. High winds and rough water.
Judy Collins covered Brel’s song for old lovers. Quite lovely and quite well-known. It was so vivid that after I looked up a translation, I remembered it being in English.
“In what sense is the U.S. “the world’s only true empire”?”
IO – I’m not sure how others use the term…but I’d argue it has to do with projection of power, in economic or military or political influence terms.
The US is seeing that capacity in decline IMO, particularly as BRICS takes shape and the battle for the Ukraine drags on toward an uncertain end and China’s predicted demise never seems to eventuate and our leadership does more harm than good.
Others may have better answers but that’s one and it’s free. 😉
@ Shirehome > “Yes, the Silver Clock is ticking, ticking, ticking.”
That song by Brel hits very close to home now, as AS and I are 73 & 72.
We may still, I hope, have a few more trips in us, and wish you well on yours next spring!
In times past, I thought that song (Les Vieux) was a bit morbid, although I loved the refrain, but now it seems more sweet than bitter.
I’ve been around many “Old Ones” recently who are more like the people Kate mentions. The elderly tourists stopping at a historical site in wild Wyoming haven’t quite faded away yet! However, when people get too old to leave home or stay active in some way, at least the ones I’ve known, they do seem to be waiting for the last tick of the old clock, especially the widowed who yearn for reunion with their departed companions.
It reminds me of both “Old Friends” by Simon & Garfunkel, and the best short romance ever filmed, the prologue of Pixar’s “Up.”
I feel we have been blessed, and more than a bit lucky, to have 5 stalwart sons, 4 wonderful DiLs, and 5 grandkids (in only 2 genders). None of my siblings have children, and one son is still a bachelor, but they have all had good, full lives, and will leave a legacy of love for their friends and extended family.
No spectacular celebrities in our bunch, but that’s a short-lived and double-edged commodity.
There are worse ways to ease out of the world than by sleeping a little too long one morning. One of my aunts passed that way, and she was the most fortunate of her generation, to do so. Illness is a real pain.
The United States is not now, nor has it ever been, an empire. There are only two empires left on this planet. One’s army is on the march in Europe, and the other’s army is preparing for war in Asia, with the latest intelligence saying the plan is for war in 2027. That is in the next presidential term.
Except for the empire bit, I agree with Cornflour. Neither presidential candidate is fit to lead America in this environment. One is a basket case of gibberish, and the other is so deluded that he believes he will solve the problem of world war in a single day just by his own inherent greatness. Either such folly will lead in the best case to hundreds of thousands of needless deaths and in the worst case to billions.
In case you haven’t heard of the latest developments, North Korea and Russia have signed a mutual defense pact — or perhaps I should say a mutual offense pact — which has resulted in North Korea sending 12,000 special operations forces to fight on the front lines in Ukraine. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have said that if the Russians break through the Ukrainian lines that they will send troops to defend Kiev and points west. Putin has said that if that happens, he will nuke Britain, France, and the United States.
He’s lying, of course. He won’t do that. It would be the end of Russia. But tensions are high and rising, and neither an idiot nor a blowhard can stop it.
The saddest part of it all is that it didn’t have to be this way.
Brel became mainstream. Now all the bourgeois pretend to be bohemian. So few people are really proud of being bourgeois that one wonders if the bourgeois-bohemian fight was ever real, or just more phoniness. It may have been real once, but now everyone realizes that artists want money, and businessmen, if they’re educated enough, want to be thought cultured.
I remember years ago hearing Terry Jacks’ “Seasons in the Sun” and feeling it was kind of hokey until it got to the line “Goodbye my friend, it’s hard to die” and thinking, “Wow! That got dark really fast!” Brel was at least straightforward enough to call the original “Le moribund,” or “The Dying Man.” It’s yet another illustration — if anybody needs one — that French songs can be quite dark, and American lyricists try to lighten them up. Rod McKuen, the link between Brel and Jacks, did most of the translation or adaption, but Jacks still found his version too depressing.
P.S. The U.S. is now very much an empire, like it or not.
Instead of surging into a land war in the caucasus, an exercise that has never worked, give me a counter example
No we are a republic with late republic features sometime in late delian league or after the social wars
Brel was Belgian. His songs are mostly in French, though a few in Dutch, the other Belgian language. Brel was bilingual.
Belgium is located between France and Germany. It has been invaded several times from both directions. Flanders Field is in Belgium, where some of the worst battles in WW I were fought.
That could darken one’s outlook.
In case it needs to be said, Brel was a very big star in Europe. He even influenced English singers such as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Nina Simone.
@ huxley > the song Neo picked today certainly had resonances with Cohen’s works.
Kate, I’m sorry about your friend.
@ Cornflour > in re Joel Kotkin’s latest opinion piece entitled “Can the West survive four years of Harris or Trump?”
I generally enjoy Kotkin’s work, but this is not one of his best efforts, although he makes some good points about History and Empires, and some true observations about the current world situation.
Part A: in re the presidential election —
First, he calls both candidates “unserious,” which persuades me that he is not a reliable observer of either one of them.
Donald Trump is very serious when he needs to be (see his recent appearance at the economic forum, and the closing of his Al Smith dinner speech for recent examples), but those who focus on him playing to the crowds at his rallies seem to think that is the ONLY facet of his personality.
He’s a showman who knows how to produce the show as well as act in it.
Salena Zito’s Maxim has not been repealed.
Second, after establishing his credentials as a bipartisan complainer, Kotkin proceeds to give one example of Trump’s serious positive accomplishments, the Abraham Accords.
Speaking of world leaders in general, he says, “But do they inspire the population and actually change things for the better? Not so much.”
I don’t think Kotkin was asleep during Trump’s tenure, but he missed some things somehow: readers here can all give a list, and a long one, of how President Trump changed things for the better both in the US and abroad.
As for inspiring the population, what is there about those Trump rallies & MAGA supporters’ enthusiasm that fails to qualify?
Kotkin is correct that Harris has nothing positive to her credit, that she would be a disaster as the “front” for the junta currently running the government, and that she is a light-weight intellectually and a dead-weight morally.
But, she IS serious about what she wants, and can wear that persona when she chooses.
And she IS inspiring the population comprising her base, whatever its size.
Independents aren’t inspired by either candidate, which is maybe why they ARE independents.
Part B on Empires later.
We have a concert tonight to watch one of our church’s young women perform on the harp!
Re: Leonard Cohen / Jacques Brel
AesopFan:
Cohen was very influenced by the French chanson (song tradition) and by Spanish surrealism. Influences which set him apart from most English singer-songwriters.
He grew up in Montreal and absorbed some French, though was never comfortably fluent. After he left Montreal, he moved to Hydra, a Greek island which attracted many European bohemians. There is a lot of European in Cohen.
On Hydra he wrote poetry and an avant-garde novel, “Beautiful Losers.” He realized he would never make it financially on his writing, so he came to America to seek a career, strangely enough, as a country-western singer.
However, it was the mid-sixties, the whole folk-rock scene was busting open. Cohen combined his poetry with his guitar. Judy Collins went crazy for his songs, covered a few, then got him on stage for his first concert in 1967.
Re: Age
I’ll take Clint Eastwood’s advice by way of Toby Keith:
______________________________________________
Don’t let the old man in, I wanna live me some more
Can’t leave it up to him, he’s knocking on my door
And I knew all of my life, that someday it would end
Get up and go outside, don’t let the old man in
Many moons I have lived
My body’s weathered and worn
Ask yourself how old would you be
If you didn’t know the day you were born
America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America. Our influence is worldwide, whether it’s in entertainment or clothing or technology. Everyone knows about America. Can the same be said of Belgium?
Hello. I went to see the Albany Symphony for its opening-night concert. Pretty impressive!
Re: Empire
I’ve been through the empire discussion before.
Leftists like to call America an empire for the oppressive connotations — as in the Roman or Mongol Empires. I’m fed up with leftists.
Conservatives and some historians like to deny America is an empire for various technical reasons. Which I don’t disagree with.
Some commonsense types like to say America is obviously an empire for its sheer power and reach. Which I can agree with.
So which axe do you prefer to grind?
Everyone knows about America. Can the same be said of Belgium?
JFM:
Well, Belgium gave us Jacques Brel.
OK, weak retort.
Belgium also gave us Brussels, now the de facto capital of the European Union.
OK, weak retort. Or, maybe a liability.
Belgium is an odd underdog I’d like to defend on general principles.
Philip Sells, I went with a friend to the opening concert of the North State Symphony in Redding, California tonight. It was my cup of tea with the final piece a rousing performance of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The restored Cascade Theater has excellent acoustics thanks in part to Clint Eastwood who made a sizeable donation a few years back. In contrast to Brel, Beethoven’s 5th is a masterpiece of defiance against fate which perfectly suits my mood. I would much, much rather go out shaking my fist against the heavens, than live for the sake living in a medicated state. That’s not life. It’s little more than a half embalmed stupor. Which brings me to Trump. Here is a man who survived death by half an inch, pulled his bleeding face above the ineffectual body guards, and shook his fist in defiance with the words, “fight, fight, fight”. Beethoven’s 5th was composed for such a man.
“Beethoven’s 5th was composed for such a man.”
Well yes, it was dedicated to Napoleon.
I like to think that Trump is rather better, actually.
No, the 5th was not dedicated to Napoleon, but to Beethoven’s patrons, Prince Jpseph Franz von Lobkowitz and Count Razumovsky. However, he did initially title his 3rd Symphony, the “Bonaparte”, thinking that Napoleon was going to continue with the ideals of the France Revolution. After Napoleon declared himself emperor he removed his name from the dedication page and replaced it with “Eroica”. The 5th was composed while Beethoven was going deaf. For a musician and composer there could be little worse that that fate. It got to the point that Beethoven was able to “hear” his own compositions only in his head. The mighty 5th Symphony remains a testament to mankind’s will to survive adversity. Or to be crass and blunt, it’s a big FU aimed squarely at death and what leads to it.
Here’s a rarity: I’ve come to add a comment about my complete lack of disagreement with what somebody else said.
I have very hazy memories, from the 1970s, about arguments over whether the United States can properly be called an empire. My conclusions were eventually the same as those expressed by huxley on October 20, 2024 at 12:56 am.
Now, on the rare occasion that the subject comes up, I try to use the word “hegemon.” Why didn’t Kotkin? I’d guess it’s because he’s paid to write short opinion pieces for an audience weaned on the internet. “Empire” has a lot more punch than “hegemon.” More people will pay attention. Clicks pay the bills.
Open thread Sunday:
Exploding pagers, Hezbollah & Israel – The events, outcomes & value of supply chain security – Perun
Collins:
1. a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire. 2. a government under an emperor or empress.
Merriam-Webster:
a (1) : a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority
especially : one having an emperor as chief of state
(2) : the territory of such a political unit
b : something resembling a political empire especially : an extensive territory or enterprise under single domination or control
Cambridge:
a group of countries ruled by a single person, government, or country:
• the Holy Roman Empire
Dictionary.com:
1 a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.
2 a government under an emperor or empress.
Jeez…OK, one last one, ol’ Faithful – Britannica: Empire, major political unit in which the metropolis, or single sovereign authority, exercises control over territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples through formal annexations or various forms of informal domination.
Ditto on Jeez!? No wonder communication between nations, here @ neo’s, and even married couples is problematic.
Started this 100% sure that America was not an Empire! Now, maybe I agree with JFM @ October 19, 2024 at 11:17 pm
America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America.
And, agree with huxley @ October 20, 2024 at 12:56 am
Some commonsense types like to say America is obviously an empire for its sheer power and reach. Which I can agree with.
Yeah, America is an Empire… 🙂
I expected kotkin, to be less lazy from all that i’ve read from him over the years, Empire suggests direct military or political domination of the subject countries, the UK certainly had that on India, Egypt a few others, it also suggests an undemocratic core, at the Metropole, one might say Russia, Iran and China are aspiring hegemons, with Turkey at the bottom of the pack, in terms of global influence, some outsized regional influence into North Africa,
Ref Empire:
I think I am going to vote that the USA is not an empire: “a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign* or government…” as we don’t truly rule over those areas where we have agreements to establish military bases, even if we also have alliances and allies and trade and commercial agreements of various kinds.
So that the Britannica definition is an overreach when they say “various forms of informal domination.” and I interpret that as closer to a hegemon**, as one having a strong influence but not real control. Witness the back and forth between China and nations such as the Philippines or Vietnam, etc. China would like to actually control those areas politically, but at best has only been able to possibly restrain the degree to which those (or other) nations make agreements with the Western nations, etc. There may be some concern with potential future military conquest by China, but the near term constraint is probably related to trade and commerce impacts.
*And recall the comment by AesopFan distinguishing between a governmental transition that is normally relatively benign for a democratic republic (or even a constitutional monarchy) vs. the chaos that can ensue when a king or dictator or emperor dies or is disposed, etc.
**I tried to find an online definition but it appears perhaps Duck Duck Go is down?
Anyone else experience issues with timing out when seeking a DDG site/answer?
HC dictionary says hegemony is where a nation has influence or prominence among other nations.
PS: is anyone else also finding http://www.thenewneo to be a little slow responding today? I installed a new cellular hot spot to improve my web access speed, but I am not yet really seeing or feeling much of an improvement yet, even tho the speed test shows a substantial gain for the new vs. old scheme.
Update on USCG. Fishing boat grounded during high winds. Person onboard required CG rescue. Circling was due to false report of person the water. A couple of their circles came within about 300 feet of my sky camera. Apparently this person required CG rescue a couple of days ago after becoming adrift.
After Napoleon declared himself emperor [Beethoven] removed his name from the dedication page and replaced it with “Eroica”.
–The Other Chuck
Being a weird teen surfer from a classical music family, when I shaped and glassed my own surfboard, I named it, “Form Eroica,” after Beethoven’s 3rd, with letters in a red-to-blue gradient.
My crass surfer buddies insisted on calling it “Form Erotica.”
Considering it was my first shot at building a board, it rode surprisingly well. One fall day when I was back from college, I went out and really ripped on the best surfing day of my life.
Some surfer on the beach saw me and asked about my board. I sold it to him for $65. Not bad for a homemade surfboard in 1970. I was in college and knew my surfing days were likely over for a good long time.
JFM America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America. Our influence is worldwide, whether it’s in entertainment or clothing or technology. Everyone knows about America.
That sounds about right to me. Hegonomy.
When I was in Latin America, as a tourist or working in the oil field, I found that my (North) American nationality opened a lot of doors. Granted, my speaking Spanish(Castellano) didn’t hurt. For all the lefty brouhaha about Latins resenting the “imperialist” US, I found that most Latins had a good opinion of the US.
And it wasn’t just that we were wealthy. What did they like about us? I was told, among other things: our get-go, our initiative. Our ability to criticize ourselves.
I worked in Argentina during the Carter years, when President Carter had–correctly in my opinion– criticized the human rights violations of the junta. (Which doesn’t mean that the lefties were saints. Not at all..The lefties and the generals were different versions of the same insanity.) One time an Argentine, apparently drunk and of the working class, approached me and said, “The US is interfering in Argentine affairs(Carter’s human rights). Let’s have a drink.” So I did. But just one.
A good reason to vote early and check your ballot if using a Dominion voting machine, or any other voting machine for that matter.
did el proceso (the name of the junta) go over board, probably, considering the guerilla offensive, that was undergoing not only in Argentina, but even across the river in Uruguay, north to Brazil, there was probably was some overreaction,
the Montoneros which were the left wing of the Peronists, chose this attempt at uprising and they chose poorly, many others were caught in the net, had they foolishly not ventured into the Falklands and against Thatcher who had some understanding of the greater geopolitics, they might have prevailed, the remaining cadres would end in Managua aiding the Sandinistas counter revolutionary elimination squads that would be Gorriaran Merlo who worked out of the Interior Ministry, who employed the guerilla who leftys like Avirgan and Cockbourn totally misread for their Christic conspiracy
which permeated through hollywood from the pidgen version in lethal Weapon to Miami Vicetheir ring leader Danny Sheehan had reivented himself by the late 10s organizing the pipeline protests,
the Indian former repairman who confronted the Catholic youth, came from his shop,
The Democrat nominee is struggling to keep a lid on recriminations from colleagues infuriated at her high-handed approach as they see the key battleground state of Pennsylvania slip from their grasp.
‘I’m looking for a job. And I’ve always wanted to work at McDonald’s but I never did,’ Trump said as he introduced himself to franchise owner Derek Giacomantonio. ‘I’m running against somebody that said she did, but it turned out to be a totally phony story.’
‘So, if you don’t mind, I want to work the French fry counter. How much are you paying me?’ the billionaire ex-president said with a laugh.
Joy on the Trump campaign trail as DJT works the window at MickeyDs. Can it get any better than this?
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began attacking institutions associated with financial and economic support for Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terror organization that began attacking Israel on October 8, on Sunday evening.
The campaign against financial institutions appears to be a fourth stage of the war. In the first stage, lasting about 11 months, the IDF simply returned fire, or targeted weapons depots and isolated Hezbollah commanders. In the second stage, the IDF attacked the full senior hierarchy of Hezbollah, including in Beirut. In the third stage, which began in late September, the IDF launched a ground operation. In the fourth stage, it is attacking Hezbollah’s money sources.
”America is an ‘empire’ in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America.”
That doesn’t make America an empire. America doesn’t conquer nations or rule over them.
America has many military allies and trading partners, but all of them have their own constitutions, elect their own parliaments, establish their own governments, pass their own laws, have their own police, courts, and militaries, negotiate their own treaties, collect their own taxes, and spend their own tax money. In other words, they are all fully sovereign.
It’s why America is so popular. It’s also why the world is as stable and prosperous as it is. The world will miss Pax Americana when it’s gone. So will the Americans.
Re: Trump working at McDonald’s
__________________________________________
If your campaign isn’t having fun, you’re losing.
–James, Carville, political strategist for Clinton 1992
__________________________________________
The Harris/Walz campaign doesn’t look like a barrel of laughs.
“…[Israel] is attacking Hezbollah’s money sources.”
Indeed….
Which is precisely what Trump was doing between 2017 and 2020.
Which is precisely what Obama was NOT DOING between 2009 and 2016; IOW he was doing PRECISELY THE OPPOSITE…in the form of protecting Hezbollah’s illicit billions-of-dollar drug trafficking network, mostly in South America (but also elsewhere)…which is, of course, what “Biden” has been doing since 2021 (and what “Harris” will continue to do should she be “elected”).
(Short version: Which is why “Biden” has been plying the Mullahs—and therefore its proxies—with an obscene billions upon billions upon billions of dollars.)
Just another reason why Trump could not be allowed to win in 2020 AND MUST not be allowed to win this November.
Just another reason why Trump is such a tremendous problem, such a THREAT to “our democracy”, such an INDESCRIBABLY INSIDIOUS DANGER to America Iran, its ideals, it’s raison d’etre and its leaders….
Part B on Empires — it turns out I don’t have much to add to the discussion as it developed today, so I am just going to make a summary for my own amusement.
Fifty years ago, in college, I really enjoyed this kind of exercise, back when I also thought I would be doing it for a living!
The references are not in chronological order.
Kotkin: “The US, still the world’s only true empire, now confronts the reality of two unserious presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, each threatening its viability.”
@ miguel > “I expected kotkin, to be less lazy from all that i’ve read from him over the years, Empire suggests direct military or political domination of the subject countries”
I think he was reaching for an allusion grand enough to justify his pretentious opening assertions.
@ John+Guilfoyle “I’d argue it has to do with projection of power, in economic or military or political influence terms.”
Empires do more than project power; they HOLD power and exercise it over the subordinate territories.
@ JFM > “America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America.”
Idiosyncratic definition: you can prove anything is something else with a strategic “in that” analogy.
@ huxley > “So which axe do you prefer to grind?”
Which is why the definition has to precede the analysis, not be formulated to fit an agenda.
@ Karmi on October 20, 2024 at 12:50 pm: — dictionary definitions
This would have been a useful post earlier in the discussion, by at least defining the term. A lot (far too many) of pundits and posters simply take what they want to call empire and label that with the word regardless of how well it fits the facts (see all the leftists calling Trump a Fascist without any indication that they know what the word actually means and what empirical evidence is needed to demonstrate it).
However, by the definitions cited, America is technically NOT an empire. Sovereign domination and control are the core foundation of an empire.
Reaching out and touching someone is not enough to make a country into an empire, even though that influence may encompass the entire world.
However, that IS why we have the idiom “corporate empire” or “imperial corporation.”
But Ma Bell never had an empress’s crown.
@ mkent > “That doesn’t make America an empire. America doesn’t conquer nations or rule over them.”
Correct – or at least it hasn’t done both after the initial expansion period and the conquest of the Native American nations. One could argue that the Americans conquered and ruled over West Germany and Japan after WW2, but not as a prelude to absorbing them as imperial fiefs.
@ mkent > “The United States is not now, nor has it ever been, an empire.”
It could have gone that way, had it pushed the Mexican war to the limit and established sovereignty over that country; ditto the Philippines.
The process of engulfing Hawaii could have been called “imperial,” as the country had a monarch-in-power at the time, but that nation became a state with all the same rights and privileges as the others, as with the Republic of Texas.
I don’t recall that the US was called an empire for that reason, although the United States created by (more or less) voluntary association is unique in the world’s history.
Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. are too small to count as imperial territories.
One could quibble over their status, but they are clearly not the “empire” Kotkin has in mind.
@ Cornflour > “Now, on the rare occasion that the subject comes up, I try to use the word “hegemon.” Why didn’t Kotkin? I’d guess it’s because he’s paid to write short opinion pieces for an audience weaned on the internet. “Empire” has a lot more punch than “hegemon.” More people will pay attention. Clicks pay the bills.”
Bingo.
See also R2L on October 20, 2024 at 1:47 pm: “HC dictionary says hegemony is where a nation has influence or prominence among other nations.”
And Gringo on October 20, 2024 at 3:14 pm.
@ mkent > “The world will miss Pax Americana when it’s gone.”
IMO, the familiar allusion to the Pax Romana of the past is the genesis of the confusion.
Rome did impose peace (to a certain extent) on its genuine empire, because it held either sovereignty or direct ruling control over its territories.
America’s “reaching out” through alliances, trade pacts, and informal influence has much the same pacifying effect, without the imperial format and the overt force (if you have to manipulate other nations with covert CIA ops, then you aren’t their imperial overlord).
And we are already missing the Pax, because we’ve almost lost the soul of Americana.
Very nice summary, AesopFan. The question is now what? With declining influence because of declining strength the door is open for the next hegemon, China. We see them at our doorstep in Mexico, Central America (Panama), and Brazil. Should Trump win will there really be a change for the better, or will a Palecon isolationist type of influence take hold? My guess is that there will be further pull back from areas of the world we deem either no longer vital to our interests or already lost for all practical purposes. Example Afganistan, Iraq soon, & definitely Ukraine. Including Bobby Kennedy Jr. & Tulsi Gabbard in his transition team is sending a signal, as is the choice of J.D. Vance instead of DeSantis for VP. Out of necessity the focus will be here at home.
@ The Other Chuck > “Should Trump win will there really be a change for the better, or will a Palecon isolationist type of influence take hold? My guess is that there will be further pull back from areas of the world we deem either no longer vital to our interests or already lost for all practical purposes.”
There is no Constitutional requirement for the United States to be a hegemon, but there is a lot of open area for policies between “world policeman” and “isolationist.”
I think President Trump already threaded that needle, and would continue to do so, which will certainly be better on most fronts than the policy disasters of Biden Inc.
WSJ, Mike Doran, “Israel Kills Sinwar, and Biden Wants to ‘Move On’“: https://archive.ph/hYEgy
I didnt know that one thanks
Yes shamblings string pullers are rather sloppy whose in charge flip a coin
Meanwhile hezbollah tried to drone bibis summer home because reasons
All told its always better to ignore the regime frankly prince salman should have kept bombing thr houthis
Yes, we are very aware of the Silver Clock, tick, ticking, ticking.
I am now 78 and my Darling Wife will 78 in Oct.
I am a Prostate Cancer Survivor. My Wife has been in treatment for Lymphoma since Feb, with more to come (if anyone knows what CAR-T is, then you know much more to come).
We have lived, I think, full lives. No kids, not by choice. We have traveled the World. Looking to the future, we have a vacation scheduled for Ap, 2025.
Yes, the Silver Clock is ticking, ticking, ticking.
Just another open-thread comment from someone who’s no fun at parties.
Given the current political circumstances, I’ll happily vote for Trump, but I won’t pretend to like his personality. To me, it’s obvious that DeSantis would be a better president, and it’s troubling to consider the reasons why so many more people are inspired by Trump. Harris is too awful to contemplate, and despite recent polls, I still think that we’ll soon be blessed with our first female president.
As a natural pessimist, it’s no surprise that I’d like to recommend Joel Kotkin’s latest opinion piece entitled “Can the West survive four years of Harris or Trump?” (https://tinyurl.com/2hmypz24).
Here’s Kotkin’s second paragraph:
“The US, still the world’s only true empire, now confronts the reality of two unserious presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, each threatening its viability. Americans and the rest of what’s left of the liberal world have to hope that our intrinsic advantages in demography, finance, technology and resources will survive the presidencies of either of these awful candidates.”
For the rest of the essay, Kotkin takes the trouble to explain himself. Even if I don’t agree with all of it, I’m sympathetic, and I think it’s worth a look.
Cornflour,
I understand what you are saying if this was 2016. However, we now have data on what sort of administration Trump will have from 2016 to 2020. And, I think he learned from his mistakes in the previous term and I don’t think he will repeat them.
The US was thriving under Trump’s first term, and was derailed by COVID. I don’t know how one can ignore that fact.
I actually switched my registration from independent to GOP thinking I was going to vote for DeSantis in the primary as temperamentally I like him better…that didn’t happen obviously. I’m fine with Trump now, and hoping for DeSantis in 4 years.
Hamas members starting to surrender? Just saw “400+ Palestinians Killed in North Gaza Assault” under Explore on X – followed it and:
400+ Palestinians Killed in North Gaza Assault
Checked these two there:
Hundreds of Hamas terrorists have begun surrendering to the IDF in Northern Gaza.
Gaza: The wall of fear of Sinwar is broken: hundreds of civilians begin to leave Jabalia into a safe area with Israel’s army protection, the IDF spokesperson reports today.
Nothing seems official so asked Grok on X:
(UPDATE – Note: updated my X subscription from $8 a month to $84 a year (think that was it??) yesterday.
Re: Harris / law school
______________________________________
‘SAN FRANCISCO — As a scandal rocked the city’s crime lab in 2010, District Attorney Kamala D. Harris was increasingly at odds with the city’s elected public defender, Jeff Adachi. He accused her of being “unethical,” and she said he was “playing politics with public safety,” according to media reports at the time.
The fight was, on one level, an example of a prosecutor and defense attorney playing their respective roles. But it was all the more extraordinary because the two had been friends for years.
Adachi had been Harris’s tutor when they were at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kamala-harris-grew-up-with-jeff-adachi-then-tragedy-struck-/2019/03/06/2b8e93f2-3c70-11e9-a06c-3ec8ed509d15_story.html
______________________________________
I know a few lawyers. None of them received tutoring.
Well, that video was a weird musical interlude. A very sweaty one, I might add.
There is that strange instrument too. It could be a violin or an electronic keyboard with a pitch wheel, but it actually sounds like a theremin to me. No indication on the Youtube site about it.
From sdferr’s WSJ opinion link: “[Biden} said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how “we secure Gaza and move on.”
What do you mean, “we,” Kemosabe? Biden has tried to thwart Netanyahu on securing Gaza from the beginning.
https://x.com/BarakRavid/status/1847589182278889485
Short video of Bibi at link. (He’s talking to Biden there too, among others of his enemies.)
In what sense is the U.S. “the world’s only true empire”?
In the book AI Snake Oil, the authors report that someone asked ChatGPT to explain how to remove a peanut butter sandwich from a VCR player–and to do so in the style of the King James Bible, I thought it did a pretty credible job, and I asked Perplexity to summarize the Cuban Missile Crisis in biblical style. Here’s what it said:
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-summarize-the-cuban-mis-nqx2iE__TauK.ZZQ7G0nmg
I then asked it tell the story of the Crisis as it might be told by a leftist, feminist academic:
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-tell-me-the-story-of-th-M7SAdY4oQLS2RGohoPjxtw
I then asked Perplexity to summarize my own post: The Cuban Missile Crisis, as Viewed From a Soviet Launch Facility
https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/72054.html
Here’s what it came back with:
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-summarize-the-following-UGV91O.6QtGwZTATNsRhaQ
Special Edition of Israel Update with Mike and Gadi discussing “Sinwar is Dead: What’s Next?” (1:01:52): https://youtu.be/dOxXwkwtX2k
Many people i know wanted to make sure that desantis was available for florida
To say Trump is unserious is itself unserious
David+Foster, could you copy and paste the perplexity texts that were generated, as when I go to the link, I get referred to its home page: https://www.perplexity.ai/
Thanks.
Gringo..will do in a minute, surprised that the link didn’t work.
Cuban missile crisis, King James style:
And it came to pass in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-two, in the tenth month, that a great tribulation befell the nations of the earth[1].
For lo, the kingdom of the Soviets had secretly placed weapons of terrible destruction upon the isle of Cuba, which lieth nigh unto the shores of America[1][4].
And when it was discovered by the spies of America, President Kennedy, son of Joseph, was sore afraid[4]. He gathered unto him his wise men and counselors, that they might devise a plan to save their people from destruction[2].
And Kennedy spake unto his people, saying, “Behold, our enemies have brought their swords to our very gates. We shall not suffer this transgression, but shall make a wall of ships round about Cuba, that no more weapons may pass”[2][4].
Then did the leaders of America and the Soviets exchange many messages, each man seeking to prevail over the other[2]. And the world trembled, for the shadow of death was upon all the earth[1].
But lo, on the twenty-eighth day of the month, Khrushchev, leader of the Soviets, sent word unto Kennedy, saying, “We shall remove our weapons from Cuba, if thou wilt promise not to invade this land”[1][2].
And there was great rejoicing throughout the lands, for the threat of war had passed[4]. Yet the people knew not that Kennedy had also agreed in secret to remove his own weapons from the land of Turkey[2].
Thus ended the Cuban Missile Crisis, and though peace was restored, the nations continued to watch one another with wary eyes[4]. For the hearts of men are ever filled with suspicion and the desire for power.
Citations:
[1] https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-missile-crisis
[2] https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_(Cuban_Missile_Crisis)
[4] https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/cuban-missile-crisis
[5] https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/cuban-missile.html
[6] https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/publication/CWHIP_Bulletin_17-18_Cuban_Missile_Crisis_v2_s5_Non-Communist_Europe_Israel.pdf
[7] https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book-special-exhibit/cuba-cuban-missile-crisis-russia-programs/2022-10-04/cuban-missile
[8] https://www.wcfia.harvard.edu/files/wcfia/files/jd_missile_crisis.pdf
Cuban missile crisis, leftist-feminist-academic style:
A leftist, feminist academic perspective on the Cuban Missile Crisis would likely reframe the traditional narrative in several key ways:
## Challenging the Great Man Theory
The conventional telling of the Cuban Missile Crisis often focuses on the actions of individual male leaders, particularly John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev. A feminist approach would critique this “great man” framing of history[1]. Instead, it would emphasize how the crisis arose from broader systemic issues and involved many actors beyond just the top leaders.
## Exposing Toxic Masculinity
A feminist analysis would highlight how performances of masculinity and machismo exacerbated tensions during the crisis[2]. The emphasis on “toughness” and unwillingness to back down or appear weak likely prolonged the standoff and increased the risk of nuclear war. The rejection of more “feminine” approaches like diplomacy and negotiation would be seen as a dangerous manifestation of toxic masculinity in international relations.
## Centering the Experiences of Marginalized Groups
Rather than focusing solely on high-level political maneuvering, a leftist feminist perspective would draw attention to how the crisis impacted ordinary people, especially marginalized groups. This could include examining the experiences of women, racial minorities, and working-class people who bore the brunt of civil defense preparations and lived under the shadow of potential nuclear annihilation.
## Critiquing Imperialism and Colonialism
A leftist analysis would situate the crisis within the broader context of American imperialism in Latin America and the Caribbean[1]. It would likely be more sympathetic to Cuba’s right to self-determination and critical of U.S. attempts to overthrow the Castro government. The deployment of Soviet missiles would be framed partly as a response to legitimate Cuban security concerns in the face of U.S. aggression.
## Emphasizing Structural Violence
Rather than celebrating the peaceful resolution of the crisis, a leftist feminist view might emphasize how it perpetuated structural violence inherent in the nuclear arms race and Cold War geopolitics[3]. The fact that the crisis was “solved” by secret deals between superpowers, without input from the Cuban people, would be seen as problematic from an anti-colonial perspective.
## Reframing “Strategic Empathy”
Some feminist scholars have reinterpreted Kennedy’s actions during the crisis through the lens of “strategic empathy” rather than masculine toughness[3]. This framing suggests that Kennedy’s ability to understand and relate to Khrushchev’s fears and motivations was key to finding a peaceful resolution, rather than simply outmaneuvering him.
By challenging traditional power-centric narratives and exposing gendered and colonial dimensions of the crisis, a leftist feminist retelling would aim to provide a more holistic understanding of this pivotal moment in Cold War history. It would likely conclude by connecting the lessons of the crisis to contemporary struggles for peace, justice, and decolonization.
Citations:
[1] https://academic.oup.com/ia/article/98/4/1129/6628392?login=false
[2] https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/07/feminist-and-postcolonial-approach-nuclear-politics
[3] https://warpreventioninitiative.org/peace-science-digest/from-the-cuban-missile-crisis-to-russias-war-in-ukraine-strategic-empathy-as-feminist-foreign-policy/
[4] https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12186
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfPCElEQlf8
[6] https://www.nti.org/atomic-pulse/ask-the-experts-the-60th-anniversary-of-the-cuban-missile-crisis/
[7] https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/kennedy-library-forums/past-forums/transcripts/the-cuban-missile-crisis-an-eyewitness-perspective
[8] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301296389_My_Missile_is_Bigger_than_Yours_a_Gender_Analysis_of_Decision_Making_by_the_Executive_Committee_of_the_United_States_National_Security_Council_during_the_Cuban_Missile_Crisis
“I know a few lawyers. None of them received tutoring.”
How did the Boss say it just yesterday? Something about Kamala “not being the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
Summarizing my post:
This article discusses the 62nd anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis and its relevance to current nuclear threats. The author recounts a personal experience from Boris Chertok’s memoir “Rockets and People,” which provides a firsthand account of the crisis from the Soviet perspective.
Key points:
1. On October 27, 1962, Chertok witnessed increased military activity at a Soviet missile facility, indicating heightened alert status.
2. Colonel Kirillov informed Chertok about orders to prepare a combat missile with a nuclear warhead, replacing a planned Mars probe launch.
3. The article describes the tension and uncertainty felt by Soviet personnel during the crisis, including their concerns about the possibility of nuclear war.
4. A scene is depicted where Soviet officials anxiously await news while drinking cognac and eating watermelon, unsure if it might be their “last drink.”
5. The crisis was ultimately resolved, with Chertok receiving an “All clear” message.
6. Chertok reflects on how few people were aware of how close the world came to nuclear war, and how restraint from both Khrushchev and Kennedy prevented catastrophe.
7. The article emphasizes the lasting impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis and its lessons for current nuclear threats[1][2][3][4][5][6].
Citations:
[1] https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2022/10/20/60th-anniversary-the-cuban-missile-crisis/
[2] https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-missile-crisis
[3] https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis
[4] https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/cuban-missile-crisis
[5] https://www.nti.org/atomic-pulse/ask-the-experts-the-60th-anniversary-of-the-cuban-missile-crisis/
[6] https://www.wilsoncenter.org/50th-anniversary-the-cuban-missile-crisis
[7] https://wtop.com/back-in-the-day/2024/10/today-in-history-october-16-cuban-missile-crisis-begins/
[8] https://chss.gmu.edu/events/2842
I have a problem with French male voices other than Jean-Jacques Goldman (whom I would say is the French Paul McCartney).
Jacques Brel was a great songwriter (film star too). Hands down. I’m happy that he sings so slowly that I have a good shot at understanding the words. I do find his sweatiness odd, as TommyJay notes. Still I prefer English covers of his songs.
Judy Collins did a few Brel songs after she broke out of her folksinger mode. But the one which really jumped out at me was Scott Walker’s electrifying version of Brel’s “La chanson de Jacky.”
Scott Walker – Jackie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKtZf62BQzM
Jacques Brel — La chanson de Jacky (Discorama, 1966)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffErt5gJmIE
Scott Walker was a member of a second-tier mid-60s LA rock group, the Walker Brothers. He moved to Europe and didn’t look back. He even enjoyed a weird resurgence in the 21st century as an avant-garde musician.
Of course, they are both dead. Brel much earlier of lung cancer in 1978. When he realized he was ill in 1973, he devoted the rest of his life to sailing. He seems to have been an admirable man.
Ah, but of course:
JPost, “US intelligence documents outlining Israel’s potential attack plan on Iran leaked – report”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-825249
Malley’s moles are very busy.
I can understand the French, with the help of the English subtitles. But what a dreadful song! I went to the funeral of a good friend, thirteen years older, today. She died in faith, hope and love, unlike the sad tick-tock of the silver clock in this song.
If this is a genuine leak from the IDF, the leakers should be identified and shot, whether Israeli or American. Or perhaps it’s a feint.
Don’t think the leak issues from Israel, but from the US. But we’ll have to wait a long time for definitive answers.
Kate:
I don’t think there’s any reason to think Brel is trying to describe every older person’s state. He is speaking of those who are relatively alone, infirm, worn out. It’s a song somewhat similar to John Prine’s “Hello In There,” if you’re familiar with that one.
I suppose, Neo, but he is singing about “les vieux.” The old. Just a very sad and discouraging thing to listen to.
Someone must be having a bad day. There is a Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter circling very low here. Has been circling for 15-20 minutes now. High winds and rough water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_MH65_Dolphin#/media/File:MH65E_Hover.jpg
Judy Collins covered Brel’s song for old lovers. Quite lovely and quite well-known. It was so vivid that after I looked up a translation, I remembered it being in English.
–-Judy Collins., “La Chanson Des Vieux Amants (The Song of Old Lovers)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulFAXSPBBv8
–Jacques Brel, “La Chanson Des Vieux Amants (The Song of Old Lovers)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Jg0JF7oek
“In what sense is the U.S. “the world’s only true empire”?”
IO – I’m not sure how others use the term…but I’d argue it has to do with projection of power, in economic or military or political influence terms.
The US is seeing that capacity in decline IMO, particularly as BRICS takes shape and the battle for the Ukraine drags on toward an uncertain end and China’s predicted demise never seems to eventuate and our leadership does more harm than good.
Others may have better answers but that’s one and it’s free. 😉
@ Shirehome > “Yes, the Silver Clock is ticking, ticking, ticking.”
That song by Brel hits very close to home now, as AS and I are 73 & 72.
We may still, I hope, have a few more trips in us, and wish you well on yours next spring!
In times past, I thought that song (Les Vieux) was a bit morbid, although I loved the refrain, but now it seems more sweet than bitter.
I’ve been around many “Old Ones” recently who are more like the people Kate mentions. The elderly tourists stopping at a historical site in wild Wyoming haven’t quite faded away yet! However, when people get too old to leave home or stay active in some way, at least the ones I’ve known, they do seem to be waiting for the last tick of the old clock, especially the widowed who yearn for reunion with their departed companions.
It reminds me of both “Old Friends” by Simon & Garfunkel, and the best short romance ever filmed, the prologue of Pixar’s “Up.”
I feel we have been blessed, and more than a bit lucky, to have 5 stalwart sons, 4 wonderful DiLs, and 5 grandkids (in only 2 genders). None of my siblings have children, and one son is still a bachelor, but they have all had good, full lives, and will leave a legacy of love for their friends and extended family.
No spectacular celebrities in our bunch, but that’s a short-lived and double-edged commodity.
There are worse ways to ease out of the world than by sleeping a little too long one morning. One of my aunts passed that way, and she was the most fortunate of her generation, to do so. Illness is a real pain.
For Brel fans, there is a film of a theater play that stitches together a lot of his music with a thin plot, like the old Tin Pan Alley musicals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Brel_is_Alive_and_Well_and_Living_in_Paris
”The US, still the world’s only true empire…”
The United States is not now, nor has it ever been, an empire. There are only two empires left on this planet. One’s army is on the march in Europe, and the other’s army is preparing for war in Asia, with the latest intelligence saying the plan is for war in 2027. That is in the next presidential term.
Except for the empire bit, I agree with Cornflour. Neither presidential candidate is fit to lead America in this environment. One is a basket case of gibberish, and the other is so deluded that he believes he will solve the problem of world war in a single day just by his own inherent greatness. Either such folly will lead in the best case to hundreds of thousands of needless deaths and in the worst case to billions.
In case you haven’t heard of the latest developments, North Korea and Russia have signed a mutual defense pact — or perhaps I should say a mutual offense pact — which has resulted in North Korea sending 12,000 special operations forces to fight on the front lines in Ukraine. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have said that if the Russians break through the Ukrainian lines that they will send troops to defend Kiev and points west. Putin has said that if that happens, he will nuke Britain, France, and the United States.
He’s lying, of course. He won’t do that. It would be the end of Russia. But tensions are high and rising, and neither an idiot nor a blowhard can stop it.
The saddest part of it all is that it didn’t have to be this way.
Brel became mainstream. Now all the bourgeois pretend to be bohemian. So few people are really proud of being bourgeois that one wonders if the bourgeois-bohemian fight was ever real, or just more phoniness. It may have been real once, but now everyone realizes that artists want money, and businessmen, if they’re educated enough, want to be thought cultured.
I remember years ago hearing Terry Jacks’ “Seasons in the Sun” and feeling it was kind of hokey until it got to the line “Goodbye my friend, it’s hard to die” and thinking, “Wow! That got dark really fast!” Brel was at least straightforward enough to call the original “Le moribund,” or “The Dying Man.” It’s yet another illustration — if anybody needs one — that French songs can be quite dark, and American lyricists try to lighten them up. Rod McKuen, the link between Brel and Jacks, did most of the translation or adaption, but Jacks still found his version too depressing.
P.S. The U.S. is now very much an empire, like it or not.
Instead of surging into a land war in the caucasus, an exercise that has never worked, give me a counter example
No we are a republic with late republic features sometime in late delian league or after the social wars
Brel was Belgian. His songs are mostly in French, though a few in Dutch, the other Belgian language. Brel was bilingual.
Belgium is located between France and Germany. It has been invaded several times from both directions. Flanders Field is in Belgium, where some of the worst battles in WW I were fought.
That could darken one’s outlook.
In case it needs to be said, Brel was a very big star in Europe. He even influenced English singers such as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Nina Simone.
@ huxley > the song Neo picked today certainly had resonances with Cohen’s works.
Kate, I’m sorry about your friend.
@ Cornflour > in re Joel Kotkin’s latest opinion piece entitled “Can the West survive four years of Harris or Trump?”
I generally enjoy Kotkin’s work, but this is not one of his best efforts, although he makes some good points about History and Empires, and some true observations about the current world situation.
Part A: in re the presidential election —
First, he calls both candidates “unserious,” which persuades me that he is not a reliable observer of either one of them.
Donald Trump is very serious when he needs to be (see his recent appearance at the economic forum, and the closing of his Al Smith dinner speech for recent examples), but those who focus on him playing to the crowds at his rallies seem to think that is the ONLY facet of his personality.
He’s a showman who knows how to produce the show as well as act in it.
Salena Zito’s Maxim has not been repealed.
Second, after establishing his credentials as a bipartisan complainer, Kotkin proceeds to give one example of Trump’s serious positive accomplishments, the Abraham Accords.
Speaking of world leaders in general, he says, “But do they inspire the population and actually change things for the better? Not so much.”
I don’t think Kotkin was asleep during Trump’s tenure, but he missed some things somehow: readers here can all give a list, and a long one, of how President Trump changed things for the better both in the US and abroad.
As for inspiring the population, what is there about those Trump rallies & MAGA supporters’ enthusiasm that fails to qualify?
Kotkin is correct that Harris has nothing positive to her credit, that she would be a disaster as the “front” for the junta currently running the government, and that she is a light-weight intellectually and a dead-weight morally.
But, she IS serious about what she wants, and can wear that persona when she chooses.
And she IS inspiring the population comprising her base, whatever its size.
Independents aren’t inspired by either candidate, which is maybe why they ARE independents.
Part B on Empires later.
We have a concert tonight to watch one of our church’s young women perform on the harp!
Re: Leonard Cohen / Jacques Brel
AesopFan:
Cohen was very influenced by the French chanson (song tradition) and by Spanish surrealism. Influences which set him apart from most English singer-songwriters.
He grew up in Montreal and absorbed some French, though was never comfortably fluent. After he left Montreal, he moved to Hydra, a Greek island which attracted many European bohemians. There is a lot of European in Cohen.
On Hydra he wrote poetry and an avant-garde novel, “Beautiful Losers.” He realized he would never make it financially on his writing, so he came to America to seek a career, strangely enough, as a country-western singer.
However, it was the mid-sixties, the whole folk-rock scene was busting open. Cohen combined his poetry with his guitar. Judy Collins went crazy for his songs, covered a few, then got him on stage for his first concert in 1967.
Re: Age
I’ll take Clint Eastwood’s advice by way of Toby Keith:
______________________________________________
Don’t let the old man in, I wanna live me some more
Can’t leave it up to him, he’s knocking on my door
And I knew all of my life, that someday it would end
Get up and go outside, don’t let the old man in
Many moons I have lived
My body’s weathered and worn
Ask yourself how old would you be
If you didn’t know the day you were born
Toby Keith, “Don’t Let the Old Man In”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc5AWImplfE
America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America. Our influence is worldwide, whether it’s in entertainment or clothing or technology. Everyone knows about America. Can the same be said of Belgium?
Hello. I went to see the Albany Symphony for its opening-night concert. Pretty impressive!
Re: Empire
I’ve been through the empire discussion before.
Leftists like to call America an empire for the oppressive connotations — as in the Roman or Mongol Empires. I’m fed up with leftists.
Conservatives and some historians like to deny America is an empire for various technical reasons. Which I don’t disagree with.
Some commonsense types like to say America is obviously an empire for its sheer power and reach. Which I can agree with.
So which axe do you prefer to grind?
Everyone knows about America. Can the same be said of Belgium?
JFM:
Well, Belgium gave us Jacques Brel.
OK, weak retort.
Belgium also gave us Brussels, now the de facto capital of the European Union.
OK, weak retort. Or, maybe a liability.
Belgium is an odd underdog I’d like to defend on general principles.
Philip Sells, I went with a friend to the opening concert of the North State Symphony in Redding, California tonight. It was my cup of tea with the final piece a rousing performance of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The restored Cascade Theater has excellent acoustics thanks in part to Clint Eastwood who made a sizeable donation a few years back. In contrast to Brel, Beethoven’s 5th is a masterpiece of defiance against fate which perfectly suits my mood. I would much, much rather go out shaking my fist against the heavens, than live for the sake living in a medicated state. That’s not life. It’s little more than a half embalmed stupor. Which brings me to Trump. Here is a man who survived death by half an inch, pulled his bleeding face above the ineffectual body guards, and shook his fist in defiance with the words, “fight, fight, fight”. Beethoven’s 5th was composed for such a man.
“Beethoven’s 5th was composed for such a man.”
Well yes, it was dedicated to Napoleon.
I like to think that Trump is rather better, actually.
No, the 5th was not dedicated to Napoleon, but to Beethoven’s patrons, Prince Jpseph Franz von Lobkowitz and Count Razumovsky. However, he did initially title his 3rd Symphony, the “Bonaparte”, thinking that Napoleon was going to continue with the ideals of the France Revolution. After Napoleon declared himself emperor he removed his name from the dedication page and replaced it with “Eroica”. The 5th was composed while Beethoven was going deaf. For a musician and composer there could be little worse that that fate. It got to the point that Beethoven was able to “hear” his own compositions only in his head. The mighty 5th Symphony remains a testament to mankind’s will to survive adversity. Or to be crass and blunt, it’s a big FU aimed squarely at death and what leads to it.
Here’s a rarity: I’ve come to add a comment about my complete lack of disagreement with what somebody else said.
I have very hazy memories, from the 1970s, about arguments over whether the United States can properly be called an empire. My conclusions were eventually the same as those expressed by huxley on October 20, 2024 at 12:56 am.
Now, on the rare occasion that the subject comes up, I try to use the word “hegemon.” Why didn’t Kotkin? I’d guess it’s because he’s paid to write short opinion pieces for an audience weaned on the internet. “Empire” has a lot more punch than “hegemon.” More people will pay attention. Clicks pay the bills.
Open thread Sunday:
Exploding pagers, Hezbollah & Israel – The events, outcomes & value of supply chain security – Perun
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1bvvo46jYFU
Empire…
Collins:
1. a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire. 2. a government under an emperor or empress.
Merriam-Webster:
a (1) : a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority
especially : one having an emperor as chief of state
(2) : the territory of such a political unit
b : something resembling a political empire especially : an extensive territory or enterprise under single domination or control
Cambridge:
a group of countries ruled by a single person, government, or country:
• the Holy Roman Empire
Dictionary.com:
1 a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.
2 a government under an emperor or empress.
Jeez…OK, one last one, ol’ Faithful – Britannica:
Empire, major political unit in which the metropolis, or single sovereign authority, exercises control over territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples through formal annexations or various forms of informal domination.
Ditto on Jeez!? No wonder communication between nations, here @ neo’s, and even married couples is problematic.
Started this 100% sure that America was not an Empire! Now, maybe I agree with JFM @ October 19, 2024 at 11:17 pm
And, agree with huxley @ October 20, 2024 at 12:56 am
Yeah, America is an Empire… 🙂
I expected kotkin, to be less lazy from all that i’ve read from him over the years, Empire suggests direct military or political domination of the subject countries, the UK certainly had that on India, Egypt a few others, it also suggests an undemocratic core, at the Metropole, one might say Russia, Iran and China are aspiring hegemons, with Turkey at the bottom of the pack, in terms of global influence, some outsized regional influence into North Africa,
Ref Empire:
I think I am going to vote that the USA is not an empire: “a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign* or government…” as we don’t truly rule over those areas where we have agreements to establish military bases, even if we also have alliances and allies and trade and commercial agreements of various kinds.
So that the Britannica definition is an overreach when they say “various forms of informal domination.” and I interpret that as closer to a hegemon**, as one having a strong influence but not real control. Witness the back and forth between China and nations such as the Philippines or Vietnam, etc. China would like to actually control those areas politically, but at best has only been able to possibly restrain the degree to which those (or other) nations make agreements with the Western nations, etc. There may be some concern with potential future military conquest by China, but the near term constraint is probably related to trade and commerce impacts.
*And recall the comment by AesopFan distinguishing between a governmental transition that is normally relatively benign for a democratic republic (or even a constitutional monarchy) vs. the chaos that can ensue when a king or dictator or emperor dies or is disposed, etc.
**I tried to find an online definition but it appears perhaps Duck Duck Go is down?
Anyone else experience issues with timing out when seeking a DDG site/answer?
HC dictionary says hegemony is where a nation has influence or prominence among other nations.
PS: is anyone else also finding http://www.thenewneo to be a little slow responding today? I installed a new cellular hot spot to improve my web access speed, but I am not yet really seeing or feeling much of an improvement yet, even tho the speed test shows a substantial gain for the new vs. old scheme.
Update on USCG. Fishing boat grounded during high winds. Person onboard required CG rescue. Circling was due to false report of person the water. A couple of their circles came within about 300 feet of my sky camera. Apparently this person required CG rescue a couple of days ago after becoming adrift.
After Napoleon declared himself emperor [Beethoven] removed his name from the dedication page and replaced it with “Eroica”.
–The Other Chuck
Being a weird teen surfer from a classical music family, when I shaped and glassed my own surfboard, I named it, “Form Eroica,” after Beethoven’s 3rd, with letters in a red-to-blue gradient.
My crass surfer buddies insisted on calling it “Form Erotica.”
Considering it was my first shot at building a board, it rode surprisingly well. One fall day when I was back from college, I went out and really ripped on the best surfing day of my life.
Some surfer on the beach saw me and asked about my board. I sold it to him for $65. Not bad for a homemade surfboard in 1970. I was in college and knew my surfing days were likely over for a good long time.
JFM
America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America. Our influence is worldwide, whether it’s in entertainment or clothing or technology. Everyone knows about America.
That sounds about right to me. Hegonomy.
When I was in Latin America, as a tourist or working in the oil field, I found that my (North) American nationality opened a lot of doors. Granted, my speaking Spanish(Castellano) didn’t hurt. For all the lefty brouhaha about Latins resenting the “imperialist” US, I found that most Latins had a good opinion of the US.
And it wasn’t just that we were wealthy. What did they like about us? I was told, among other things: our get-go, our initiative. Our ability to criticize ourselves.
I worked in Argentina during the Carter years, when President Carter had–correctly in my opinion– criticized the human rights violations of the junta. (Which doesn’t mean that the lefties were saints. Not at all..The lefties and the generals were different versions of the same insanity.) One time an Argentine, apparently drunk and of the working class, approached me and said, “The US is interfering in Argentine affairs(Carter’s human rights). Let’s have a drink.” So I did. But just one.
This may not be a true report. Too early to tell. If true, it does not surprise.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/10/here-we-go-voters-georgia-texas-shelby-county/
A good reason to vote early and check your ballot if using a Dominion voting machine, or any other voting machine for that matter.
did el proceso (the name of the junta) go over board, probably, considering the guerilla offensive, that was undergoing not only in Argentina, but even across the river in Uruguay, north to Brazil, there was probably was some overreaction,
the Montoneros which were the left wing of the Peronists, chose this attempt at uprising and they chose poorly, many others were caught in the net, had they foolishly not ventured into the Falklands and against Thatcher who had some understanding of the greater geopolitics, they might have prevailed, the remaining cadres would end in Managua aiding the Sandinistas counter revolutionary elimination squads that would be Gorriaran Merlo who worked out of the Interior Ministry, who employed the guerilla who leftys like Avirgan and Cockbourn totally misread for their Christic conspiracy
which permeated through hollywood from the pidgen version in lethal Weapon to Miami Vicetheir ring leader Danny Sheehan had reivented himself by the late 10s organizing the pipeline protests,
the Indian former repairman who confronted the Catholic youth, came from his shop,
16 days until the election – Inside furious Kamala’s campaign as infighting grips staffers
Meanwhile – Trump trolls Kamala Harris by working the McDonald’s drive-thru outside Philadelphia
Joy on the Trump campaign trail as DJT works the window at MickeyDs. Can it get any better than this?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13980413/Donald-Trump-McDonalds-work-Kamala-Harris-fries.html?ico=article_preview_xp_mobile
https://nypost.com/2024/10/20/world-news/inside-yahya-sinwars-bunker-beneath-gaza-un-food-rations-cash/
They say if you really want to hurt someone – ‘Hit them in the wallet!’
Israel Bombs Hezbollah’s Financial Centers in Lebanon
”America is an ‘empire’ in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America.”
That doesn’t make America an empire. America doesn’t conquer nations or rule over them.
America has many military allies and trading partners, but all of them have their own constitutions, elect their own parliaments, establish their own governments, pass their own laws, have their own police, courts, and militaries, negotiate their own treaties, collect their own taxes, and spend their own tax money. In other words, they are all fully sovereign.
It’s why America is so popular. It’s also why the world is as stable and prosperous as it is. The world will miss Pax Americana when it’s gone. So will the Americans.
Re: Trump working at McDonald’s
__________________________________________
If your campaign isn’t having fun, you’re losing.
–James, Carville, political strategist for Clinton 1992
__________________________________________
The Harris/Walz campaign doesn’t look like a barrel of laughs.
“…[Israel] is attacking Hezbollah’s money sources.”
Indeed….
Which is precisely what Trump was doing between 2017 and 2020.
Which is precisely what Obama was NOT DOING between 2009 and 2016; IOW he was doing PRECISELY THE OPPOSITE…in the form of protecting Hezbollah’s illicit billions-of-dollar drug trafficking network, mostly in South America (but also elsewhere)…which is, of course, what “Biden” has been doing since 2021 (and what “Harris” will continue to do should she be “elected”).
(Short version: Which is why “Biden” has been plying the Mullahs—and therefore its proxies—with an obscene billions upon billions upon billions of dollars.)
Just another reason why Trump could not be allowed to win in 2020 AND MUST not be allowed to win this November.
Just another reason why Trump is such a tremendous problem, such a THREAT to “our democracy”, such an INDESCRIBABLY INSIDIOUS DANGER to
AmericaIran, its ideals, it’s raison d’etre and its leaders….Part B on Empires — it turns out I don’t have much to add to the discussion as it developed today, so I am just going to make a summary for my own amusement.
Fifty years ago, in college, I really enjoyed this kind of exercise, back when I also thought I would be doing it for a living!
The references are not in chronological order.
Kotkin: “The US, still the world’s only true empire, now confronts the reality of two unserious presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, each threatening its viability.”
@ miguel > “I expected kotkin, to be less lazy from all that i’ve read from him over the years, Empire suggests direct military or political domination of the subject countries”
I think he was reaching for an allusion grand enough to justify his pretentious opening assertions.
@ John+Guilfoyle “I’d argue it has to do with projection of power, in economic or military or political influence terms.”
Empires do more than project power; they HOLD power and exercise it over the subordinate territories.
@ JFM > “America is an “empire” in that every other nation on Earth is touched by America.”
Idiosyncratic definition: you can prove anything is something else with a strategic “in that” analogy.
@ huxley > “So which axe do you prefer to grind?”
Which is why the definition has to precede the analysis, not be formulated to fit an agenda.
@ Karmi on October 20, 2024 at 12:50 pm: — dictionary definitions
This would have been a useful post earlier in the discussion, by at least defining the term. A lot (far too many) of pundits and posters simply take what they want to call empire and label that with the word regardless of how well it fits the facts (see all the leftists calling Trump a Fascist without any indication that they know what the word actually means and what empirical evidence is needed to demonstrate it).
However, by the definitions cited, America is technically NOT an empire.
Sovereign domination and control are the core foundation of an empire.
Reaching out and touching someone is not enough to make a country into an empire, even though that influence may encompass the entire world.
However, that IS why we have the idiom “corporate empire” or “imperial corporation.”
But Ma Bell never had an empress’s crown.
@ mkent > “That doesn’t make America an empire. America doesn’t conquer nations or rule over them.”
Correct – or at least it hasn’t done both after the initial expansion period and the conquest of the Native American nations. One could argue that the Americans conquered and ruled over West Germany and Japan after WW2, but not as a prelude to absorbing them as imperial fiefs.
@ mkent > “The United States is not now, nor has it ever been, an empire.”
It could have gone that way, had it pushed the Mexican war to the limit and established sovereignty over that country; ditto the Philippines.
The process of engulfing Hawaii could have been called “imperial,” as the country had a monarch-in-power at the time, but that nation became a state with all the same rights and privileges as the others, as with the Republic of Texas.
I don’t recall that the US was called an empire for that reason, although the United States created by (more or less) voluntary association is unique in the world’s history.
Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. are too small to count as imperial territories.
One could quibble over their status, but they are clearly not the “empire” Kotkin has in mind.
@ Cornflour > “Now, on the rare occasion that the subject comes up, I try to use the word “hegemon.” Why didn’t Kotkin? I’d guess it’s because he’s paid to write short opinion pieces for an audience weaned on the internet. “Empire” has a lot more punch than “hegemon.” More people will pay attention. Clicks pay the bills.”
Bingo.
See also R2L on October 20, 2024 at 1:47 pm: “HC dictionary says hegemony is where a nation has influence or prominence among other nations.”
And Gringo on October 20, 2024 at 3:14 pm.
@ mkent > “The world will miss Pax Americana when it’s gone.”
IMO, the familiar allusion to the Pax Romana of the past is the genesis of the confusion.
Rome did impose peace (to a certain extent) on its genuine empire, because it held either sovereignty or direct ruling control over its territories.
America’s “reaching out” through alliances, trade pacts, and informal influence has much the same pacifying effect, without the imperial format and the overt force (if you have to manipulate other nations with covert CIA ops, then you aren’t their imperial overlord).
And we are already missing the Pax, because we’ve almost lost the soul of Americana.
Very nice summary, AesopFan. The question is now what? With declining influence because of declining strength the door is open for the next hegemon, China. We see them at our doorstep in Mexico, Central America (Panama), and Brazil. Should Trump win will there really be a change for the better, or will a Palecon isolationist type of influence take hold? My guess is that there will be further pull back from areas of the world we deem either no longer vital to our interests or already lost for all practical purposes. Example Afganistan, Iraq soon, & definitely Ukraine. Including Bobby Kennedy Jr. & Tulsi Gabbard in his transition team is sending a signal, as is the choice of J.D. Vance instead of DeSantis for VP. Out of necessity the focus will be here at home.
@ The Other Chuck > “Should Trump win will there really be a change for the better, or will a Palecon isolationist type of influence take hold? My guess is that there will be further pull back from areas of the world we deem either no longer vital to our interests or already lost for all practical purposes.”
There is no Constitutional requirement for the United States to be a hegemon, but there is a lot of open area for policies between “world policeman” and “isolationist.”
I think President Trump already threaded that needle, and would continue to do so, which will certainly be better on most fronts than the policy disasters of Biden Inc.
“Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute” — Federalists, 1798
https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/xyz-affair/
The details are not exactly analogous, and the source is just slightly biased toward Jefferson over Adams, but the sentiment is MAGA all the way.