Angry
Confused
Perplexed
Bewildered
Resentful
Frightened
Grief
Lost
Vengeful
What would you feel if a foreign government was illegally bombing your home, or was ordering you from it, when all you wanted was the chance to live in peace with your family and friends?
Let's not pretend that the consequences of this war will end when Trump gets bored or when stock markets tell him that it's time to stop the bombing.
Real lives, shattered by his indifference and the contempt he's shown, will be changed forever by what he's done, and some will never forget.
This war will last for decades, until the last victim dies. And maybe not then.
You cannot promote a politics of care when you pursue a politics of hate, and only one of them delivers a future of hope.
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The USA’s and the UK’s treatment of Iraq and Iran following WW1 as an oil reserve to be split between them caused resentment. Deposing a democratically elected government in Iran and installing the Shah increased this resentment.
Attempting to bomb Iran to rubble to bring about regime change will massively increase the hatred towards the USA, Israel, the UK and France.
If you understand the concept of the Big Satan (USA) far away ( the country far away) not easy to directly attack from the Gulf and the near Satan ( states that support the USA ,have their bases and are close by). This is why Iran is attacking near Satan, the US military and non military facilities in the Gulf states.
You can do this without the need for massive normal armed forces. For example you can take out tankers using armed speed boats.
This also explains why the US pours $bn into Egypt to be used on internal security forces to keep the Brotherhood under control.
Trump is massively stoking the hatred, will walk away claiming victory. But leaving a nation looking for revenge.
Walking away will also leave Israel exposed, and possibly prepared to use its nuclear weapons to go for the knock out strike against Iran before Trump’s victory claim.
Regrettably the politics of care is not likely to get a chance to take hold in this region in the immediate future.
Wars do last for decades. I taught in Nigeria in 1972. My houseboy was an Igbo(Biafran) and one day I asked him when the atrocities, the genocide carried out in the recent civil war would be forgotten. His reply was very simple “never” In 2026 anyone who is aware of the current situation in and the history of Nigeria would find it very hard to disagree with his prediction.
Lessons have not been learnt.
Much to agree with
Hi Richard; am I allowed to use a 4-letter word for addition to your list? Here goes anyway… sick!
That’s how I felt when I heard that America had bombed a school causing the loss of so many young lives.
I remain sick… and may do for the rest of my life. That ‘mistake’, coupled with several other factors happening as a direct consequence of America’s latest war, brought on a recurrence of a heart problem that I’d not experienced since 2007.
Two slight (personal) glimmers of light emerge from amongst the dark clouds of war.
Firstly, my doctor saw to me at short notice and has me on a fast-track for tests to see if I have an underlying problem. Thumbs up to our wonderful Scottish NHS.
Secondly, Emirates Airline fully refunded fares that my wife & I had paid for travel to Australia via Dubai. They seem to have modified a cancellation form that stipulated only a partial refund would apply if we chose to cancel. Big thanks to Emirates… that gesture somewhat eased my stress.
Richard, I’m still hoping to meet up with you in Edinburgh on Saturday 21st. March. I note that Warren Mosler is a last-minute speaker at ScotEconFest, but his event conflicts with MMTea & Shortbread. Greedy guy that I am, there’s no competition!
Ron
Go well, and I will see you next week.
Richard
Agreed.
Ordinary people – including those who voted for Trump and Netanyahu – have essentially made their lives and those whom they love much more unsafe for sure in the future.
“This war will last for decades”. It has been going on with varying levels of intensity since 1948 and the founding of the state of Israel.
Most significant events of violence (& even minor stuff) has either been initiated by or involved Israel. The current aim of Israel is to take over the Litani river valley in Southern lebanon whilst also finishing off what is left of the Palestinians on the west bank. The current attack on Lebanon (why do the MSM not report it as that), is typical, destroy & murder with impunity.
1956, took part in the Franco-Uk attack on Egypt. 1950s, bombings in various arabs states to “encourage” jews in those states to move to Israel (the oldest jewish community on the planet – Bhagdad/Babylon dating back to 700BC was forced to move). Six day war, Yom Kippur war, 1980s quasi-continuous attacks on Lebanon, 1980 attack on Iraq (bombing of nuclear reactor), 1st Iraq war, 2nd Iraq war, quasi-continuous murders by the Israeli army of palestinians (with no consequences). On & on & on. Most arab states more or less rub along. They may not like each other much but mostly they tend not to attack each other (exception: Saudi Arabia & Yemen). The catalyst for war & violence in the region since 1948 is Israel, founded in violence, maintained by violence.
The USA rogue state has had virtually no history of Iran backed attacks on its own territory. (Its ally Saudi Arabia has cornered the market in that with Wahabi-linked violence across the region and on mainland USA EG: TWIN towers).
But now they have given Shia Muslims all over the world, including those in the USA, an incentive to hate them.
It is so much easier, cheaper, and more emotionally rewarding to use soft power to give people reasons to respect you, and it works. It’s the international version of the politics of care, that neoliberal lying war-criminal monetarists tell us we “can’t afford” any more so bang (literally) goes the aid budget.
Much to agree with