Trump's attack on Venezuela points not to the end of great-power confrontation, but to a shift in how it is managed by the US: through permanent destabilisation and engineered chaos at the periphery
Trump has every right to defend America's national interests. Whether his methods have gone too far is debatable, but cannot be debated, since he arouses such insane hostility in his opponents.
In Trump's favour, it must be remembered that Maduro is a terrible gangster and racketeer. But because he claims to be a Leftist (albeit a Narco-Marxist one) many on the Left have rallied in Maduro's defence.
But by doing so, they have dragged the Left through the mud.
Also, how does the human race gain if China's government gets its greedy and ruthless mitts on Venezuela's heavy grade oil (the main bone in contention) ?
".. In this sense, the attack on Venezuela is perhaps the clearest demonstration yet of the collapse of the so-called “rules-based order”. One might object that this order was always a fiction. International law, sovereignty and non-intervention were routinely violated by the US and its allies..."
But actually , this IS exactly the so called "rules based order". That term was specifically invented as a way defining a colonial order - not respecting international law - in which the western empire did what it wished.
An interesting thing about this article: with a few loaded language changes, this could have been posted by a Trump supporter. Where you said 'that restraint is gone', they could well say, "That pretense is gone..."
Thank you Thomas Fazi for a big reveal on USA global strategy - and finger pointing back to dangers at home. Two questions in my ignorance:
1) why omit USA/Nato/Ukraine West instigation/actions against Russia and Ukraine East detailed by Rundell (thanks for the link) in suggesting Russia's 'invasion' approaches USA 'monopoly on global violence'?, and
2) re 'Chinese action against Taiwan', China not likely to follow this path for its place in the world, omitting #1 One China? even the USA State Dept.'s official position today, "Note 3: With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized . . . there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China." https://www.state.gov/independent-states-in-the-world/
Honestly Bonnie B, any more it doesn't take much. Wouldn't you think more experts would want to pursue internet searches before they bloviate? I don't know about Mr. Fazi, I'm still stewing over John Mearsheimer, known China Hawk, interviewed by Daniel Davis, Deep Dive who used to impress me with his concern for people. On about Taiwan 'defense' as we stuff it with everything military. No dual use here! https://youtu.be/wAaliUNhK44 That doesn't shout Fear China?
Bonus challenge, extra points: Name the executive: A, B, C, or D and A, B, D don't count. https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/ ;-) And whoever asks what's with the black/white theme, blue and red got deported?
Great piece. ‘Twas ever thus, but Trump has simply dispensed with the phoney legitimations that once cloaked imperialist violence and thuggery. That empire is corrosive of civil rights and freedoms in the imperial core is also a truism. The Cold War, the War on Terror and the Gaza genocide have all brought with them severe curtailments of democratic rights and freedoms in the US and its vassal states. That process is now in overdrive.
don't need to be a psycic to realize Fazi's commentary here is an earth shattering reveal. It's not! We all see it as we all see the reveal of what's happening over there in the Arab world of Isreal/Palestine/Jordan/Syia/..... also nothing earth shattering in observing the errosion of democracies in the "Western World". My read is the Western elites are not dealing well with the transition from a monopolarity to multi polarity world ethos. It's gonna be messy but as we all know this transition is happening and will succeed. As will the energy tranition from an oil based energy economy to a green based energy economy. Thi current crop or neaderthal leaders will eventually fade ito the sunset and those more progressive voices will come to the fore. Alah be willing.
Agree with you with one caveat: the U.S. will do ANYTHING to prevent multipolarity from replacing its claim to unipolar hegemony. ANYTHING. This is the scary part.
We’ll run Venezuela, says Trump. Fine by me, says Starmer.
https://theleftlane2024.substack.com/p/after-kidnapping-its-president-us
Trump has every right to defend America's national interests. Whether his methods have gone too far is debatable, but cannot be debated, since he arouses such insane hostility in his opponents.
In Trump's favour, it must be remembered that Maduro is a terrible gangster and racketeer. But because he claims to be a Leftist (albeit a Narco-Marxist one) many on the Left have rallied in Maduro's defence.
But by doing so, they have dragged the Left through the mud.
Also, how does the human race gain if China's government gets its greedy and ruthless mitts on Venezuela's heavy grade oil (the main bone in contention) ?
".. In this sense, the attack on Venezuela is perhaps the clearest demonstration yet of the collapse of the so-called “rules-based order”. One might object that this order was always a fiction. International law, sovereignty and non-intervention were routinely violated by the US and its allies..."
But actually , this IS exactly the so called "rules based order". That term was specifically invented as a way defining a colonial order - not respecting international law - in which the western empire did what it wished.
Amazing work! Thanks!
An interesting thing about this article: with a few loaded language changes, this could have been posted by a Trump supporter. Where you said 'that restraint is gone', they could well say, "That pretense is gone..."
Europe should have seen this coming for years.
It’s good actually. Maduro was a tyrant.
There's been a chorus of voices claiming that Trump's action is unprecedented and sets a terrible precedent.
May I just remind those voices of the following:
General Noriega
Ruler of Panama
Overthrown by President Bill Clinton in 1997
Later imprisoned for life by the USA
Thank you Thomas Fazi for a big reveal on USA global strategy - and finger pointing back to dangers at home. Two questions in my ignorance:
1) why omit USA/Nato/Ukraine West instigation/actions against Russia and Ukraine East detailed by Rundell (thanks for the link) in suggesting Russia's 'invasion' approaches USA 'monopoly on global violence'?, and
2) re 'Chinese action against Taiwan', China not likely to follow this path for its place in the world, omitting #1 One China? even the USA State Dept.'s official position today, "Note 3: With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized . . . there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China." https://www.state.gov/independent-states-in-the-world/
You are hardly ignorant, Alice. Extremely well-informed, from what I can tell. Thanks for this.
Honestly Bonnie B, any more it doesn't take much. Wouldn't you think more experts would want to pursue internet searches before they bloviate? I don't know about Mr. Fazi, I'm still stewing over John Mearsheimer, known China Hawk, interviewed by Daniel Davis, Deep Dive who used to impress me with his concern for people. On about Taiwan 'defense' as we stuff it with everything military. No dual use here! https://youtu.be/wAaliUNhK44 That doesn't shout Fear China?
Bonus challenge, extra points: Name the executive: A, B, C, or D and A, B, D don't count. https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/ ;-) And whoever asks what's with the black/white theme, blue and red got deported?
Pretty simplistic and subjective piece.
Great piece. ‘Twas ever thus, but Trump has simply dispensed with the phoney legitimations that once cloaked imperialist violence and thuggery. That empire is corrosive of civil rights and freedoms in the imperial core is also a truism. The Cold War, the War on Terror and the Gaza genocide have all brought with them severe curtailments of democratic rights and freedoms in the US and its vassal states. That process is now in overdrive.
Excellent point regarding the barbarism (cancellation, censorship, etc.) overseas also reaching the homelands.
Always reaching the homelands, always. . .
Yes, this is terrifying. The U.S. is totally out of control.
You are being very mean to the H. Neanderthals. They were far less violent than H. Sapiens are today. And much more
Intelligent than the present occupiers of the White House.
don't need to be a psycic to realize Fazi's commentary here is an earth shattering reveal. It's not! We all see it as we all see the reveal of what's happening over there in the Arab world of Isreal/Palestine/Jordan/Syia/..... also nothing earth shattering in observing the errosion of democracies in the "Western World". My read is the Western elites are not dealing well with the transition from a monopolarity to multi polarity world ethos. It's gonna be messy but as we all know this transition is happening and will succeed. As will the energy tranition from an oil based energy economy to a green based energy economy. Thi current crop or neaderthal leaders will eventually fade ito the sunset and those more progressive voices will come to the fore. Alah be willing.
Happy New Year comrades
Agree with you with one caveat: the U.S. will do ANYTHING to prevent multipolarity from replacing its claim to unipolar hegemony. ANYTHING. This is the scary part.