Here’s the full interview that I gave to Newsweek’s Tom O’Connor, excerpts of which were included in his article about “What A Trump-Putin Detente Means for Russia and Iran's Partnership”.
"The years of peace that followed the last ceasefire were essentially wasted. Part of this, however, might have to do with Syria clumsily “balancing” between its competing Russian and Iranian patrons."
No word about the hollowing of Syrian economy due to US occupation of oil and wheat producing lands in eastern Syria, east of Euphrates. Not of Turkish continuous support of HST, or Israeli continuous bombing. Even if Assad would have adopted a new constitution, nothing would have helped. Israel wants everything around wrecked and immiserated. And that is the plan for Iran - or a supine autocracy. Nothing to negotiate here.
"That’s because there’s the possibility that these deals could result in limiting those countries’ resource exports to China, not formally of course, but in the event that the US and its partners (including the Indo-Pacific Rim countries of India, South Korea, and Japan) offer better prices and partnership terms."
And pray, let us know, how can these countries truly replace the Chinese demand? And how reduce access to Chinese products would help them...?
I'm somewhat amazed they knew enough to ask someone who actually has a solid understanding of these issues, as opposed to a political toady. The winds are shifting. Congratulations on the interview and thank you for helping to clarify things for those fortunate enough to come across the article.
I have a different take on the new US-Russian detente. It has to do with the pivotal role of Eurasia in the global balance of power. Ever since Halford Mackinder warned the Brits and imperial West that whoever ruled Eurasia would rule the world, America’s dread of not being that ruler has been the cornerstone of her foreign policy; the raison d’ etre of a relentless pursuit of global hegemony, especially since the end of WWII.
To achieve such primacy, the US must succeed in attaining several critical objectives:
First, the it has to control the Middle East, now referred to as West Asia. This requires the US to achieve two practical objectives: to aid and abet the creation of a so called Greater Israel. And, second, to end the antipathy of regional Arab states towards this putative entity. Hence, the Abraham accord 2.0 By locking West Asia into America’s sphere of influence, the US is in the process of acquiring, control of what is arguably the main gateway to Eurasia. Moreover, if it succeeds in cajoling Iran into her camp,the Americans wouldn’t even have to guard that gateway.
Second, the US has to successfully emasculate all of Europe, country by country. All must swear allegiance to America, not as equals but as vassals
Third, the US has simultaneously to ensure that those same European countries do not succeed in escaping their vassalage by joining together to form an effective, coherent bloc capable of acting in unison and independently of the US in pursuit of a pivotal position in a newly united Eurasia.
Fourth, the US has to prevent the Central Asian countries, including Russia and Ukraine, from doing likewise: i.e. uniting to act independently of both West and East and thus Russia becoming arguably the pivotal player in the final unification of Eurasia. In this regard, a comprehensive detente between America and Russia becomes imperative. As does Russia’s continued membership of the SCO and BRICS.
Finally, it is also imperative that the world learns the details and implications of any peace deal struck by the US, Russia, Ukraine and Europe to determine the viability of a unified Eurasia. Without the facts, further speculation, including my own, is pointless.
This "to end the antipathy of regional Arab states towards this putative entity".The Arab mainstream will never forget and forgive the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians, Lebanese, and Syrians, maybe even Jordanians (which would be necessary to the creation of Eretz Israel). And Arab Sheikdoms and dictatorships, as much as they don't care, cannot go against the wishes of 90 of their populations.
Never mind the other hurdles, which, the second and third are the easier to overcome.
What we know, or think we know, about the substantive issues which might already have been have been resolved during negations for a mutually acceptable peace plan, suggests that the Russians are sticking to the demands they’ve made publicly. Which means that negotiations are likely be protracted — if, indeed, substantive negotiations have even begun. One thing that does seem certain is that Trump isn’t going to get the quick fix he thought he would get.
"The years of peace that followed the last ceasefire were essentially wasted. Part of this, however, might have to do with Syria clumsily “balancing” between its competing Russian and Iranian patrons."
No word about the hollowing of Syrian economy due to US occupation of oil and wheat producing lands in eastern Syria, east of Euphrates. Not of Turkish continuous support of HST, or Israeli continuous bombing. Even if Assad would have adopted a new constitution, nothing would have helped. Israel wants everything around wrecked and immiserated. And that is the plan for Iran - or a supine autocracy. Nothing to negotiate here.
"That’s because there’s the possibility that these deals could result in limiting those countries’ resource exports to China, not formally of course, but in the event that the US and its partners (including the Indo-Pacific Rim countries of India, South Korea, and Japan) offer better prices and partnership terms."
And pray, let us know, how can these countries truly replace the Chinese demand? And how reduce access to Chinese products would help them...?
I'm somewhat amazed they knew enough to ask someone who actually has a solid understanding of these issues, as opposed to a political toady. The winds are shifting. Congratulations on the interview and thank you for helping to clarify things for those fortunate enough to come across the article.
I have a different take on the new US-Russian detente. It has to do with the pivotal role of Eurasia in the global balance of power. Ever since Halford Mackinder warned the Brits and imperial West that whoever ruled Eurasia would rule the world, America’s dread of not being that ruler has been the cornerstone of her foreign policy; the raison d’ etre of a relentless pursuit of global hegemony, especially since the end of WWII.
To achieve such primacy, the US must succeed in attaining several critical objectives:
First, the it has to control the Middle East, now referred to as West Asia. This requires the US to achieve two practical objectives: to aid and abet the creation of a so called Greater Israel. And, second, to end the antipathy of regional Arab states towards this putative entity. Hence, the Abraham accord 2.0 By locking West Asia into America’s sphere of influence, the US is in the process of acquiring, control of what is arguably the main gateway to Eurasia. Moreover, if it succeeds in cajoling Iran into her camp,the Americans wouldn’t even have to guard that gateway.
Second, the US has to successfully emasculate all of Europe, country by country. All must swear allegiance to America, not as equals but as vassals
Third, the US has simultaneously to ensure that those same European countries do not succeed in escaping their vassalage by joining together to form an effective, coherent bloc capable of acting in unison and independently of the US in pursuit of a pivotal position in a newly united Eurasia.
Fourth, the US has to prevent the Central Asian countries, including Russia and Ukraine, from doing likewise: i.e. uniting to act independently of both West and East and thus Russia becoming arguably the pivotal player in the final unification of Eurasia. In this regard, a comprehensive detente between America and Russia becomes imperative. As does Russia’s continued membership of the SCO and BRICS.
Finally, it is also imperative that the world learns the details and implications of any peace deal struck by the US, Russia, Ukraine and Europe to determine the viability of a unified Eurasia. Without the facts, further speculation, including my own, is pointless.
This "to end the antipathy of regional Arab states towards this putative entity".The Arab mainstream will never forget and forgive the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians, Lebanese, and Syrians, maybe even Jordanians (which would be necessary to the creation of Eretz Israel). And Arab Sheikdoms and dictatorships, as much as they don't care, cannot go against the wishes of 90 of their populations.
Never mind the other hurdles, which, the second and third are the easier to overcome.
What we know, or think we know, about the substantive issues which might already have been have been resolved during negations for a mutually acceptable peace plan, suggests that the Russians are sticking to the demands they’ve made publicly. Which means that negotiations are likely be protracted — if, indeed, substantive negotiations have even begun. One thing that does seem certain is that Trump isn’t going to get the quick fix he thought he would get.