tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post605801128755309421..comments2024-03-17T00:10:44.022+00:00Comments on From Arse To Elbow: Wants and NeedsDavid Timoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-27876699241997973782015-02-24T11:32:13.561+00:002015-02-24T11:32:13.561+00:00America's role as "the world's police...America's role as "the world's policeman" is a joint operation of the US state (furthering the interests of its domestic big capital, including the defence industry) and foreign powers. The deal is that the latter provide privileged market access (e.g. TTIP) in return for military cover.<br /><br />In other words, America's belligerence is not just down to innate violence but is actively encouraged by its allies and clients elsewhere. It's as much pull as push, and you can see this dynamic in Ukraine and the Baltic now. The hypocrisy is the insistence that the EU be more militarily self-supporting while opening its markets further to US business - i.e. it wants to reduce its cost base and increase profit margins.<br /><br />Our impression of actual sentiment in the US is heavily mediated. Isolationism is presented as evidence of dumb-hick right-wingery, with the problems faced by FDR in the 30s regularly cited as evidence. We rarely hear left-of-centre opinion advocating non-intervention, unless it is so manifestly "popular" (as was the case re Vietnam and, eventually, Iraq) that it can't be ignored.<br /><br />The reason why Russia will not challenge the US as the global hegemon is that its big capital is primarily extractive rather than productive, so it has no opportunity to develop the mutually-beneficial deals that the US has with the EU and others. Its negotiations with both China and the EU are a sign of weakness and dependency, despite the endless cartoons of Putin turning off the gas pipeline stopcock.<br /><br />It suits both Putin and his international "opponents" to build him up as Mr Russia and interpret his comic opera manoeuvrings as a threat to security. He is no more "the special one" than Jose Mourinho.David Timoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-17412227984858290142015-02-23T17:33:19.817+00:002015-02-23T17:33:19.817+00:00I really hate these articles that try to figure ou...I really hate these articles that try to figure out what Putin is all about.<br /><br />The real question is why are the USA so belligerent and hypocritical. Why does the USA extend its tentacles to every corner of the globe, why do they bomb first and ask question later?<br /><br />I suspect the military/industrial complex necessitates permanent war. I suspect the staggering level of US arms expenditure when compared with everyone else speaks volumes.<br /><br />It is a joke to question Russia in this way, especially when the Great Satan is directing events.Herbie Kills Childrennoreply@blogger.com