Same Policy, Different Style

Same Policy, Different Style

It totally behooves me as to why Talk Show Hosts, News Anchors, Commentators, “Experts,” Previous Ambassadors, Previous State Department Officials and Policy Wonks on most Media Outlets are so Surprised, Indignant and Aghast at Trump’s Meddling in Venezuela, amongst his many other Egregious Behaviors and Doings? I’m Very Serious! Why?

As all of the above mentioned were Puffing themselves up I was wondering as to the History of these United States going from WWII and on? What the hell has changed? There is Nothing New Here since Vietnam! I am thinking of the Entire South American Continent and our Meddling in Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Granada and Panama. Did I forget any other Latin Nation? All of these Interventions are documented well enough for Everyone to be Aware of. In this regard, and I am Not Defending, or Justifying what Trump’s foray into Venezuela was all about, however, he is No Different from most of our Presidents since WWII. He is simply more Audacious, Outrageous and In-Your-Face. He is only more Bully-ish in his Style than any of the Other Presidents. But: Surprising? No. Moreover, and again I am Not Defending, or Justifying Trump’s Braggadocio, but he did not follow in the mold of our usual Hypocritical and Screwed Up Foreign Policy by talking about “democracy, freedom, human rights” and all the other words with which we cloak our usual Wars, Meddling and Interventions, although one might say that using: “National Security” is another form of “cloaking.” Nevertheless, and aside from Venezuela, Trump has been using his megaphone to threaten Greenland, Mexico, Iran, Colombia, Canada and . . . Anyone Standing In Our Way! Anyone! Anywhere! To hell with International Institutions and World Order! We Are Number One! We Own You World! So Suck It Up!

As I have often written in my posts: Colonialism and Imperialism did not simply end because the European Colonists withdrew their armies from our world. It has Never, Ever Ended, and, since WWII the US has been flexing its muscles worldwide and becoming the dominant military and financial power of the Colonial, Imperial World. I wonder if this is why the Muted, Spineless Response to Venezuela from the European Nations? Are they covertly supporting such behavior being that they never got over their Colonial Arrogance and Bigotry towards anything that is Not White, or Christian? I don’t know. Or, is it all about thwarting “Communism” and the threat of the “Red Scare?” Some on the US Lunatic Right amuse me to no end as they Gloat about our Amazing Military Power and how we should keep going until we get rid of all the Commies and Drug Traffickers! Such Superficial Parrots! Militarism and Jingoism! What’s new about that, America? My, Oh My!

I sometimes wonder to myself if the United States and its approximately One Third Voters who support Trump was always as Cruel, as Bellicose, as Arrogant and as Rah Rah Rah as we nowadays see displayed? Was its “Civility” simply a Veneer? A Glitzy, Glamorous, Hollywoody Production? My, Oh My! 

Somehow, though, all the events occurring now are Interconnected. Certainly, though, it is very clear that Trump and Netanyahu are, at this point in time, in total synchronicity and coordination of their Plot regarding everything that is happening and the arc that stretches from Venezuela, to Iran (where the CIA and Mossad have been active for years!), passing through Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. Both these Politicians ruling over the World’s Stage are Cruel, Lawless and Disrespectful of any Conventions or Legalities. Moreover, their Lies are so obvious!! I will mention the Constant Lies that the Israeli Government has used in order to Re-write History and to Legitimize its Illegitimate Claims over Colonizing Palestine since 1948 (and probably even before that), and Trump’s Lies as he is now Re-writing US History to suit his Fascist Agenda. They can both Lie and Swagger from now until November and, it seems, no one can Stop Them, especially after the Genocide of Palestinian Humans and the War on Ukraine when they witnessed how World Leadership and Institutions were Weak, Inept, Threatened and/or Complicit. They also seem to have adopted what the Oligarchs of Silicon Valley used to say about Smashing and Breaking Everything and Rebuilding It. Is that their Scheme? To Break Everything? Does Anyone Know? I certainly don’t! It doesn’t bode well, though! It doesn’t! And, incidentally, what role do the Epstein Files have in all this? Hmmm!

I was delightfully re-reading a very interesting book published in 1992, written by William Manchester and titled: A World Lit Only By Fire. He talks about the Medieval Ages that led up to the Renaissance. The similarities between those almost 600 Years of Dark Ages and Today are eerie! Of course Present History is not a Replica of that time, however the Arrogance, Hubris, Lust for Dominance and Cruelty of Man have not Changed since then. In the long ago it was Self-appointed Kings, or Popes who claimed that they were Ruling by “Divine Right,” that they were Anointed by God and that they can issue any Decree, Law or Rule that Everyone had to Obey. What bullshit that some of the Ignorant Masses still believe! Humans during that period of history had no Newspapers, or Radios to Inform them of Anything. They were Uneducated and Most had not even ventured out of their immediate surroundings. Certainly, it is very different in today’s world where Humans are more Educated, Knowledgeable, have Cell Phones and Connectivity to Information. However, Political Leaders have Always acted with Impunity. Then and Nowadays! Manchester gives an example of this by citing what John F. Kennedy once said: “We have a problem making our power credible, and Vietnam looks like the place.” He said that before sending 400 Green Berets to Southeast Asia and, ergo, lobbing that first strike which began our whole misadventure in Vietnam. Thus, a Kennedy, a King Trump, or a King Netanyahu are able to conduct themselves almost like those Cruel, Ruthless, Corrupt Kings and Debauched Popes of Olden Days and as if by Divine Right to do Whatever they want, Wherever they want and to Whomever they want. 

For many of us this is a Very, Very Infuriating and Depressing Period of History that we are all living through. It is also Unbelievably Heart-breaking, and where it all goes from here on no one knows. I certainly don’t! It is simply Clear that Trump is implementing the Same US Screwed Up Foreign Policy as his Predecessors, though applying it with a Different Style, and Netanyahu is implementing the Israeli Government’s Suppression of Legitimate Palestinian Aspirations for Freedom, and for Human and Legal Rights since 1948! Tragic!

The Medieval Dark Ages ended with the Renaissance. Might our present Dark Ages end with Enlightenment and Peace?