We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Monday, June 10, 2019

Trump Is Not Extricating Himself on Iran. He Is Being ‘Dug in’

Click here to access article by Alastair Crooke from Strategic Culture Foundation

This former employee of MI-6 (the British counterpart to the US's CIA) well honed geopolitical skills argues that Trump is "being 'dug-in'". He doesn't specify who is digging him into a war with Iran, but it's clear to me that the Deep State, a board of directors for the US ruling capitalist class, is doing the digging. If Crooke is correct, it's bad news for the world. 

He is essentially arguing that the Deep State has maneuvered Trump into a path that leads inexorably to war with Iran or Trump will have to settle for a humiliating defeat. Either way, the Deep State wins. I think that Crooke's argument is quite sound--what do you think?

Referring to all the confusing moves by the Trump administration, Crooke writes:
Is it all bluster? Will Trump go all the way with his threats and pressures – but ultimately pull out, just short of war? That seems to be the general consensus today; but Team Trump’s view of Iran seems based in so many misconceptions, layered on other misconceptions, and on intelligence that amounts to no more than Mossad’s assessment of Iranian future intentions.

The consensus on ‘no conflict’ unfortunately, may turn out to have been overly sanguine. This is not because Trump consciously desires war, but because the hawks surrounding him, particularly Bolton, are painting him into a corner – from which he must either back down, or double down, if Iran does not first capitulate.

And here is the point: the main Trump misconception may be that he does believe that Iran wants, and ultimately, ‘will seek a deal’. Really?