In other words, some of the factors that make a successful foreign war unlikely push towards the strategy of inviting turmoil into the United States and then seeking to use it.
💬 Timothy Snyder
Consider that in the wake of the national security announcement from Tяump and The Tяump Аппаратчик
What’s most striking to me about this document isn’t any specific policies, but what it reveals about values. Increasingly, the United States and Europe don’t share them. This reflects a change in America far more than a change in Europe. Trump sees a G-Zero world ruled by the law of the jungle, where might makes right and everything can be bought. For all its flaws, institutional quirks, and bureaucratic sclerosis, the European Union stands for something else: rule of law, liberal democracy, human rights, multilateralism. You can roll your eyes at that list all you want, but it’s the foundation of the entire European project. Heck, it’s why America built the transatlantic alliance in the first place. (The alternative, two world wars, didn’t work out too well for anyone.) And it’s now in direct tension with what Washington is selling.
💬 Ian Bremmer
🔗 Full Piece which also includes this reminder …
The only time NATO’s Article 5 has ever been invoked was by the United States, after September 11, 2001. Every European ally came to America’s defense despite different approaches to free speech, regulation, and countless other policy disagreements. They showed up, fought, and died alongside Americans in Afghanistan.
💬 Ian Bremmer
So … Europe is the enemy, China - despite rhetoric seem to be closer and Russia - with no cards but all the influence - blood brothers.
I would note that …
Together, the EU countries hold more US debt than Japan and China put together - to the tune of $2 maybe 2.5 trillion. - well above twice that of China - and that doesn’t include the UK who is in the same ball park as China all by itself.
All that wringing of hands a few months ago about China selling its debt and now we have this.
Of course - they didn’t.
No economist in this house - but I do wonder when a country - any country - will get to do something radical rather than putting up with this shit.
🔗 If your marketing isn’t working
If you’re struggling selling the thing you made, it’s worth reconsidering the audience, the promise and the change you seek to make–and then be honest with your team about whether your offering is actually remarkable, or just the best you could do with what you had.
💬 Seth Godin
I was once out to dinner several years ago with about ten really well-known drummers, all of whom I have enormous respect for and admire. For some reason, we got onto the subject of Van Morrison. One of them said, “Hands up everyone who’s been fired by Van Morrison!” And nine out of ten put their hands up into the air. The only time I played with him, I wasn’t being paid, so he couldn’t fire me. Things like that definitely bring you together to the brotherhood.
💬 Nick Mason
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💬 I never met him - but I sure do miss Kevin.
