I find commendable that, instead of digging in and continuing to perpetuate his predictions (or in the case of others, blind allegiance), he spent time to better inform his opinion and amended it publicly

 

I like Macrovoices for listening to smart people that are really plugged in to their area of expertise. They always seem to assume that rational decisions are being made. I think that is where there is a disconnect at times, particularly with this administration and current world leadership. They have spent over a year saying how we are in a headline driven economy, which is true, but each week they are trying to figure out how that headline is tied to a super long term strategy chess move that “makes sense.” While it is nice to hear talk that tries to read between the lines as opposed to getting bogged down on rhetoric, I think we are actually being lead around by headline seeking leaders, which is kind of what happens in a populist cycle.

All that said, I do agree that somehow this will calm down in shorter order than the worst feared. Globalization isn’t some tree hugger love everyone plan, it’s economic mutual destruction built in to combat the threat of nuclear powers. Which is why this wave of isolationism is such a threat, and why things are so difficult at the moment. But there is a reason that the world has ticked on with a war going in Eastern Europe, and many other destabilizing situations on numerous continents, the world needs to keep trade open more than they hate each other. It’s a weird peace but honestly it’s been working for 80 years. This situation though is exactly why Iran has been treated with kids gloves for so long.

 

B@t$hit crazy religious fanatics far away can be more easily tolerated BEFORE they get ICBMs and nuclear warheads. Even my most gun hugger second amendment zealot acquaintances don’t think even NORMAL people really ought to have nukes, far less the Twelfth Imam crowd.

 

Since you brought up religious fanatics, can you speak to the meaning of some of the Secretary Defense’s tattoos? There were also reports of some US Commander telling troops that ‘the President has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth’”. Seems far fetched to me, but I guess it could be true.

 

Ain’t got a clue. Don’t have any tattoos personally, never saw the advantage of them. Got a heavily tattooed Samoan friend though - it’s part of his culture. Nice guy with a nice family. But not a religious zealot.

The world has its fair share of religious and just plain crazy weirdos. But the US - for all its “one nation under God” - isn’t a theocracy and never has been. Iran is.

 

We're flirting with theocracy in the US though. And Israel is even more so.

 

You need to understand the context under which Gramsci wrote that.

 

While I'd love to argue over this, but let's not go down this road. WAY beyond the scope for APC, and will quickly cross the line into violations of the Forum Rules.

 

I never do walk-arounds

 

The 757 is a horrible plane