Friends + Interlocutors,

Well here’s a welcomed straw in the wind. Supposedly, reportedly, the long-trumpeted “pivot to Asia” is off. It must have finally occurred to someone somewhere in Washington that the declared target, the “great enemy” China, cannot be bullied. Those days are gone. In any event, the U.S. Treasury cannot afford such a grandiose adventure, another crusade to nowhere. Thank God we have come to our senses. At least for the moment.

The internationalist and globalist Financial Times is my source. Specifically, the Grand Poobah of "Swamp Notes", Ms. Rana Foroohar. According to her, Washington strategists have concluded, “…the U.S. simply does not have enough military capacity to protect the world anymore.” Egads! So a reimagined “Monroe Doctrine” is in the cards. Makes sense. South America is more amenable to being kicked around. 

The non-pivot to Asia must be a bitter sweet pill for Rana and the neo-liberal/neocon gang. She sees risks for an “isolationist” comeback. OMG! Anytime common sense is applied to U.S. foreign policy, self-satisfied establishment commentators scream, “isolationism!” and run for cover.  

It’s like when someone objects to the slavish U.S. relationship with Israel. Of course that objection must be “anti-semitism!” In short, common sense be damned! No mid-course correction allowed to prevent America from self-destruction!

Patrick

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