Shakenstir » Trump, Drunk On Power

Trump, Drunk On Power

Then there is Gaza and the West Bank (currently also being destroyed by Israel). Israel is guilty of annihilating the people and the place. Gaza is in ruins and it’s now clear that this was Netanyahu’s objective all along. And in the process Israel killed over 61,000 Palestinians, injured over 120,000, destroyed 60-70% of homes and destroyed key infrastructure including vital water supply. There was no limit set for the use of Israel’s bombs, America’s bombs. Schools, hospitals, churches - all destroyed in the name of removing Hamas (who still exist). And we all watched as it happened hoping that the powers-that-be would step in and halt the massacre.

Despite decades of repression and dispossesion, it was wrong of Hamas to massacre Israeli’s and take hostages. It is wrong that Hamas is parading released hostages and coffins in some misguided show of triumph. It is wrong of Hamas to treat hostages in the same way as Israel is treating Palestinian prisoners, and the image of the last 3 released thin and weak Israeli hostages will do nothing to enhanse the Palestinian cause.

Are we to accept, without question, the Israeli claim that the four dead hostages were executed by Hamas? Where is the evidence? Isn’t it a probability that it was Israeli bombs and bullets that caused the deaths? The bodies should have been investigated by a neutral source…

Israel have questions to answer…

The Trump Response

While Trump, with unrestrained swipes of his notorious Sharpies, issues over seventy Executive Orders in his first few weeks in office, more as a dictator than president, he meets his friend Netanyahu to carve up Palestine. And, without conditions and consultation with Ukraine ‘grants’ Putin Ukrainian land and a veto on Ukraine joining NATO, without any authority to do so.

Trump doesn’t mention the destruction, death, injury and illegality undertaken by Putin and Netanyahu who, in Trump’s language, will not be contributing to mending the damage done by these two extreme right-wing, authoritarian leaders. Instead it is for other innocent parties who will be burdened by the estimated $53 billion cost of rebuilding Gaza alone, and much more than that for rebuilding Ukraine.

The World Response

Europe and its world allies must now join together to resist Trump’s new world order and blatant interpretation of right and wrong. America must be told in no uncertain terms that in taking the stance it will isolate itself from the democratic and rules-based universe. For the next four years appeasement must be off the table replaced by the ugly truth. It is unbelievable to me that a once great ally, in a matter of days, has reverted to an enemy with little protest within the USA. Trump is pandering to those who voted for him and I fear for the internal USA environment and well as the world order. Trump’s response to Climate Change is also at odds with the real threat it represents and is already revealing its ramifications in the USA. And Trump has only just begun!

From the UK’s viewpoint, Starmer must avoid the charm offensive to gain trading favours. Or offer this tyrant a state visit. King Charles should remain detached from Trump and leave it to his politicians to make the right and just decisions on his and our behalf. Europe must speak and act as one if nothing else to show Trump and Putin that Europe represents a powerful force that ultimately will not need the support of the USA in defending its peoples. This will take time and will still need the USA to continue its role in the medium-term, albeit at a reduced level.

Regarding Defence Spending, this reliance on a percentage figure of GDP is a nonsense. What happens if GDP stagnates and even declines? Defence spending reduces rather than increases. The government needs to establish its medium to long-term needs in light of threats and Trump’s actions. This should result in total investment figures regardless of GDP. I suspect that in GDP terms we could be looking at over 3%. And now is the time for Europe to seriously consider a combined ground, air and sea force with its own weaponry. I see no other real option.

Annihilation of People and Places

Whatever happens next, many thousands of lives have been blighted and lost while so many homes have been reduced to rubble, and infrastructure bombed out of existence. Putin and Netanyahu have much to answer for not least for the war crimes of bombing innocent civilians, hospitals, schools and vital services such as water and power. Bombing has been indiscriminate and in the case of Gaza facilitated by the supply of the most deadly armaments by the USA - unconditionally. Trump believes they should secure benefits for their gross illegality and the misery suffered by victims, including in Gaza over 60,000 dead, 120,000 injured - of which seventy percent were women and children. During the Gaza ceasefire Israel’s hate has been redirected to the West Bank with over nine-hundred deaths, with both homes and infrastructure destroyed. Fifty-thousand inhabitants have been forced to leave while Israel continues to bomb Syria and Lebanon.

But despite the atrocities committed by Putin and Netanyahu Trump believes neither should face penalties or be blamed. Both, according to Trump will be rewarded with neither having to pay for the devastation and death caused. Instead, it will be up to other nations to foot the bill for rebuilding. Where’s the justice?