56 Comments

Great essay. Makes a lot of what is not understandable otherwise perfectly clear, and not just with regard to China. Europe’s behavior regarding Ukraine was unfathomable to me until I read this. The US Empire is exactly what Mearscheimer (sp?) says it is. As your former PM Whitlam found out 40+ years ago. As an American, all that I can say is...nothing, really. Sorry won’t cut it. What a horror show.

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Americans are being fed the China lie, too, just as we were the Russian, Iraq, Iran, etc. so weary of this crap!

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To the north of the great Satan lies Canada. Same shit applies. They wanted our resources. And we were told by the USA to shut it down to face severe consequences. We did not. They sent environazis and got Trudeau elected.

Forget China. The USA is the enemy of everyone.

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You've said it before, Caitlin. The trouble with Australia is America. Restated today in no uncertain terms supported by the intelligent words of John Mearsheimer.

The feeble politician in Canberra went to the cricket then signed Australia away forever the next day.

Albabese should have stayed at the cricket in India. We might have won that game. We lost the one in the USA, and how.

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Mar 14, 2023·edited Mar 14, 2023

I think the outcome in Ukraine will very much determine what our policies will be in regard to China, and whether we continue to pursue a hegemonic agenda in this world. Hopefully it will not be a win for the US, and hopefully will result in a lot of negative feedback from NATO countries which might encourage us to adopt a more humanitarian policy, or a more practical one in terms of dealing with the world. We proclaim our sensitivity to systemic injustices and prejudices yet we threaten entire countries that we are in alignment with, like Australia, and demand they do our bidding, or else. I guess if a country could be defined in human terms we suffer from anti social personality disorder. We feel no guilt, no remorse, nor empathy. We're reckless, impulsive, exploitive , deceitful, and negate and violate the rights of others. America needs to step aside and do some soul searching, before we destroy this world.

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“It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal”

Henry Kissinger, 1968.

And that has not changed.

One day our Pollies are kissing China behinds with trade this and new markets that. But the next day we are AUKUS this and US integration that.

Where does Aus sit?

Oh and did you see how we have gone to a nuclear country now? No one, not even you Caitlin, pickup up on that little detail. No one has said Boo about it.

Aus is now a nuclear powered Armed Force. Never before have we been that. Never.

Next step, with US integration, is nuclear weapons.

Doomed is what we are.

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Well, Mearsheimer's right: Australia seems to have few options: If it becomes too much of a nuisance under US tutelage, China might decide it's a thorn in their flesh, cut it loose, and it would have to go the default austerity route (are wallabies edible?) with GDP invested into US MIC weapons and subs of no constructive value, even in a shooting war ( I mean, get real - that would be the gateway to hell) : adjust to a very low standard of living, and forget national pride, that's not for the likes of lackeys. On the plus side, it might avoid a trip to the US woodshed. And there is no guarantee of that, even. Either that or it aligns with a powerful country that has a dependable rule of law, and isn't out to screw it: China. Not an easy choice. but I know what I would choose. The Global South's sun is rising. But just maybe, Australia is a master at balancing acts, and it can have it all.

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The US sure is a terrible ally. With friends like that who needs enemies.

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I know next to nothing about Australia, but I know more about the tiny island nation on America's doorstep, Cuba, which, for over sixty-years, has steadfastly and successfully resisted not only the U.S.'s attempts at overthrow, but also its attempts at assassination. Unlike Cuba, Australia has the advantage of distance and the protection of a powerful potential ally: China. In any case, the best hope for Australia and the world is for the western nations to form an alliance of resistance to the U.S. that no longer allows itself to be bullied. American's know all too well the catch-22 of remaining in the U.S. to be victims of its shitty domestic policy, or go abroad and be victim to its repressive foreign policy. The question for everyone involved is: is it better to suffer obeying a cruel lunatic or suffer resisting him? Cuba made that choice long ago and they're still doing it -- in the face of the beast itself -- and if that small island can do it all on its own, so can Australia and everyone else, especially if they unite.

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I would just like to say, F**K the Empire, F**K its billionaire masters, and F**K its parasitic managers.

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There is only one way to deal successfully with bullies. Just look at Cuba.

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"And when we are not happy you do not want to underestimate how nasty we can be. Just ask Fidel Castro.”" Or Germany about Nordstream! And the glove haven't even come off yet!

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Well that just makes me even more disgusted that this filth is allowed to do such a thing! It is unfortunate that perhaps Australia doesn't have the protection of the Chinese and a few of their bases because it would have been an entirely different conversation then wouldn't it have! This is a very excellent piece of information here Caitlin clearly showing the beast for what it is. It also verifies my claim that War is for rich filth to get richer using the blood of the poor! This is a rich company being protected not the people of the country! Gas! These are companies that are being protected in wars around the world using the poor people of the world to do it! They even make us pay for their protection! Anytime the US claims it's in the interest of the country it's only in the interest of. 05% of the country! These people are parasites of the worse sort.

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The fear behind the support Washington position, and fear is the right word, is not that China is fixing to attack, but that China represents no freedom. Some anonymous bureaucrat decides how much of what you earn goes to the state, and how little you get to keep. Individuals in China are invisible. That massive population toils to enrich an all-powerful, tiny minority. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR??

On the other hand, China’s military budget is minuscule, it has 3 foreign military bases, and it is communist. So American propaganda, as it diverts taxpayer monies to its war machine, goes full/tilt big lie mode. The government that has turned its back on its huge majority somehow gets their gung-ho, emotional, if irrational, complete undiscriminating support. Because they believe they are free. Truth is stranger than bull__it.

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The US really can't do shit, for the exact reason you frequently mention: there's no way to stuff US aggression against Australia into the narrative. Australia already almost doesn't need US trade and it will soon be entirely irrelevant. If the Saudis can tell the US to fuck off Australia certainly can.

The actual problem is simply that the leadership is entirely sold out, and as usual this is mostly a consequence of the almost total lack of real political competition. rangevoting.org

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A good read to understand exactly what Mearsheimer was driving at with the Castro remark is John Perkins' book "Confessions of an Economic Hitman".

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