Desperate and flagrant actions are being taken by the Trump administration—at whose behest we do not know—but these should not be confused as successful interventions. Rather, they are a bald-faced attempt to force the world into a shape in which it will never bend.
In Southwest Asia, heavy words continue to be levelled against Iran, with many suspecting an American attack may be imminent. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned today that any U.S. attack on the country will start a regional war, to which Trump responded that if Iran doesn’t make a deal, “then we’ll find out whether or not he was right.” There is also talk that negotiations may be close to getting underway, with officials from both the U.S. and Iran saying as much. However, there is no indication that the Trump administration recognizes Iran’s demand for the peaceful use of its nuclear industry, and beyond that, everyone remembers what Trump’s notion of “negotiations” refers to after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and last year’s attack on Iran.
Shockingly, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced that the UN is on the verge of running out of money. In a letter to all member states, Guterres warned that the organization is facing “imminent financial collapse,” and could run out of money as soon as July. This follows the decision by the Trump administration to pull out of 66 international organizations last month, including 31 UN organizations, thereby collapsing the contributions by the UN’s largest donor. Along with Trump’s so-called Board of Peace, which makes no secret about challenging the UN’s central role, this latest news appears to be another blow against this important organization.
One might be tempted to feel demoralized by these and related developments. Or, conversely, to feel the need to contort oneself to make excuses for them, because “the alternative is even worse.” But it’s important to remind oneself: There is a limit to the tyrant’s power. Plus, reality is not necessarily convinced.
Aside from the massive outcry from around the world at Trump’s actions in Venezuela and Iran, and his threatened actions against Cuba and Greenland, let’s look at the supposed “great economic recovery” in the United States. According to a recent EIR report, despite Trump’s efforts to impose tariffs and reduce America’s trade deficit, the deficit instead rose over the past year by 4%. Additionally, of the roughly $250 billion accrued in tariffs since then (not even enough to pay one quarter of that year’s interest payments on the U.S.’ national debt), 96% of that has been paid by American businesses and consumers—hardly a success! Further, the proclaimed great rise in manufacturing jobs has actually seen a shrinkage for 11 of the past 12 months. This is not even to mention the unpayable $2.4 quadrillion in fictitious financial assets consuming the Western financial system.
Then, in the background of that embarrassing failure, the world is undergoing a transformation. The Global Majority is quickly moving into a post-colonial era, rejecting forever the methods of global hegemons which had previously been tolerated for centuries. Even if set back, the aspirations of these nations will not be stopped. Consider the remarks of Russia’s Security Council Chairman Sergey Shoigu and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing on Feb. 1. “We are interested in shaping a just multipolar world order, countering neocolonial practices, and building an architecture of equal and indivisible security across the entire Eurasian territory,” Shoigu said. Wang agreed, adding that the post-WWII order has been “subjected to serious shocks,” in the recent weeks. Despite this, he said, Russia and China are committed to “shaping a more just and rational system of global governance.”
The point should be clear enough: The world, and the West in particular, is in urgent need of real leadership. A key initiative in this regard is the recently released statement, “Let Us Create a Movement of World Citizens!” by a number of leading figures internationally, which proposes “the creation of a World Civil Society Initiative.” The declaration puts forward several proposals for the “reconstruction of the world system,” as part of the creation of a new international security and development architecture. This document is being circulated internationally for endorsement and urgent action, so add your name and organize for its realization.
