pcr is afraid that the empire will come out on top after all of 'our' war; 

 

We are facing Satan’s Victory

Paul Craig Roberts

As readers know, I am disappointed in US, European, British, Russian, and Iranian foreign policy analysts inside and outside of government, and most likely also the Chinese if I knew more about them.  They dwell in false narratives that John Helmer terms “hopium.”

Opposed to the false narratives stand myself, John Helmer, and Gilbert Doctorow, three against many.  I hesitate to speak for the three of us, but it comes down to this. The US is winning, because Putin has pissed away Washington’s belief in Russia’s deterrent capability by permitting a low level conflict to persist for 4.5 years, long enough for the world to conclude that Putin is not a meaningful combatant as his red lines have never been enforced.  The Russian conflict with Ukraine, which could have been easily and quickly won had Putin been prepared, which he wasn’t, instead stupidly trusting the West in the Minsk Agreement, has expanded dramatically. The war front is no longer a Donbas village; it is deep inside the Russian territory. Oil production and refining have been disrupted. Shortages are appearing, and reportedly Russia is seeking to import diesel fuel and gasoline.  Two formerly neutral European countries have joined NATO, and Latvia and Finland have abandoned their long-standing position and announced willingness to host US nuclear weapons in their countries on Russia’s borders.  All the while Putin maintains his foreign policy of “trust in Trump.” There is no indication that the Russian leadership has any comprehension that Russia is in an existential war.

The same in Iran.  The Iranian leadership has been manipulated into fighting a war not with its enemy–Israel–but with Israel’s proxy–Donald Trump.  While Americans and Iranians pound each other in a game of tit-for-tat, Israel remains untouched. The longer Iran plays this mindless game, the more time the Israeli-Americans have to  organize Iran’s defeat..........more..........