I join Monique Camarra’s Coffee Talk Politics for a 68-minute tour of vital issues in international politics, from the Middle East and Iran to the US to Brexit Britain.
We start with the latest in the UK’s possible cliff-jump out of the European Union, and the challenges for the Biden Administration. Then we go to the ground for insight, examining the latest situation in the European Union, Syria, China, Turkey, and other countries.
On Brexit:
There are too many politicians here in Britain who have tied up their personal political fortunes with the idea that they have to put one over on the Europeans — which is why Prime Minister Johnson, even as we step back from the cliff edge, makes ridiculous statements that the UK must make sure Europe doesn’t walk all over it, and insults German Chancellor Angela Merkel with a reference to Kristallnacht.
On Trump:
If he was not President, some of his actions would be criminal — the Trump-Russia scandal, the Trump-Ukraine scandal — along with the breaking of other international agreements and norms.
So Trump has to double down on us v. them. He cannot back off, because everyone dealing with reality is his enemy.
Scott,
So you think the protesters last year in over 100 hundred cities, getting killed in hundreds if not thousands, merely they wanted a reform from within??? Things are ok for most part just some adjustments needed…
That is an informed view you say.
And in comparison, in 1979 people wanted a regime change??
Anonymous,
Much more than “just some adjustments needed”. But that doesn’t necessarily translate for some Iranians — including friends and acquaintances and including some who were in protests — to a complete change of the system.
S.
“including friends and acquaintances and including some who were in protests”
That is the problem with today’s people’s perspective not just in and about iran. Maybe hang around non-acquaintances and non-friends. There isn’t much point in exchanging ideas among friends, there is a reason you are friends with them. You are like minded. If you want to get the bigger deeper picture, try to understand those that you don’t agree with, even on the far side of spectrum.
And, revolutions don’t happen because people’s first demand is a “complete change”. When a system refuses to make any change, then, the unspoken option is uprooting.
Yes, it is hard to understand iranians, they are a paradox. They tangle themselves in so many spaghetti arguments that lose their sight of way out…
Anonymous,
I also get a lot from non-acquaintances and non-friends, including from feedback like this. Thank you.
Best,
S.