"In many cases, the West is more than happy to turn a blind eye."
Or actively connive to overthrow popular governments to grab fossil fuels, such as Mohammad Mossadegh's in Iran in 1953, precipitating a saga of misery which is still unfolding as we speak?
Sending you warmest solidarity wishes in these darkly barbaric times! 😃🏴☠️
Brilliant and brutal, Grace. This is exactly the sort of systems-level clarity the moment demands. As you rightly point out, the machinery of fossil capitalism is operating precisely as it is designed.
We recently published something aligned from another angle, on the UK’s preservationist state, and how media narratives protect the unproductive elite while pushing fear downstream. Would love to hear your thoughts, and open to cross-threaded dialogue. Link here if helpful:
Such an important update thank you Grace. Working the chemicals industry as I do, the fear and wilful blindness of business to the realities that you explain couldn’t be more clear. But hey, I bet the US military don’t need to get an EvoVadis gold standard to get access to funding !
After reading this, which is a bravura presentation of the truth of the matter, I found myself struggling a bit to stay afloat emotionally. And I'm no weakling. How I wish that our current crisis would result in some serious and sustained enthusiasm for Democratic Socialism of some appropriate sort for the US, and that electable candidates would emerge onto the stage for us to get behind. And meanwhile, we will continue to rely on you truthtellers. Please consider, when you can, pointing us in appropriate directions to help us leverage ourselves out of the petro-military industrial spoilers of our planet.
Many thanks. This lifted me up. I have at times imagined that fundamental change would rise up naturally, and powerfully--sort of (I'm embarrassed to admit) by some sort of quantum field magic. You clarified for me that the magic will most likely take hold not so much all at once, as via those sorts of experiments that spring from a concrete and local effort at genuine, heartfelt, and most of all understandable, and based on that fragile but oh-so-necessary element of trust. I am envisioning, now, a snowballing effect as a genuine possibility. We might need to suffer a bit more in order for our old ideas to totally bite the dust, but I can see this happening. Please keep reminding us not only who we are, but who we can become.
Love how the German Greens are so hyped on re-militarization.
To be fair, it’s really the Green politicians who are. The average Green voters I’ve spoken to, at least the old ones who make up the party’s base, are not so keen on this. But they are a religious cult. They are like the American Democratic loyalist voters. One old Green I talked to insisted “the Greens” aren’t pro-military, “that’s only the party’s political leadership!” I was like, you dumbfuck! Don’t you realize that is what you are voting for? No one cares what you think after you’ve cast your vote.
Excellent and accurate as always. The movie Syriana, based on former CIA case officer Robert Baer’s book “See No Evil” is ever present in my mind. Great post. Thanks.
It’s really another wonderful piece of writing by Grace.It’s short but insightful.It’s a cool-headed analysis of the power relations between military-industrial complex,the fossil-fuel companies,the business model of global capitalism and killing machine of capitalist state apparatus.The shining point of Grace’s writing is that it does not convey a sense of justice by venting unquenchable anger,instead,through rational,argumentative and logical reasoning with statistics,Grace gradually takes us to see the true facts of our brutal world.
Our young people with idealism and commitment to social progress should unite together to do something meaningful collectively.The unholy alliance of military-industrial complex or any other alliance of vested interest may be only defeated by collective resistant efforts.And those progressive or critical scholarship of humanities and social sciences should be spread far and wide to equip the young people with revolutionary awareness and critical ideas about capitalism,and then more and more waves of radical young people may wake up to demand the overthrow of any unjust and oppressive politicians or exploitative systems and yearn for the alternatives that can deliver to them overwhelming human dignity.
The popularization of the critical and progressive scholarship of humanities and social sciences is a key issue and can play have a tremendous impact on calling for social movements.The critical thoughts shouldn’t be confined within the ivory tower with limited readers.Equipped with them,young people then can have the confidence,courage,ability and wisdom to make progressive social changes,fight for social justice,defend for their own dignity and protect others who are suffering from mistreatment,dehumanization,discrimination and various forms of injustice.
Two world wars (so far) over control of the ME for oil. Every democratic movement in the ME has been crushed starting with Iran 1953. The Mossad created along with the West Islamic fundamentalism from the Muslim Brotherhood to turn back Pan Arabism to the current Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade to replace the Hamas created to destroy the PLO. Where did the Baathists come from? So not only Islamists but any authoritarians to stop the left.
Oil money also fuels Wall St. The Midnight Oil Collective has all the receipts leading to Gulf War I. Now Silicon Valley has attached itself to the MIC with automated killing, it looks more and more like we'll need Ned Ludd to take it to these AI server rooms before we have any chance for a livable planet (on the surface).
Thank you for this! Spot on analysis. While reading it, I also found myself wondering if/ how the increasing economic might of China may re-jig things for Saudi Arabia and the other oil producing Gulf monarchies. Do you think China's rise may change anything fundamental for the political and security arrangements in this region? If so, what could the knock-on effects be on the relationship you highlight in your post?
Hi Grace,
Have you seen Abby Martin's new film project on the climate impact/footprint of the US Military: "Earth's Greatest Enemy?"
Trailer: https://youtu.be/YX3aAnGwmLo
Website: https://earthsgreatestenemy.com/
Coverage: https://peaceandplanetnews.org/abby-martins-new-film-earths-greatest-enemy/
She's also interviewed on the most recent episode of Peter Jospeh's Revolution Now: https://youtu.be/QySKXfvFwsQ
Looks great thanks! I’ll check it out
"In many cases, the West is more than happy to turn a blind eye."
Or actively connive to overthrow popular governments to grab fossil fuels, such as Mohammad Mossadegh's in Iran in 1953, precipitating a saga of misery which is still unfolding as we speak?
Sending you warmest solidarity wishes in these darkly barbaric times! 😃🏴☠️
Ditto
Brilliant and brutal, Grace. This is exactly the sort of systems-level clarity the moment demands. As you rightly point out, the machinery of fossil capitalism is operating precisely as it is designed.
We recently published something aligned from another angle, on the UK’s preservationist state, and how media narratives protect the unproductive elite while pushing fear downstream. Would love to hear your thoughts, and open to cross-threaded dialogue. Link here if helpful:
https://andiikirwan.substack.com/p/if-you-started-from-scratch-would
Thanks!
Andy
Such an important update thank you Grace. Working the chemicals industry as I do, the fear and wilful blindness of business to the realities that you explain couldn’t be more clear. But hey, I bet the US military don’t need to get an EvoVadis gold standard to get access to funding !
Thanks Garry, I can imagine you see it all!
Excellent piece. Thank you Grace.
Thanks!
After reading this, which is a bravura presentation of the truth of the matter, I found myself struggling a bit to stay afloat emotionally. And I'm no weakling. How I wish that our current crisis would result in some serious and sustained enthusiasm for Democratic Socialism of some appropriate sort for the US, and that electable candidates would emerge onto the stage for us to get behind. And meanwhile, we will continue to rely on you truthtellers. Please consider, when you can, pointing us in appropriate directions to help us leverage ourselves out of the petro-military industrial spoilers of our planet.
Please stay hopeful! Maybe this will help? https://substack.com/@graceblakeley/p-159866997
Many thanks. This lifted me up. I have at times imagined that fundamental change would rise up naturally, and powerfully--sort of (I'm embarrassed to admit) by some sort of quantum field magic. You clarified for me that the magic will most likely take hold not so much all at once, as via those sorts of experiments that spring from a concrete and local effort at genuine, heartfelt, and most of all understandable, and based on that fragile but oh-so-necessary element of trust. I am envisioning, now, a snowballing effect as a genuine possibility. We might need to suffer a bit more in order for our old ideas to totally bite the dust, but I can see this happening. Please keep reminding us not only who we are, but who we can become.
Love how the German Greens are so hyped on re-militarization.
To be fair, it’s really the Green politicians who are. The average Green voters I’ve spoken to, at least the old ones who make up the party’s base, are not so keen on this. But they are a religious cult. They are like the American Democratic loyalist voters. One old Green I talked to insisted “the Greens” aren’t pro-military, “that’s only the party’s political leadership!” I was like, you dumbfuck! Don’t you realize that is what you are voting for? No one cares what you think after you’ve cast your vote.
Excellent, and terrifying. Thank you.
Right on Grace. Revolution time.
Excellent and accurate as always. The movie Syriana, based on former CIA case officer Robert Baer’s book “See No Evil” is ever present in my mind. Great post. Thanks.
It’s really another wonderful piece of writing by Grace.It’s short but insightful.It’s a cool-headed analysis of the power relations between military-industrial complex,the fossil-fuel companies,the business model of global capitalism and killing machine of capitalist state apparatus.The shining point of Grace’s writing is that it does not convey a sense of justice by venting unquenchable anger,instead,through rational,argumentative and logical reasoning with statistics,Grace gradually takes us to see the true facts of our brutal world.
Our young people with idealism and commitment to social progress should unite together to do something meaningful collectively.The unholy alliance of military-industrial complex or any other alliance of vested interest may be only defeated by collective resistant efforts.And those progressive or critical scholarship of humanities and social sciences should be spread far and wide to equip the young people with revolutionary awareness and critical ideas about capitalism,and then more and more waves of radical young people may wake up to demand the overthrow of any unjust and oppressive politicians or exploitative systems and yearn for the alternatives that can deliver to them overwhelming human dignity.
The popularization of the critical and progressive scholarship of humanities and social sciences is a key issue and can play have a tremendous impact on calling for social movements.The critical thoughts shouldn’t be confined within the ivory tower with limited readers.Equipped with them,young people then can have the confidence,courage,ability and wisdom to make progressive social changes,fight for social justice,defend for their own dignity and protect others who are suffering from mistreatment,dehumanization,discrimination and various forms of injustice.
Two world wars (so far) over control of the ME for oil. Every democratic movement in the ME has been crushed starting with Iran 1953. The Mossad created along with the West Islamic fundamentalism from the Muslim Brotherhood to turn back Pan Arabism to the current Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade to replace the Hamas created to destroy the PLO. Where did the Baathists come from? So not only Islamists but any authoritarians to stop the left.
Oil money also fuels Wall St. The Midnight Oil Collective has all the receipts leading to Gulf War I. Now Silicon Valley has attached itself to the MIC with automated killing, it looks more and more like we'll need Ned Ludd to take it to these AI server rooms before we have any chance for a livable planet (on the surface).
Hi Grace,
Thank you for this! Spot on analysis. While reading it, I also found myself wondering if/ how the increasing economic might of China may re-jig things for Saudi Arabia and the other oil producing Gulf monarchies. Do you think China's rise may change anything fundamental for the political and security arrangements in this region? If so, what could the knock-on effects be on the relationship you highlight in your post?
Then I’d be very happy to dismantle it.