Batang Lalake

 Iran, Venezuela, China and more…

 

I am not one who generally becomes involved in political discussions, particularly on social media, for obvious reasons. However, recently, I have seen many comments from people who clearly have little idea of what is currently occurring on a global geopolitical scale.

With that in mind, I have written this to help clarify, even enlighten, those who are unsure, or have been misguided, or misdirected by the plethora of inaccurate, often pathetic, comments or replies to the serious nature of current events.

I do not give any personal views on any subject. I am simply sharing facts. What you, or anybody, makes, or takes, from the following is each individual's choice. I am not writing to suggest or to influence, just to give an overview, as too many people seem uninformed.

Here we go….

 

First, let me clear the misconceptions about the Iranian conflict currently underway.

This IS NOT a new conflict.

It IS NOT an unprovoked attack.

It IS NOT an attack on the nation of Iran.

It IS NOT a war against the Persian people. (inc. Kurds, Azeris, Lurs, and Baloch.)

IT IS a direct attack on the fundamental Islamic regime that took power and formed the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979.

Most people do not realise Iran's war on the United States began decades ago, not in 2001, not in 2023, but in 1979.

Fifty-two Americans seized in Tehran, blindfolded, bound, held for four hundred and forty-four days while the world watched the United States humiliated on television.

Then came January 20^th, 1981, when Ronald Regan took the oath of office. Within hours, the hostages were released. No last-minute deal, no diplomacy, only one change, Iran believed America would now act.

But attacks kept coming. In 1983, the US embassy in Beirut was destroyed. 17 Americans were killed.

Months later, the Marines' barracks were bombed, and 241 Marines were killed in their sleep.  The deadliest Marine loss since Iwo Jima.

1996, Khobar Towers. 19 Air Force personnel were murdered. Hundreds wounded.

History reveals something hard but true: when America's enemies sense hesitation without consequence, they escalate. Not because they are stronger, but because they believe the US will not act.

Then came 9/11. Three-thousand Americans murdered on home soil; firefighters, office workers, mothers, fathers, ordinary citizens. (Tehran is implicated in the Twin Towers tragedy)

In 2023, Iran backed Hamas to carry out the largest massacre of Jews since the holocaust. The same terror network, the same ideology, the same sponsor.

The world needs to understand this deeply.

Peace is not preserved by words alone; it is preserved by strength that enemies recognise. Deterrents work only when those who threaten believe, without doubt, America will act.

When the United States stands firm, terror retreats. Allies stand taller, and freedom is safer.

 

However, Iran is just one stage in a much wider operation.

The central strategic question has always been China.

When one studies the USA’s actions, the pressures, and positioning, a clear logic appears as they understand something fundamental: for the next hundred years of American global leadership, China is the only true challenger.

So, their strategy focuses on the greatest vulnerability of any industrial superpower, energy.

First, Venezuela, by isolating and constraining Venezuelan oil flows, Washington disrupted a major external energy channel that China had spent years cultivating. No Venezuelan oil shipments are firmly under American control.

By the way… Venezuela holds approximately 17% of the world's proven oil reserves, which amounts to about 303 billion barrels. This makes it the country with the largest oil reserves globally, one which is now firmly under American control. (America has no issues with domestic oil supply now, and is not beholden to Middle Eastern supplies.)

Then, Iran, on the surface, US strikes may seem nuclear related, but strategically, it's energy leverage. Because China imports over ten million barrels of oil per day, and China is the primary buyer of Iran's seaborne oil exports.

As nearly one-fifth of the global oil supply moves through a single choke point, the straits of Hormuz, and in geopolitics, geography is destiny. Influence over Iran is influence over the straits of Hormuz. 

Now look at the picture most Americans fail to see, the Venezuelan supply – controlled. Iranian supply - controlled. Middle Eastern flow - monitored and controlled.

Now, imagine China’s position when its major external lifelines fall under American strategic leverage. Factories feel it, heavy industry feels it, AI infrastructure feels it.

This is pressure without direct war. For Washington, a US-aligned Iran tightens energy leverage on Beijing without confronting China directly.

History teaches a simple rule: when you control your challenger's supply lines, the duration of their challenge shrinks dramatically. With relatively few moves, this strategy aims to extend American dominance for generations.

One day, historians may write that this was one of the most consequential grand strategies of the twenty-first century.

 

More.

One year ago, when Donald Trump began his second term, the global balance of power was shifting away from the United States. After Biden's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, US credibility was shaken. China was rising fast, Russia felt bold enough to invade Ukraine, Iran and Venezuela were expanding energy influence, BRICS nations were openly discussing replacing the US Dollar.

By the way… The original BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have run into major issues in forwarding the BRICS initiative, besides the Russian/Ukrainian conflict playing its part.

Since allowing Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, the significant challenges are those of maintaining sovereignty, national priorities, regulatory frameworks, expansion strategy, and consensus-building.

No country wishes to be dominated by a Chinese-controlled currency. They also hold concerns of losing access to the American and allied markets, which many countries could not survive without. China is viewed by many as a manufacturer and exporter, not as a consumer of international productivity. So the loss of markets is a major concern and a massive stumbling block to creating a new international currency to compete against the American dollar.

For the first time in decades, it was believed American leadership was fading. But now, look at the world today, because something profound has changed. The balance of power in the Middle East has been reshaped; Iran’s regional dominance has been shattered. Venezuela’s leverage is contained; two of China’s critical external lifelines are no longer secure or freely aligned with Beijing

Energy is the foundation of industrial power. Without a secure energy supply, China cannot overtake the United States.

Now, look at Russia, instead of expanding influence, Moscow is locked in a grinding war in Ukraine, consuming money, weapons, manpower, and time. All resources which could have fuelled Russian growth are being burned on the battlefield without any progress.

Now, step back and examine this strategically, a deeper question emerges: if the United States truly wanted to force an immediate end to the Ukraine/Russia war, it possesses the leverage and alliances to push both sides towards a settlement. Yet the conflict continues, which leads analysts to a stark conclusion: a prolonged war steadily weakens Russia, draining its military capacity, its economy, and its geopolitical reach.

Every month the war continues, Russia uses resources that cannot be used to challenge American influence elsewhere.

Step back, see the pattern clearly: China constrained, Russia drained, Iran weakened, Venezuela contained.

A side note, but one of importance, is the steps taken to assist America in its strikes on Iran.

During previous engagements, Afghanistan assisted Iran with military aid, weapons, and personnel. To ensure this would not happen during the current action, the USA ensured Afghanistan’s military would be engaged on its southern borders by enlisting the aid of Pakistan.

Pakistan's involvement in the conflict with Iran is linked to its strategic partnership with the US, which reportedly includes providing bases and intelligence for operations targeting Iran. This alignment suggests Pakistan's role may be part of the broader US. strategy in the region during the recent attacks on Iran.

This is a strategic positioning of global scale. In barely over a year, America’s primary challengers have been simultaneously pressured or diverted. The result is unmistakable: US global leadership is no longer declining; it has been reinforced, and only now are many Americans beginning to realise that fact.

 

By the way… according to recent reports and intelligence, the Islamic extremist base is considered to be relocating to Turkey. In some articles, Turkey has recently been described as “The new Iran”.

 

Financials. (For those ‘conspiracy theorists’… who are so often proven correct)

As ever, besides the long-term political power struggle for supreme global domination, there is the shorter-term consideration of cost, recouperation, and profit.

On this note, you may wish to consider the following.

Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard, the world's largest investment portfolio management companies, have large shareholdings in military supply companies, clothing, armour, weapons, inc. rockets, missiles, drones, aircraft, vehicles, and ships, along with satellite, AI, communications, electronic warfare, guidance systems, construction, and more.

In fact, they have a financial interest in anything and everything needed to engage in defensive, aggressive, or covert military action. Basically, anything that can destroy a human, a building, a town, a city, or a country, Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard profit when it is made and deployed.

These same financial giants also have vast sums invested in the world's leading post-conflict reconstruction organisations, including Bechtel, Halliburton, Kellogg Brown & Root, Fluor Corporation, and CH2M Hill,  which secure major governmental contracts for the rebuilding of infrastructure and services in countries and areas devastated by conflict and war. While these companies play a significant role in the recovery efforts of war-torn nations, they generate huge profits for their investors.

So, Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard make money during wars; they make money on the destruction of national infrastructure. They then make money during the rebuilding and reconstruction of nations.

The value of the current conflicts is estimated to be worth about 40 billion in destructive cost, and approximately the same (40 billion) in reconstruction costs.

Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard make money on every single dollar involved.

Whether you think corporations making money from war or reconstruction is right or wrong is your call. The facts are just that. Facts. I am simply reporting public information, not giving my personal opinion.

Anyway, this is a brief, condensed overview of the current world situation. To delve deeper into any aspect would need an entire thesis on each segment. Something I don’t have the time or inclination to write. You can, of course, open your mind, look, study, research and discover many things for yourself. Disregard the media, the social network propaganda, read between the lines, follow the money… who profits, follow the power… who benefits, learn to think for yourself, do not restrict your thoughts to the boundaries promoted.

 

You might be interested in knowing what it is like to be a regular person, a Fred Bloggs, or a Jane Doe living in a warzone, trapped in an area of conflict, or a country at war.

If so, read ‘Life in the War Zone’. (UPDATED 2024)

Life in the War Zone is a collection of poignant, eye-opening stories and articles based on true experiences from major war zones around the globe. Each story and article is formed from interviews, discussions, reports, and dialogue from those affected by conflict.

Life in the War Zone brings you the emotional truth about the effects and the long-lasting legacy of pain and suffering, to both combat troops and innocent civilian lives, devastated by war and armed conflict. Revealed are the cold, hard facts; tales from the front line; situations you may not believe are true. Yet these things have happened and are still happening.

For many, the fight continues long after the last shots of the battle have been fired. Physical trauma, disability, and PTSD linger for years, even entire lifetimes, following conflict and struggle. These are the sad facts of modern warfare.

“In war, there are no unwounded”

Life in the War Zone, by Paul White.

Amazon UK https://amzn.to/4l2HkxD

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Life-War-Zone-collection-personal/dp/1542338700