A Changing of World Order
Jeremiah 25:32 New American Standard Bible 1995
“32 Thus says the Lord of hosts,
“Behold, evil is going forth
From nation to nation,
And a great storm is being stirred up
From the remotest parts of the earth.””
Jeremiah was a prophet between 627 and 574 BC. The world that Jeremiah knew was much different than the world we know today. I am not an expert in the field but perceive the world that Jeremiah was aware of consisted of parts of Africa, Asia, and possibly Europe.
That is not to say that other civilizations did not exist at that time but only that his perception of the world was much smaller than ours today. Knowledge has increased greatly since his time, and we now know the full extent of the earth. We know the countries that exist and their geographical locations.
When this prophesy was set forth Jeremiah had no idea what “the remotest parts of the earth” encompassed. His personal knowledge of the remotest parts was very limited.
There have always been people who desire power, and wealth. To attain power meant that some people must be subservient to others. Some people are subservient by choice and others are forced to be subservient. Perception from the worlds perspective is that the more people you control the more power you have.
Power can be maintained by fear. If people fear you, they are less likely to fight for their rights but acquiesce to demands of the powerful.
If powerful individuals or nations believe their rights, or privileges have been usurped they will react in retaliation through the best means at their disposal.
The struggle for power can make nations walk on a tightrope.
In the past the desire for power has led to war and death of many innocent people.
During World War II there were two major coalitions. The Alliance which was comprised of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and the United States. The Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan.
NATO was formed in 1949 “to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration.” Today NATO has thirty member nations. Since World War II European nations have in part counted on NATO and the United States for security from nations that would like to infringe on their sovereignty.
The United States has been a stabilizing force in Europe, but some nations today would like to supplant that force, particularly China, North Korea, and Russia.
There have always been wars. There are still wars. But times are changing. Tools used for warfare have changed. There are tools never dreamt of in Jeremiah’s day.
Jeremiah could not envision an atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, hypersonic weapons of mass destruction. Satellites that could surveille the world twenty-four hours a day three hundred and sixty-five days a year. He could not foresee biological weapons. God could. God could see the evil in men’s hearts that would want them to gain supremacy over fellow men through these means.
There are two spiritual kingdoms at war in the world. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. Satan is on a short leash. Knowing his days are numbered he is spewing forth evil as fast as he can.
He is creating disagreements and contention between nations.
Within the last few months, we have seen this. The frequency is speeding up.
France and United States
France was offended when Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States entered an agreement for the U.S. to supply nuclear submarines to Australia. This undercut an ongoing agreement for France to supply submarines to Australia. One must ask why the United States was not aware of the French-Australian agreement and the potential harm it would have on relations between France and the United States.
“PARIS — Calling American and Australian behavior “unacceptable between allies and partners,” France announced on Friday that it was recalling its ambassadors to both countries in protest over President Biden’s decision to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.” By Roger Cohen and Michael D. Shear Published Sept. 17, 2021 Updated Sept. 23, 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/17/world/europe/france-ambassador-recall-us-australia.html
“France will send its ambassador back to Washington next week after French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden agreed in a phone call to meet next month over a submarine dispute.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-23/france-to-return-ambassador-to-united-states/100484598
That does not negate the offense France felt. What did President Biden offer them to assuage anger?
China, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and United States
The issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty is debated today. China views Taiwan as a province that should fall under the Chinese umbrella. Taiwan has its own government. In past years Taiwan was a member of the United Nations. The General Assembly decided in 1971 the Peoples Republic of China (communist China) best represented the Chinese people. China is now war mongering to bring Taiwan under communist control. It wants control of the semiconductor industry of Taiwan. This industry is important globally and the free world needs free and fair access to these semiconductors. “Taiwan is critical to the global high-tech economy and a hub of travel, culture, and education. We are among the many UN member states who view Taiwan as a valued partner and trusted friend.” https://www.state.gov/supporting-taiwans-participation-in-the-un-system/
“Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan, and Beijing needs to understand this, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday.” https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/01/japan-us-could-not-stand-by-if-china-attacked-taiwan-shinzo-abe-.html
“Taiwan’s defense minister said Monday that the island nation’s armed forces have the capability to respond to aggression from China’s military amid heightened tensions between the two countries.” https://nypost.com/2021/11/29/taiwan-defense-minister-says-island-can-counter-chinas-military/
“China warns World War Three could be triggered 'at any time' after it sent dozens of warplanes into Taiwan's airspace as Big Lizzie joins TWO US carriers and Japanese warships in huge Philippine sea exercise” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10063171/China-warns-World-War-Three-triggered-time.html By CHRIS JEWERS and ROSS IBBETSON FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 19:52 EST, 5 October 2021 | UPDATED: 11:18 EST, 6 October 2021
In October China and Russia held naval drills which almost completely surrounded Japan. “For China, Russia is the biggest supplier of its weapons and the second-largest source of its oil imports. And for Russia, China is its top country trading partner and a key source of investment in its energy projects, including the Yamal LNG plant in the Arctic Circle and the Power of Siberia pipeline, a $55bn gas project that is the largest in Russian history.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/25/why-are-russia-and-china-strengthening-ties
Russia, Syria, Ukraine, United States
Russia has close to ninety-thousand troops near the Ukraine border today December 8, 2021. Russia views the Ukrainians as Russians, and it doesn’t like the western influence. It wants access to the Ukraine gas pipelines and wants to prevent a Eurasian Union. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/seven-reasons-why-russia-wants-keep-ukraine-all-itself-n33391
“Russia warns U.S. to stay away for its "own good" as Ukraine standoff intensifies” BY ALEXANDRA ODYNOVA APRIL 14, 2021 / 11:07 AM / CBS NEWS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-united-states-standoff-fears/
Russia does not like the United State presence in Syria and is pushing for the removal of troops. That would give them the political power they need to fully control Assad.
“OPINION Biden must heed Russia's latest threat to US forces in Syria” by Tom Rogan, National Security Writer and Contributors Editor | | August 10, 2021 12:33 PM https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-heed-russias-latest-threat-to-us-forces-in-syria
December 26th Russia announced that it would have ten thousand troops return to their home stations. That leaves about eighty thousand left at the Ukraine border. Russia does not want Ukraine to become a member of NATO. Yet Ukraine is hardly in a position to defend itself. Citizens are willing to take up arms to defend the Ukraine from Russia. Yet Russia is trying to blame the United States for the issues between Ukraine and Russia. Putin is saying he doesn’t want war but continues to move soldiers and artillery to the border. This can be seen from satellite images.
Belarus, Poland, Russia, United States
“Russia and Belarus have a union agreement envisaging close political, economic and military ties. Moscow has staunchly backed Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko amid Western sanctions triggered by Belarusian authorities’ crackdown on protests following his re-election to a sixth term in an August 2020. Belarus’ opposition and the West rejected the election as a sham.” https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-poland-moscow-belarus-103e9ad870bfe10f08e2455da8a517d0
“The European Union accuses Belarus of flying in thousands of people from the Middle East and pushing them to cross into EU and NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, in response to European sanctions.” … “I think that the things that unfold before our eyes, these dramatic events, may only be a prelude to something much worse,” Morawiecki said in Vilnius.
He pointed to increased Russian military presence close to Ukraine, as well as in Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave which borders Poland and Lithuania, as “an instrument which could be used directly for a direct attack.”
The situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover “may be used as the next stage of the migration crisis,” said Morawiecki.” https://nypost.com/2021/11/22/poland-belarus-border-crisis-may-lead-to-something-worse/
“Poland, the EU, Nato and others all blame Belarus for intentionally sparking the crisis by allowing people who want to come to the EU from the Middle East and Africa to travel to Minsk, then providing them with transport to the Polish border. European leaders say Belarus’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, is motivated by revenge for sanctions and criticism of his brutal crackdown on the
Belarusian opposition. Other observers think he wants to extract concessions from the EU and others.
Polish authorities have responded harshly to the arrival of migrants, imposing a state of emergency that prevents aid from reaching those trapped in the border area. Newly passed laws have allowed police to ignore asylum requests and summarily expel the migrants back into Belarus. The government has also approved a new, Donald Trump-style border wall to keep them out of the country. According to the government, nearly 30,000 attempted border crossings have taken place this year, including 17,000 in October.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/09/poland-belarus-border-crisis-migrants-eu-explainer
“Bruzgi, Belarus (CNN)Russia and Belarus flexed their military might for a third time this week near the Poland-Belarus border, where thousands of people are stranded in deplorable conditions, trapped at the center of an intensifying humanitarian and geopolitical crisis.” https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/12/europe/poland-belarus-russia-ukraine-military-drills-sanctions-intl/index.html
The United States is committed to NATO and its European allies. This means that encroachment by rival countries on NATO and EU countries with the intention of weakening them economically, politically, or militarily is a major concern not to ignore. The United States has historically stood in defense of its allies.
But Russia has become a stronger military nation. One we need to ensure we could defeat if war becomes inevitable.
Diplomatic relations with Russia are at an all time low. “Russia tells United States diplomats to leave Russia by January 31, 2022. “https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/1/russia-orders-us-diplomats-to-leave-as-ukraine-tensions-escalate
“Russia, with its array of hard-to-detect cruise missiles and advanced submarines, poses the primary military threat to the American homeland today, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said Tuesday.
"They’ve developed capabilities that didn’t exist 20 years ago …very low radar cross-section cruise missiles [and] submarines on par with our submarines,”” Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck said. https://news.usni.org/2021/08/18/russia-is-top-military-threat-to-u-s-homeland-air-force-general-says Iran, China United States
“China’s military buildup and its push to develop nuclear-capable missiles is unnerving Congress and U.S. defense officials alike.
America’s defense establishment has watched threats from Beijing rapidly grow in multiple areas, including recent hypersonic missile tests, an expanding nuclear arsenal, strides in space and cyber and seemingly daily threats to Taiwan.
“We’re witnessing one of the largest shifts in global geo-strategic power the world has witnessed,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Wednesday when speaking about China’s recent military advances.
“They are clearly challenging us regionally and their aspiration is to challenge the United States globally.” https://thehill.com/policy/defense/580248-china-triggers-growing-fears-for-us-military
The United States is trying to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear nation. This is not going well. “US and Iran seek to break impasse at talks on reviving nuclear deal” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59386825
China and Iran are economic partners which and have a military pact based on “strategic cooperation.”
Sunday, 22 August 2021 “Iran, China to Launch Joint Free Zones … TEHRAN (Iran News) – Secretary of the Free Zones High Council Mr. Saeed Mohammad says Iran and China can launch the joint free zone under the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) treaty and Iran can also launch a joint zone with Eurasia under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) treaty.” https://irannewsdaily.com/2021/12/iran-china-to-launch-joint-free-zones/
“Iran and China have long-standing ties that are free from the shackles of history, which has complicated Iran’s relations with Russia, Britain, and the United States. Accordingly, Iran has been unilaterally seeking to shape defense cooperation and achieve a strategic alliance with China since the Iran-Iraq war era in 1980s, though it has failed to gain China’s consent for several reasons. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the two countries’ situation and power have changed drastically today. Iran’s increasing influence in West Asia and its spreading missile deterrence in the Persian Gulf region, coupled with China’s increasing military and economic power around the world, have motivated the two countries’ domestic circles to design and implement a new and broader level of relations by consolidating military diplomacy in the form of strategic cooperation.” https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/the-barriers-to-china-iran-military-diplomacy/
Iran’s hatred for the United Kingdom can be seen in the following statement. “TEHRAN (Iran News) – British, the Godfather of Zionists. As long as the West supports vehemently the Zionists, this illegal and usurping regime will continue its crimes regardless of any resolution adopted by the United Nations against it because they are well aware that the U.N.’s resolution against them should not be taken seriously because of being toothless. “ https://irannewsdaily.com/2021/11/british-the-godfather-of-zionists/
Iran’s hatred for the United States can be seen in the following. “TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Thousands of Iranians gathered on Tehran streets Thursday for the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” and burning American and Israeli flags. The embassy takeover triggered a 444-day hostage crisis and break in diplomatic relations that continues to this day. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-middle-east-israel-tehran-22516cd930c5d348aca007f030e05d51
“Thu, November 25, 2021, 4:35 PM “VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States threatened on Thursday to confront Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency next month if it does not cooperate more with the watchdog - an escalation that could undermine talks on reviving a 2015 big-power deal with Iran.
Tehran is locked in several standoffs https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-still-denying-inspectors-essential-access-workshop-iaea-report-2021-11-17 with the IAEA, whose 35-nation Board of Governors is holding a quarterly meeting this week.
Then-president Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 agreement that lifted sanctions in return for restrictions on Iran's atomic activities. He re-imposed debilitating sanctions, after which Tehran progressively expanded its nuclear work and reduced cooperation with the IAEA.” https AUGUST 23, 2021://news.yahoo.com/u-threatens-escalation-iran-iaea-213544352.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall
North Korea, South Korea, United States
North Korea has viewed the United States as an enemy to be deterred at all costs since the Korean war. It has strategically built it arsenal of weapons and army with the purpose of defeating perceived enemies but especially the United States.
“SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his government to be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation with the Biden administration — but more for confrontation, state media reported Friday. The move came just days after the United States and others urged the North to abandon its nuclear program and return to talks.
Kim's statement indicates he'll likely push to strength his nuclear arsenal and increase pressure on Washington to give up what North Korea considers a hostile U.S. policy, though he'll also prepare for talks to resume, some experts say.” https://www.npr.org/2021/06/18/1008030148/north-koreas-kim-vows-to-be-ready-for-confrontation-with-u-s 15. NPR’s source The Associated Press.
The United States Department of State issued the following on August 23, 2021 “U.S. Relations With the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea … Peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula is the ultimate goal for the United States in its relationship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The United States works closely with allies and partners in the region towards greater peace and security in the region.” https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-north-korea/
Yet on December 01, 2021 “ONBOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT — The United States and South Korea are preparing to develop “a new, operational war plan” to better address the growing threat from North Korea’s military.
The new plan would replace existing strategies meant to respond to potential North Korean aggressions which were drawn up about a decade ago and do not account for Pyongyang’s military advances, according to senior U.S. defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order discuss the process.
“This is the right thing to do,” a senior defense official told reporters en route to Seoul for meetings between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean officials.
“The DPRK has advanced its capabilities,” the official said. “The strategic environment has changed over the past few years." Aaaaaaa3The official described the process of updating the existing plans as an “extensive and intensive effort” with no set deadline for completion.” https://www.voanews.com/a/us-south-korea-updating-war-plans-for-north-korea/6334640.html UPDATE December 01, 2021 9:00 AM Jeff Seldin
Iraq, United States
Iraq has stated it is ready for United States troop withdrawal. However, it was agreed that troops would remain in an advisory capacity. United States citizens are warned no to travel to Iraq.
“The U.S. appears ready for withdrawal from Iraq as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi announced there was "no need" for U.S. troops, the Associated Press reported.
"There is no need for any foreign combat forces on Iraqi soil," Mustafa al-Kadhimi told AP. He said Iraq's security forces and army are capable of defending the country without the help of U.S. troops.
He said Iraq will still ask for U.S. training and military intelligence gathering during an exclusive interview with AP ahead of a planned trip to Washington.” https://www.newsweek.com/us-appears-poised-withdrawal-iraq-prime-minister-says-no-need-troops-1613053
“U.S. troops in Iraq transition from combat to advisory roles by end of 2021 President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announced the U.S. combat mission in Iraq will wrap by the end of the year. But instead of returning home, American troops will shift to an advisory role. Military analyst and former U.S. Army Major Mike Lyons spoke with CBSN's Tanya Rivero about what this means for Iraq-U.S. relations.” JUL 27, 2021 https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=litmus&hsimp=yhs-3d&type=1453461-vsub-tm4&p=u%20s%20troops%20in%20Iraq
“Travel Advisory November 22, 2021 Iraq - Level 4: Do Not Travel” … “Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, COVID-19, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.” … “U.S. citizens in Iraq are at high risk for violence and kidnapping.
Terrorist and insurgent groups regularly attack both Iraqi security forces and civilians. Anti-U.S. sectarian militias threaten U.S. citizens and Western companies throughout Iraq. Attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) occur in many areas of the country, including Baghdad.” https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/iraq-travel-advisory.html
France, Great Britain, and Migrants
“The number of migrants trying to reach England on boats from France has more than doubled in a year.
About 15,500 migrants had either attempted or successfully crossed by August 31, according to the French Maritime Prefecture.
Since then the number has continued to grow at a rapid pace with French authorities successfully preventing four times more small boat crossings in September than in the same month last year and rescuing more than 1,470 people in the English Channel within the first four days of November alone.” … “Too few safe and legal pathways to the UK "Limited access to, or inadequate safe and legal avenues, are contributing to more people taking alternative means, including crossing the Channel in small boats," a spokesperson for the United Nations' International Organisation for Migration (IOM) told Euronews. … What makes the UK so attractive? There is no study definitely stating what drives people to go to the UK illegally but it is believed to be a combination of factors including the presence of family members or acquaintances, their belief that the country is open, safe and tolerant and their ability to get by with a few words of English.
"They also know that there are no identity papers in England and that they can easily find undeclared work, more so than here (in France)," Salam's Millot said.” https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/24/why-have-france-england-migrant-crossings-doubled-in-a-year
“Amongst adults, Iran was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK in the year ending September 2021.
Iranian nationals have increasingly been trying to reach the UK by crossing the Channel. The country has long been criticised by human rights groups for its treatment of people who disagree with the regime.
It is a hardline Islamic nation state where people are expected to live under its interpretation of Sharia law.
Iranian Kurds and Christians in particular say they face persecution in Iran.” https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/why-do-migrants-come-to-uk-where-from-crisis-crossing-channel-b968537.html
LONDON (AP) — The deaths of at least 27 people in the English Channel is fueling tensions between the U.K. and France over how to stop migrants from crossing the world’s busiest shipping route in small boats.
Despite a pledge from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron that they would “do everything possible” to stop people smugglers from endangering lives, politicians on both sides of the channel are already blaming their counterparts for failing to prevent Wednesday’s tragedy. https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-london-migration-emmanuel-macron-08450afdd4c76c7225d7834c64ca96a8
Afghanistan, Europe, NATO, United States
“Today (18 February 2021), NATO defence ministers concluded their second day of meetings via secure teleconference. They discussed NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Both missions are key contributions to the fight against international terrorism.
On Afghanistan, Ministers reiterated their commitment to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission - with training and funding for the brave Afghan security forces - and their strong support to the Afghan peace process, which is the best chance to end years of suffering and violence and bring lasting peace to Afghanistan.” https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_181571.htm
“The ‘extended troika’ meeting in Moscow on 18 March did not spark a significant new impulse in the search for peace in Afghanistan. Instead, it followed a well-known pattern. Foreign powers offered platitudes about an ‘Afghan-led, Afghan-owned’ peace process, again, while they insist on setting the timeline themselves and handpick those who are to be included in their plans, which are driven by their own and not Afghanistan’s interests. AAN’s Co-director Thomas Ruttig looks at the regional power game and finds that India and Iran’s absence demonstrated how difficult it would be to get buy-in for the latest US plan from the most important neighbouring countries and powers with influence. This makes one major pillar of the plan unsteady and may exacerbate regional tensions, raising prospects that conflicting interests might attempt to ‘fill the vacuum’ created by the US withdrawal.” https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/regional-relations/a-troika-of-four-looking-back-at-the-march-2021-afghanistan-meeting-in-moscow/
“NATO Allies decided on Wednesday (14 April 2021) to start withdrawing forces from the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by May 1, with plans to complete the drawdown of all troops within a few months.” https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_183086.htm Note that this contradicts the NATO statement of February 18, 2021 where it was stated that the “missions are key contributions to the fight against international terrorism.” See citation above.
“On April 30, representatives of the extended “Troika,” comprising the United States, the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, met in Doha, Qatar to discuss ways to support intra-Afghan negotiations and help the parties reach a negotiated settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. The extended “Troika” met with representatives of the Islamic Republic negotiating team and of the Taliban, as well as Qatar, who graciously hosted the participants.” … “We reiterate our call on all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to reduce the level of violence in the country and on the Taliban not to pursue a Spring offensive. We condemn in the strongest terms any attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan and call on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to protection of civilians.” … “We urge the Government of the Islamic Republic and the High Council for National Reconciliation to engage openly with their Taliban counterparts regarding a negotiated settlement. We do not support the establishment in Afghanistan of any government imposed by force, consistent with the Joint Statement of the March 18 Expanded Troika.” … “We reaffirm that any peace agreement must include protections for the rights of all Afghans, including women, men, children, victims of war, and minorities, and should respond to the strong desire of all Afghans for economic, social and political development including the rule of law.” https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-the-extended-troika-on-peaceful-settlement-in-afghanistan/
By Julia Hollingsworth, CNN Updated 1:07 PM ET, Tue August 24, 2021 “Just last week, US intelligence analysts had predicted it would likely take several more weeks before Afghanistan's civilian government in Kabul fell to Taliban fighters. In reality, it only took a few short days
On Sunday, Taliban militants retook Afghanistan's capital, almost two decades after they were driven from Kabul by US troops. “… “On Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, abandoning the presidential palace to Taliban fighters.” …”The Taliban's swift success has prompted questions over how the insurgent group was able to gain control so soon after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan -- and, after almost 20 years of conflict in the US' longest running war, what the Taliban want.” https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/middleeast/taliban-control-afghanistan-explained-intl-hnk/index.html So much for the Taliban not having a spring offensive.
Not only did the Taliban have a spring offensive but the nation has devolved into far less tolerance for women, economic chaos, and pending famine. Many people are leaving the country and the Taliban is doing nothing to stop them.
“Europe's reliance on the US in terms of international affairs is nothing new.” … NATO's treaty opens with the pledge that: "The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments." …
“Critics are struggling to see just how Biden's recent behavior squares with these commitments -- and worry that it confirms America's retreat from the world stage. Biden has argued however that his country's anti-terror mission in Afghanistan was achieved a decade ago” …
"To me, this shows is the end of one geopolitical era, which was about creating a liberal international order, and the beginning of a new one, which is about the competition between China and America," said Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, ealier on Tuesday.” https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/24/politics/biden-afghanistan-weakens-the-west-globally-intl-cmd/index.html Chris Cillizza
Israel and the World
“The most dangerous place to be a Jew in Europe today is France—that’s the conclusion of an as-yet unpublished, two-year report on anti-Semitism in 11 European countries, conducted by former NYPD commissioner Raymond W. Kelly for Ronald S. Lauder, the former U.S. Ambassador to Austria.” …
Though the resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe has been widely noted and condemned, Kelly’s report concludes that the threat to France’s 450,000 Jews—the world’s third-largest community, after Israel and the U.S.—is the most “acute.” Attacks and threats against French Jews surged 74 percent from 2017 to 2018, the report finds, and preliminary data for the first half of 2019 indicate “further intensification,” with another 75 percent increase last year. Moreover, the official estimates of some 500 attacks and anti-Semitic acts per year are “notoriously under reported,” according to the study, which contends that “no responsible individuals or even government representatives place much credence in these numbers.”” Judith Miller February 12, 2020 https://www.city-journal.org/france-anti-semitism
“Nearly 200 scholars back UK lecturer who called Jewish students Israel ‘pawns’ David Miller of University of Bristol says he supports ‘end of Zionism,’ says Jews on campus are used by a ‘violent, racist, foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing’.
JTA — About 200 academics from the United Kingdom and the United States have signed a petition defending a British university lecturer who had called Jewish students on his campus “pawns” of Israel, “a violent, racist, foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing.”” By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ 27 February 2021, 6:12 am https://www.timesofisrael.com/nearly-200-scholars-back-uk-lecturer-who-called-jewish-students-israel-pawns/
“Many of the most recent incidents, by contrast, have come from perpetrators expressing support for the Palestinian cause and criticism of Israel’s right-wing government.” …
“This is why Jews feel so terrified in this moment,” Mr. Greenblatt said, observing that there are currents of anti-Semitism flowing from both the left and the right. “For four years it seemed to be stimulated from the political right, with devastating consequences.” But at the scenes of the most recent attacks, he noted, “no one is wearing MAGA hats.”” https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/us/anti-semitism-attacks-violence.html
As we head in to 2022 military and political alliances are shifting. “When he was first elected in November 2020, President Biden assured that "America is back" on the world stage.
Repeated blunders have led foreign policy experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to argue that the Biden administration's foreign policy has diminished U.S. standing in the world as China and Russia gather aggressive defenses not seen since World War II.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-afghanistan-china-russia-america-world