Podcasts about Pax Americana

American universities are where people go to learn and teach. They're also where research and development happens. Over the past eight decades, universities have received billions in federal dollars to help that happen. Those dollars have contributed to innovations like: Drone technology. Inhalable Covid vaccines. Google search code.The Trump administration is cutting or threatening to cut federal funding for research. Federal funding for all kinds of science is at its lowest level in decades.Today on the show: when did the government start funding research at universities? And will massive cuts mean the end of universities as we know them?We hear from the man who first pushed the government to fund university research and we talk to the chancellor of a big research school, Washington University in St. Louis. He opens up his books to show us how his school gets funded and what it would mean if that funding went away.This episode is part of our series Pax Americana, about how the Trump administration and others are challenging a set of post-World War II policies that placed the U.S. at the center of the economic universe. Listen to our episode about the reign of the dollar.Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ever since its founding in the 18th century, the rhetoric of the decline of the United States has been prevalent in the culture. From the skepticism of Founding Fathers to the Civil War, Second World War and many post-war inter and outer challenges, the US at the moment still stands at the top of the global order. We discussed what the future might hold for the Land of the Free, how US politics influences every corner of the world, legacy of Pax Americana and similar. Enjoy!

Yasiru Ranaraja discusses whether Pax Americana is really on the decline or not, how Belt & Road connectivity is advancing, BRICS, ASEAN, the geostrategic importance of Sri Lanka, the rising importance of India, flashpoints, and more! Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube Geopolitics & Empire · Yasiru Ranaraja: Growing Belt & Road Connectivity, Sri Lanka, & Flashpoints #552 *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics easyDNS (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://easydns.com Escape Technocracy course (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis (CitizenHR, CitizenIT, CitizenPL) https://societates-civis.com Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites BRISL https://brisl.org X https://x.com/YRanaraja About Yasiru Ranaraja Yasiru Ranaraja is a researcher on maritime affairs and BRI development. He graduated from Dalian Maritime University, and in 2016 was awarded the Chinese Government Scholarship to complete his LLM at Ocean University of China. He is a Consulting Specialist at China International Economic Consultants Co., Ltd (CIECC) and a Founding Director at Belt & Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL). *Podcast intro music is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

Západ už není, co býval. Mluví se o návratu ke hře mocností, kdy ti ekonomicky či vojensky nejsilnější porcovali svět. Po éře Pax Americana s převahou Spojených států přichází mezidobí, kdy Amerika již není dominantní, Čína ještě není a Rusko nikdy nebylo a nebude, avšak je majitelem atomových zbraní ničivé síly.Všechny díly podcastu Názory a argumenty můžete pohodlně poslouchat v mobilní aplikaci mujRozhlas pro Android a iOS nebo na webu mujRozhlas.cz.

Mike Shelby of Gray Zone Research and Early Warning Network discusses the current domestic and global situation, describing it as a time of generational change and concern. Shelby warns of potential low intensity conflict, such as violent social movements, terrorism, and color revolutions, rather than a conventional civil war in the U.S. He comments on the decline of Pax Americana, the new restructuring toward a Fortress America, and the ongoing conflict with China. He offers some excellent advice on weathering the storm. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube Geopolitics & Empire · Mike Shelby: Fortress America, Civil War 2.0, & World War 3.0? #550 *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics easyDNS (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://easydns.com Escape Technocracy course (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis (CitizenHR, CitizenIT, CitizenPL) https://societates-civis.com Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites Gray Zone Research https://grayzoneresearch.substack.com Early Warning Network https://www.earlywarningnetwork.com X https://x.com/grayzoneintel About Mike Shelby Mike is a former Intelligence NCO and contractor with overseas deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He covers civil unrest and low intensity conflict. *Podcast intro music is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

« Donald Trump bombe le torse », s'exclame le site d'information congolais Objectif Infos. « C'est une victoire sans précédent », a en effet déclaré hier le président américain, après la signature d'une déclaration de principe, vendredi à Washington, qui pose les bases d'un accord de paix entre la RDC et le Rwanda qui devrait être signé au plus tard en fin de semaine.« Dans ce document publié par le département d'État américain, précise Objectif Infos, les deux parties, congolaise et rwandaise, se sont engagées à respecter la souveraineté et les frontières établies ; à soutenir l'intégration économique régionale, notamment en renforçant la transparence dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement des minerais critiques ; et à faciliter le retour des réfugiés et des déplacés internes ».Commentaire du site congolais : « on peut dire que le chef de file des Républicains a réussi en 3 mois ce que son prédécesseur, Joe Biden, n'a pas réussi à faire lors de ses deux dernières années de mandat ».La diplomatie-business« Ceux qui pensaient que les États-Unis de Donald Trump resteraient en dehors du conflit congolais en seront pour leurs frais, relève pour sa part Afrikarabia. En difficulté sur Gaza et l'Ukraine, et inaudible en Afrique de l'Ouest, le président américain a semblé chercher un succès diplomatique rapide en se penchant sur le dossier congolais, pointe le site spécialisé sur la RDC. La visite de l'envoyé spécial de Donald Trump, Massad Boulos, à Kinshasa puis à Kigali, a fini d'acter la position américaine, qui n'est pas très éloignée (finalement) de celle de Joe Biden. Premier résultat : le M23 s'est retiré de la zone de Walikale, où se trouve la mine d'Étain de Bisie, propriété d'Alphamin, une entreprise minière à forts capitaux américains ». Il faut dire, poursuit Afrikarabia, que le futur accord de paix congolo-rwandais associe autour de la table « les autorités et le secteur privé américain. Dans ce deal entre États, ce sera business contre territoires ».La question centrale des mineraisEn effet, pointe L'Observateur Paalga à Ouagadougou, « la signature de cette déclaration de principe intervient alors qu'un accord, entre la RDC et les États-Unis, sur les minerais stratégiques est en cours de négociation. Un accord qui vise à permettre aux entreprises américaines d'accéder de manière privilégiée aux ressources minières de la RDC, telles que le cobalt, le coltan et le lithium, en échange d'une assistance sécuritaire pour lutter contre les groupes armés. En s'impliquant ainsi, Donald Trump se fait d'abord le VRP des sociétés américaines pour le contrôle des minerais stratégiques congolais, et dans ce deal, le Rwanda devrait aussi avoir sa dîme minière. Mais, relève L'Observateur, si c'est le prix à payer pour le Congo pour qu'on lui fiche la paix, pourquoi pas ? »Finalement, « peut-être qu'enfin, les mines congolaises vont servir à quelque chose d'utile pour tout le monde ! », renchérit Ledjely en Guinée. Les richesses minières de la RDC sont (donc) au cœur de l'accord de paix qui pourrait être conclu prochainement, entre Kinshasa et Kigali, sous l'égide des États-Unis de Donald Trump. En effet, c'est bien parce que le sous-sol congolais est riche en toutes sortes de minerais stratégiques que le président américain, plutôt porté sur la diplomatie transactionnelle, a consenti à s'intéresser enfin aux massacres et autres atrocités que les populations de l'est de la RDC endurent depuis trop longtemps. Nord et Sud-Kivu, pourraient donc renouer avec la paix et la stabilité. La diplomatie africaine en berneMalheureusement, relève encore Ledjely, l'Afrique n'y aura joué aucun rôle ou presque. (…) Aucun processus n'a réussi à s'imposer. Ni Luanda, ni Nairobi. Pourtant, entre les médiateurs et les facilitateurs, les acteurs africains n'ont pas manqué ».C'est vrai, déplore Le Pays au Burkina, « Washington semble engranger des points là où les organisations africaines sous-régionales, en l'occurrence la Sadec, le Communauté de développement d'Afrique australe, et la CEAC, la Communauté des États d'Afrique de l'Est, ont échoué. Certes, elles ont permis, sous la médiation du président angolais Joao Lourenço, d'arracher quelques cessez-le-feu, mais ceux-ci n'ont jamais été respectés. Preuve, s'il en est, conclut Le Pays, que l'Afrique peine toujours à trouver elle-même des solutions à ses propres problèmes ».

« Donald Trump bombe le torse », s'exclame le site d'information congolais Objectif Infos. « C'est une victoire sans précédent », a en effet déclaré hier le président américain, après la signature d'une déclaration de principe, vendredi à Washington, qui pose les bases d'un accord de paix entre la RDC et le Rwanda qui devrait être signé au plus tard en fin de semaine.« Dans ce document publié par le département d'État américain, précise Objectif Infos, les deux parties, congolaise et rwandaise, se sont engagées à respecter la souveraineté et les frontières établies ; à soutenir l'intégration économique régionale, notamment en renforçant la transparence dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement des minerais critiques ; et à faciliter le retour des réfugiés et des déplacés internes ».Commentaire du site congolais : « on peut dire que le chef de file des Républicains a réussi en 3 mois ce que son prédécesseur, Joe Biden, n'a pas réussi à faire lors de ses deux dernières années de mandat ».La diplomatie-business« Ceux qui pensaient que les États-Unis de Donald Trump resteraient en dehors du conflit congolais en seront pour leurs frais, relève pour sa part Afrikarabia. En difficulté sur Gaza et l'Ukraine, et inaudible en Afrique de l'Ouest, le président américain a semblé chercher un succès diplomatique rapide en se penchant sur le dossier congolais, pointe le site spécialisé sur la RDC. La visite de l'envoyé spécial de Donald Trump, Massad Boulos, à Kinshasa puis à Kigali, a fini d'acter la position américaine, qui n'est pas très éloignée (finalement) de celle de Joe Biden. Premier résultat : le M23 s'est retiré de la zone de Walikale, où se trouve la mine d'Étain de Bisie, propriété d'Alphamin, une entreprise minière à forts capitaux américains ». Il faut dire, poursuit Afrikarabia, que le futur accord de paix congolo-rwandais associe autour de la table « les autorités et le secteur privé américain. Dans ce deal entre États, ce sera business contre territoires ».La question centrale des mineraisEn effet, pointe L'Observateur Paalga à Ouagadougou, « la signature de cette déclaration de principe intervient alors qu'un accord, entre la RDC et les États-Unis, sur les minerais stratégiques est en cours de négociation. Un accord qui vise à permettre aux entreprises américaines d'accéder de manière privilégiée aux ressources minières de la RDC, telles que le cobalt, le coltan et le lithium, en échange d'une assistance sécuritaire pour lutter contre les groupes armés. En s'impliquant ainsi, Donald Trump se fait d'abord le VRP des sociétés américaines pour le contrôle des minerais stratégiques congolais, et dans ce deal, le Rwanda devrait aussi avoir sa dîme minière. Mais, relève L'Observateur, si c'est le prix à payer pour le Congo pour qu'on lui fiche la paix, pourquoi pas ? »Finalement, « peut-être qu'enfin, les mines congolaises vont servir à quelque chose d'utile pour tout le monde ! », renchérit Ledjely en Guinée. Les richesses minières de la RDC sont (donc) au cœur de l'accord de paix qui pourrait être conclu prochainement, entre Kinshasa et Kigali, sous l'égide des États-Unis de Donald Trump. En effet, c'est bien parce que le sous-sol congolais est riche en toutes sortes de minerais stratégiques que le président américain, plutôt porté sur la diplomatie transactionnelle, a consenti à s'intéresser enfin aux massacres et autres atrocités que les populations de l'est de la RDC endurent depuis trop longtemps. Nord et Sud-Kivu, pourraient donc renouer avec la paix et la stabilité. La diplomatie africaine en berneMalheureusement, relève encore Ledjely, l'Afrique n'y aura joué aucun rôle ou presque. (…) Aucun processus n'a réussi à s'imposer. Ni Luanda, ni Nairobi. Pourtant, entre les médiateurs et les facilitateurs, les acteurs africains n'ont pas manqué ».C'est vrai, déplore Le Pays au Burkina, « Washington semble engranger des points là où les organisations africaines sous-régionales, en l'occurrence la Sadec, le Communauté de développement d'Afrique australe, et la CEAC, la Communauté des États d'Afrique de l'Est, ont échoué. Certes, elles ont permis, sous la médiation du président angolais Joao Lourenço, d'arracher quelques cessez-le-feu, mais ceux-ci n'ont jamais été respectés. Preuve, s'il en est, conclut Le Pays, que l'Afrique peine toujours à trouver elle-même des solutions à ses propres problèmes ».

Is America screwed? Not according to the former managing editor of Wired, Peter Leyden. The creator of the Substack newsletter The Great Progression, Leyden believes that U.S. history operates in 80 year cycles and that America, empowered by Northern Californian technology, is gearing up for another remarkable period of innovation. Leyden is no MAGA fanboy, but argues that Trump is enabling the American future by destroying the Republican brand and unintentionally guaranteeing a longterm Democratic majority. It's a provocative thesis which I hope is true. But what about China? And can we really trust Silicon Valley's tech titans to make America great again? 5 Takeaways* Leyden believes America cycles through major reinventions approximately every 80 years, with previous transformations occurring after the Constitutional Convention, Civil War, and World War II.* He argues that post-WWII systems (welfare state, Pax Americana) are outdated and that Trump's presidency is accelerating their necessary dismantling.* Leyden sees an opportunity for progressives to rebuild American systems using AI, clean energy and bioengineering in more efficient, effective ways.* Leyden references economic historian Carlota Perez's theory that technological revolutions move from "Gilded Ages" (concentrated wealth/power) to "Golden Ages" (distributed benefits) through democratic intervention.* Leyden positions the US-China competition, particularly in AI development, as a fundamental contest between democratic and authoritarian approaches to organizing society with new technologies.Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on artificial intelligence, climate technologies and a more positive future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising. Leyden currently is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, which is a series of keynote talks, Substack essays, and his next book on our new potential to harness AI and other transformative technologies to create a much better world. He also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, advising senior leaders in strategic foresight and the impacts of these new technologies. Since coming to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED to start​​ The Digital Age, he has followed the front edge of technological change and built an extraordinary network of pioneering innovators in Silicon Valley. Leyden most recently convened this network of elite tech experts through the first two years of the Generative AI Revolution as host and curator of one of the premier event series at ground zero in San Francisco — The AI Age Begins. Leyden is the former Managing Editor of WIRED, who then became the Founder and CEO of two startups that pioneered the early video mediums of first YouTube and then Zoom. He wrote two influential books on the future that went into multiple languages, including The Long Boom that foretold how the new digital economy would scale over 25 years — and largely did. Leyden began his career as a journalist covering America, then did a stint as a foreign correspondent in Asia for Newsweek, including covering the early rise of China. He has traveled to more than 50 countries around the world. He was raised in the heartland in Minnesota, graduated summa cum laude at Georgetown University, and earned two masters degrees from Columbia University.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

No Carteiros do Condado deste mês de abril, Lucas Collazo, Davi Fontenele e Guilherme Anversa discutem o atual cenário do mercado americano através da visão das cartas das maiores gestoras do Brasil.Carteiros do Condado #48

Jahrzehntelang hat sich Europa auf die USA als Stabilitätsgaranten verlassen. Marco Overhaus erklärt, warum die „Pax Americana“, basierend auf militärischer Macht, wirtschaftlicher Offenheit und liberal-demokratischen Werten, nicht erst seit der Rückkehr von Donald Trump brüchig geworden ist.

It's Question Time with Lileks and Cooke. They jump into the guest chairs and let Ricochet's very own members steer the ship this week. Tune in to hear their thoughts on lots of stuff: the Pax Americana, universal suffrage, wordsmithing in the age of AI, their favorite interview subjects, and more — all with plenty of pop culture sprinkled in.- Sound from this week's open: John Cleese in the "Take Your Pick" sketch on Monty Python's Flying Circus.Take control of your cellular health today. Go to qualialife.com/ricochet and save 15% to experience the science of feeling younger.

It’s Question Time with Lileks and Cooke. They jump into the guest chairs and let Ricochet’s very own members steer the ship this week. Tune in to hear their thoughts on lots of stuff: the Pax Americana, universal suffrage, wordsmithing in the age of AI, their favorite interview subjects, and more — all with plenty […]

Con su Permiso tenemos que hablar de Donald Trump, presidente de Estados Unidos, que ha desatado una guerra comercial a nivel global cuyas consecuencias son todavía desconocidas. En este episodio Carlos Elizondo, Beata Wojna y Sebastián Mazzuca , profesor distinguido en Economía Política en el Tec. de Monterrey, especializado en desarrollo económico y democracia en América Latina, ponen la pregunta central sobre la mesa: ¿Es Donald Trump un breaker o un maker? Para los especialistas de este podcast es crucial entender si la finalidad de Trump es hacer de nuevo las reglas del juego o cimentar un juego completamente nuevo para el orden global, pero sin importar el propósito su principal oponente es China. Carlos Elizondo, Beata Wojna y Sebastián Mazzuca finalmente coinciden en que América Latina podría salir beneficiado de esta situación detonada por las víctimas de prosperidad y la Pax Americana, que conforman la base de votantes de Donald Trump.

In this episode, Brian Karem, John T. Bennett, and Mark Zaid discuss the significant news of the week, focusing on tariffs introduced by Trump and their implications for the economy. They explore the political strategy behind these tariffs, the public's response through protests, and the potential consequences for the market. The conversation also touches on the role of dissent within the administration and the future of Trump's policies. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the current political landscape, focusing on the state of opposition to the Trump administration, the effectiveness of protests, the implications of tariffs on the economy, and the influence of controversial figures like Laura Loomer within the White House. They explore the disconnect between public protests and actionable political change, the historical context of tariffs, and the challenges faced by the Democratic Party in mobilizing voters. The conversation highlights the complexities of political loyalty and the impact of individual influencers on national security and policy decisions. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JATQPodcastFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jatqpodcast.bsky.socialIntragram: https://www.instagram.com/jatqpodcastYoutube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCET7k2_Y9P9Fz0MZRARGqVwThis Show is Available Ad-Free And Early For Patreon supporters here:https://www.patreon.com/justaskthequestionpodcastPurchase Brian's book "Free The Press" 

Obyvatelé římské říše zažili během prvních dvou století letopočtu období klidu a prosperity. Uvnitř říše nebyly války, fungovaly silnice, obchodníci mohli bezpečně cestovat, lidé se věnovat svému byznysu a užívat života, který se řídil právem. Bylo to v dějinách něco zcela unikátního a něco, co se v Evropě po dvě další tisíciletí nikdy nezopakovalo. Říká se tomu zázraku Pax romana, římský mír.Všechny díly podcastu Názory a argumenty můžete pohodlně poslouchat v mobilní aplikaci mujRozhlas pro Android a iOS nebo na webu mujRozhlas.cz.

Die Zollerhöhungen der US-Regierung sind auch eine politische Kampfansage. Denn Präsident Donald Trump hat mit seiner Entscheidung einen bisherigen Grundpfeiler des amerikanischen Imperiums aufgegeben. Für den Westen insgesamt ist dies ein Zeichen des Niedergangs, glaubt AUF1-Nachrichtenleiter Martin Müller-Mertens.

It seems that markets are beginning to read the room, as the unwinding of the so-called rules based order – which really was based on a Pax Americana Hegemony, is falling apart. After the 25% auto imports tariffs were announced this week, the so called “Liberation Day”, on April 2, when Trump said he plans … Continue reading "Market Disorder Incoming As “Pax Americana” Unwinds…"

Freezing of Russian foreign assets has triggered a structural change in the demand for gold, and the shift in US foreign policy from Pax Americana to Pax Trumpiana has accelerated and broadened gold ownership. Traditionally, with large above-ground stocks of gold acting as a pool of supply, gold prices have been largely determined by the relative strength of demand. However, to meet this increased demand, a structural response, which so far has been constrained, from the supply side is necessary. After the US abandoned the gold standard in 1971, gold took 38 years to surpass $1,000 in March 2008. It reached $2,000 in August 2020, doubling in 12 years. The pace accelerated, breaking $3,000 on March 14, 2025, in just under five years. With each $1,000 phase taking two-thirds less time, could $4,000 be next?   Speaker: Natasha Kaneva, Head of Global Commodities Research    This podcast was recorded on 28 March 2025. This communication is provided for information purposes only. Institutional clients can view the related report at https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-4924668-0 or more information; please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party. It is permissible to use J.P. Morgan Data for internal business purposes only in an AI system or model that protects the confidentiality of J.P. Morgan Data so as to prevent any and all access to or use of such J.P. Morgan Data by any third-party.    

Diplomatic Hell Hole.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels."Are we in the right place?" the stranger worried."I'm afraid so. Anais, you need to leave.""Not until you tell me what is going on here," she sizzled."She's not here to have sex, if that's what you worried about," I retorted. "Wait, are you here to have sex with me?""I barely know you.""That rarely stops me," I muttered."He's a master of bedroom antics," Pamela praised me. "He's pretty much at a loss at doing anything else.""Thanks Grandma," I griped."Your welcome, Grandson.""We, are here to meet someone," the stranger hedged."You came to the right place," Pamela preempted me. "He's definitely someone.""Fine, redo. I'm Cáel Nyilas," (deep breathe), "NOHIO, HCIESI-NDI, U HAUL, Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege plus a bunch of other honorifics that have yet to be confirmed. I am single-handedly bringing back medievalism to the center of Europe and the Near East. The woman to my left is Pamela Pale, and she really is my bodyguard. The woman to my right is Sgt. Anais Saint-Amour, RCMP, my ex-lover and the person that needs to leave   right now.""I'm not sure I should leave at this moment," Anais shifted possessively. I had to recall earlier this morning, the part where we'd broken up by mutual consent. Yep. That had really happened. I had thought I was whittling down my current list of paramours. Why do the Goddesses hate me so?"Told you, she can't give up that cock," Pamela whispered."As you can see, I have limited control of my life," I told the strange woman. "I know you are here to meet somebody who isn't me. Now you know who I am. Who are you and your companions?""I'm Ms. Quincy.""Sorry; I'm on a first name basis with everyone I meet," I interrupted."What's your rank, Honey?" Pamela added."What makes you think,?""She doesn't think. That's what makes her so dangerous." I explained."Hey now," Pamela faux-complained."Okay. She's a fledgling telepath, or medium," I shrugged."Captain, Zelda Quincy.""In case you are mesmerized by her tits," Pamela tapped me, "she's packing some serious hardware.""One of those personal defense gizmos?" I leaned Pamela's way."Close, but no cigar. She's my kind of girl, big 'bang-bang', back-up at the small of her back and knife in her boot.""What!" Zelda gulped."She's his knife-fighting instructor," Anais answered drolly."Are you Special Forces?" Zelda regarded my mentor."Nah, I got kicked out for a consistent failure to observe even the loosest Rules Of Engagement. I'm a free-spirit.""Oh, you're a sniper," Zelda nodded."I like this one," Pamela smiled."Ah, thank you." Then, over her shoulder, "I think we are in the right place." Zelda entered the room, followed by a Hispanic panther of a man (kind of like a tanned, slightly shorter Chaz without the cool accent) wearing a long coat, and a Subcontinent-cast woman who looked at everyone as if she expected us to sprout fangs, or start quoting the Koran any second now. She obviously was a brain seconded to this mission very much against her will.The fourth person had that cagey 'when my lips move, I'm lying' look while seemingly unhappy with her current assignment. The heavy implication was that the lady was a career diplomat. Considering our current company and who we were talking to, she was State Department. She was in her late 30's or early 40's and giving off the sensation she had devoted so much to her career that she was starting to wonder if that was all that life had to offer.The fifth member was a military man clearly uncomfortable about what he was doing here, thus not a spook. His off-the-rack suit wasn't terrible, so he expected to socialize somewhat while performing his duties. He also looked like a man who expected other people to speak half-truths and obfuscated lies as easily as they breathed. Numbers three, four and five were dressed for the weather and unarmed.All of this meant they were good at what they did, though they probably didn't know the particulars of what was expected of them. They had their marching orders. Those orders were about to be made irrelevant in the company they would be keeping. The latter weren't the 'doing it by rote' kind of people they would normally be dealing with."I bet you she's a doctor," I murmured to Pamela, "she's with State and he's some sort of Foreign Service type.""I bet the first guy is Air Force," she countered."Like one of those Para-rescue guys?""No. More like one of those Battlefield Air Operations guys, I'm guessing," she corrected me."That guy?" I nodded to the final guy. "Pentagon wonk?""More likely he's one of those embassy guys. I'm going to take an educated leap here, Office of Military Cooperation, Mongolia?""That is pretty clever of you. Kazakhstan. Major Justin Colbert.""I bet some people in the White House, Pentagon and Langley are disappointed with you right now," I reasoned. His jaw grew tight."Don't worry, Major," Pamela grinned. "We consider that a good thing. We don't like the people in charge and have a low opinion of their opinion on just about everything, including their habit of blaming the blameless for their government's fuck ups.""Who are these people?" the first man whispered to Quincy."She's a telepath." That was Zelda"She's a psychic-medium." That was Anais."She can see through time." That was me. "Nice to meet you. Who are you?""Chris Diaz. Lieutenant Colonel, USAF.""Dr. Saira Yamin," the second woman introduced herself. "Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. Are you the man from Johnston Island?""Why yes, yes I am," I beamed."The APCSS is in Waikiki, Hawaii," Pamela educated me. "Your arrival probably cost her some prime surfing time.""I was more interested in the fact that he survived a plane crash in a Category Four Cyclone," she admitted."Mother Nature hates me. No matter how hard I try, she refuses to kill me," I confessed. "My suffering is an endless source of amusement to that bitch.""That, that wasn't the helpful answer I was looking for," she stammered."So, Lt. Colonel Chris Diaz, you must be with JSOC, I have a deep and abiding respect for you guys. If you need something, just ask," I greeted him. "Captain Zelda, you are not with JSOC.""She's with the DCS ~ that is the Defense Clandestine Service," Pamela kept going. "Zelda, you love being in your uniform, you're proud, yet happy with the concept of dying in an unmarked grave for Constitution and Country. You are too old to have been in the first female class at Ranger School, so that means no 'in the field' JSOC for you. You've gotten around that stone wall by joining the US Defense Department's own little pack of killers.""Also, you felt it was necessary to bring a Benelli M4-11707. That's a close-in action shotgun, but a bit over-kill considering the paper-thin walls in this building. That tells me you are used to being in the kinds of places where such a tool is a necessity. Or in other words, since you think you are meeting a band of terrorists, you brought along your favorite toy.""Your personal weapon is a SIG Sauer P229R DAK in .357 which is a new weapon still under trial by the US Army and Air Force. Your boot dagger is ceramic so it will pass a cursory exam, or scan. You hate the idea of being trapped on a public aircraft weaponless. You have also given up killing power for a proper balance for throwing. I like a forward-thinking gal.""Air Force ~ you've recently come back from Asia, most likely Tibet. It shows in your breathing brought about by a close call with Altitude Sickness. The only reason for an Air Force guy to be here is because he's familiar with the Khanate military and you are not US Army, or Marine Corp Special Forces. I know the type.""You went with the MP5K in the standard 9mm, so you are more interested in sending bullets down range than looking into someone's face as you kill them. You may be a 'light' Colonel, which means you are almost somebody. What your higher-ups haven't appreciated is that our guests will respect you because they are like that ~ remembering past friends and comrades in arms. Of greater importance, you have Cáel's gratitude which will count for more than you currently believe."I pledged then and there to be as good as Pamela at determining that kind of stuff before I died. She had assured me it was as much a matter of psychology as eagle-eyed perception. People were often a type that gravitated to various forms of destruction, be they old school, or going for the latest gadget."I told you all that firepower was excessive," State softly chastised her associates (what they really were, not the underlings she saw them as)."So, you appeared to have forgotten to tell us your name," I regarded the State lass."Nisha Desai Biswal. I'm with the government.""Oh, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, I've examined your website," I told her. It clearly pissed her off somewhat that I so swiftly disregarded her crude attempt at subtle manipulation."Hey. I've got some real enemies at State, so it pays to know who might be the next suit trying to cock me over," I explained. I had to prioritize. It would take some serious effort to convince Zelda to have a MFF three-way straight out the gate and she was definitely the hotter number."Major, you came here unarmed," Pamela noted. "That won't do. They expect you to be armed because you are a warrior, damn it. Cáel get him one of your Glock 22's.""Gotcha," I nodded. I went to my room, tipped away the false back to my closet (that Havenstone had installed recently so Odette wouldn't accidently fire off one of my weapons) and retrieved one of my spare Glocks, but not the one with the laser sight. Such over-the-top fancy gear would be inappropriate. I only gave him one mag. If he couldn't get the job done with 15 rounds, he wouldn't have a chance to reload.Mind you, I took two in a twin-rig shoulder holster and four 22 round magazines, because I tend to shoot two-handed which doesn't exactly give you a bullseye every time. I returned to our crowded living room, handed the Major his weaponry, and then directed the US group to the far side of the room (towards Timothy's bedroom. Saira and Nisha took the couch.Because this tiny space wasn't crowded enough, there was a knock at the door. I checked. It was Juanita, oh yeah, my real bodyguard."Listen up everybody," I announced to the room. "This is my other bodyguard, my official one. Her names is Juanita Leya Antonio Garza, she's from the Dominican Republic via Buenos Aires and she is armed, so don't freak out." I opened the door."What is going on?" Juanita hissed."I'm having a private meeting with a few heavily armed friends. The other side to this party hasn't arrived yet. Why don't you come in?" She came in."Why didn't you warn me?" she whispered her complaint."Long night, worse wake-up, needed to do some soul-searching. Pamela was looking after me, then this came up and I forgot. I apologize," I lowered my head in shame. Juanita was only trying to do the job she'd been entrusted with and by not thinking of her, I was making that so much harder.I made the introductions, first names only."Juanita, Anais, Pamela; please slip into the kitchenette," I suggested.Anais "Why?"Juanita "Where are you going to be?"Pamela "Sure. I'm starving. I'm going to raid the fridge.""Anais, because I need my faction in one place. Juanita, I will be refereeing this meeting, so I will have to remain in the living room, roughly six feet from you." It was really a small apartment. "Pamela, if it is edible, it isn't mine and you'll have to replace it."Great Caesar's Ghost! No wonder Big Wigs had their personal assistants handle this pre-meeting crap. I was on my last two fucking nerves and one of those was already stressed and tender. And the real reason for being here hadn't even arrived yet."Why am I in your faction?" Anais mulled over threateningly."Because you haven't walked out that door. There are going to be three sides to this meeting, not three plus Anais. That is the way it is going to be. Now, are you going to behave, or are Juanita and Pamela going to toss you out?""You are threatening me!""Finally catching on to that, aren't you, Sweetie?" Pamela chimed in."I'm only staying because I believe you are in trouble," Anais grumped."Why is she (Anais) here?" Nisha inquired heatedly. "This is supposed to be a very, very private encounter.""I know Anais. I don't know you. I trust Anais with my well-being despite the fact she has numerous reasons to distrust me. She's staying because she is a straight arrow. That's good enough for me.""But is she going to keep her mouth shut about what happens here today?" Nisha pressed."Anais, this is a clandestine meeting that isn't going to be recorded by anybody so, barring a crime being committed, you can never discuss this with anyone who isn't already in the room. Agreed?"Pause."I agree," she nodded. I really was going to have to fuck her again. Not today. Well, maybe not today; I had to keep my options open. Her investigator mind was going into overdrive. Give it a week and she'd be knocking on my door late one night. Inquisitive, truth-hungry dames are like that, trust me. Then it would be 'bask in my genius' sex. It had been a while since I'd experienced that, with Lady Yum-Yum.There was another knock at the door. I checked before Juanita could do the checking for me, in case someone was going to shoot me through the door. Fuck it. I was going to talk to Timothy about moving. Him, me and Odette. I couldn't give those two up. It was Kazak bookends. I opened up and invited them in. It turned out they had names besides Bookends #1 and #2, Nuro and Roman.Nuro (I think) checked out the rooms while Roman (I was pretty sure) kept an eye on my guests. I made introductions, first names only and specifying who was with who. Technically, they could trust my side because I was the Great Khan's brother and thus my servants were his servants. Technically.Iskender came next followed by OT. A woman I didn't know (sadly, not OT's daughter) came in behind him while the other two quintuplets stayed in the hallway. Iskender and I hugged."Ulı Khaan s yikti ağası," he smiled. That was 'Prince-something'. My Kazak was a bit rusty. He then whispered into my ear. "OT bows to you first. His title is Hongtaiji." What?"Ulı Khaan s yikti ağası," OT bowed."Hongtaiji Oyuun T m rbaatar," I bowed back. I remembered I had to rise first. It was an etiquette thing. In retrospect, Iskender had stretched the bounds of tradition by hugging me, his titular superior. "Welcome to my humble abode.""I thank you for your hospitality," he 'grinned'. His face wasn't made for that gesture so that faint gesture came across as rather unnatural.My mind finally finished translating what Iskender and OT had called me. It wasn't 'prince'. It was 'beloved brother of the Great Khan'. Mother fucker!"Wait," Justin, the military attach  guy muttered, "we are here to meet this guy?" indicating me."What do you mean?" Saira questioned."The title Mr. Nyilas was identified with means 'beloved brother of the Great Khaan'," he explained. "The Kazakhs don't go tossing honorifics like that around. This guy," again pointing at me, "is a really important somebody.""Thanks for dropping this grenade in my lap, OT," I joked. "I'll get you for this, and your little yak too.""Odette is going to be so miffed that she missed this," Pamela chuckled."Mr. Nyilas," Zelda began."Please, call me Cáel. It is how I roll.""Cáel, can I ask you a stupid question?""Go right ahead," Pamela snorted. "Cáel does stupid real well. It is a critical part of his skill set. It makes him adorable instead of annoying. Trust me, you'll learn that soon enough."Too much 'trust me' was flying around in a room where nobody trusted anybody."Thanks for that encouragement, Teach," I grumbled. "Ask away, Captain Zelda.""Why are you playing this game with us?""I wasn't. Until thirty seconds ago I was sure I was here totally as a spectator," I gripped. "My buddy," the word dripped with sarcasm, "Temujin likes dumping these kinds of surprises on me.""Did you mean what Ms. Pale said about you feeling you owed me?" Chris asked."Absolutely.""We need help defusing this Thailand crisis before a shooting war begins.""What do you suggest?""We want the Khanate to back down," Chris stated firmly."I thought we had agreed that I would spearhead this delegation," Nisha reminded Chris."I think the situation had evolved and we need a different approach," Chris insisted."You should listen to the Lieutenant Colonel," I advised. "He knows a whole lot more about what is going on than you do.""Why don't you explain it to us?" she began her weevil-ling."You are engaging in linguistic niceties with men who have bled together, Ms. Biswal," I instructed. "Not that Chris and I have bled on the same battlefield, we have shed blood in the same cause; and that cause has been bringing our two nations, the Khanate and the US, together. The Khanate owes Chris for his efforts on our behalf and we pay our debts.""How so?" Nisha asked."National Security stuff," I evaded. "If you don't know, you shouldn't know and you probably don't want to know. Suffice it to say, the Khanate is willing to listen to Lt. Colonel Diaz's request as a friend.""But he doesn't speak for the United States Government," she corrected."Why not?" I riposted. "He's dealt with the Khanate longer than you have. He has a clue about the mindset of their rank and file.""But does he know their leadership?" she persisted."I don't know. Chris, do you think you have a handle on me?""Are you really capable of talking for the Khanate government?" Nisha preempted Chris. What she left unsaid was 'are you culpable in their atrocities?'"Let's find out," I then looked over my shoulder. "Hongtaiji Oyuun T m rbaatar, will my words and wishes reach my brother's ear?""That is why I am here," he replied."Don't you have the authority to speak for your leader?" she grilled OT. Nisha was relentless trying to stay in the limelight. "Aren't you a diplomat?""There is no need to insult the man," Pamela snidely commented."I am one of many voices that provide information to the Great Khan. I am not his brother. Cáel Nyilas is and has already proved his familial affection by proposing Operation Funhouse and brought whole nations as gifts," OT schooled her. "He is gifted with both tactical and strategic insight as well as sharing the Great Khan's love for his people and his hopes for their eventual freedom.""I didn't think you were a soldier," Zelda looked me over."Oh no," I wove off that insinuation. "I've never been a real soldier and am unworthy of that distinction. I know quite a few who have earned that title and they scare the crap out of me. I mean, they go looking for trouble. In my case, trouble comes looking for me. I'm damn lucky to still be alive and that's the damn truth.""Bullshit," Pamela coughed."What was that, Artemisia?" I winked at her."Bitch," she laughed "My men have become women, and my women men. At least you didn't call me Cassandra.""Well, she's Greek (a deadly insult to all Amazons), but you could be her Evil Twin because everyone believes whatever you say.""Can we get down to business?" Chris inquired."Damn," Pamela shook her head. "They haven't been paying attention.""What does that mean?" Zelda griped."Iskender, you know what I'm talking about, don't you?" I asked."Not a clue, Exalted One," he stood there like a stone statue. Note, the Khanate contingent really were standing there like the Altai Mountains, doing nothing. You had to carefully examine them to see that they did indeed breathe and blink."Use small words," Pamela advised."You really are a rude misanthrope," Anais told Pamela."Do you know what's going on?" Pamela volleyed."No.""Then sit back and watch how the madness works," she snickered. "It is all you, Cáel.""Okay. One; how did Artemisia escape the battle of Salamis?" I began. Nothing."Oh," Justin nodded. "She rammed an allied ship to make the pursuing Athenians think she was an ally. What does that have to do with our current predicament?""Achieve your ends by using violence as a distraction," I sighed. "The Khanate will invade Thailand in," I looked to OT, "tomorrow?" He nodded."How does that help us?" Nisha complained."Second example, Cassandra. She saw the truth through all illusions and falsehoods and no one believed her. Now, reverse that."Pause."We are waiting," Saira finally joined the conversation. I could hear those little microprocessors inside her noggin firing electrons at light speed."We fight a phony war. The Khanate and their buddies invade in a lightning campaign that appears to be successful. Shit like attacking the opposition where they ain't. Things that look epic on CNN where some retired colonel, no offense...""None taken," Chris responded."Where some colonel talks about seizing resources, severed supply lines and encirclement. We, the Khanate, bomb shit like bridges and supply dumps, things with no civilians to get killed. On the downside, to make this work the Khanate needs to put some level of force into Bangkok.""That will get civilians killed," Nisha reminded me, unnecessarily."Civilians are getting killed right now by their own government. This time they will get a chance to strike back," I stated firmly. "The Thai protestors aren't cowards. They are just grossly outgunned. We can change that.""How does that help the United States?" Nisha queried."The US gets to come in and save the day," I sighed. "The US can t get there until the day after, so you don't look bad about letting the first 24 hours of brutality happen.""Oh," Zelda blinked."The US gets to end the fighting that the Khanate has no desire to continue. The US brings peace, while whomever takes over owes the Khanate. Both sides look good. Both sides claim victory. The President gets a second Nobel Peace Prize (psychic, aren't I?). The US gathers some regional allies like Malaysia, the ROC and the Philippines along with our Marines to ensure free and fair elections. The Khanate isn't seen to be backing down against the Titan of Western Civilization. They are working with them to bring about a better world.""Win-win," Saira nodded in agreement."The Khanate is still an autocratic tyranny," Nisha commented."As opposed to the People's Republic's oligarchical tyranny?" Chris countered."Agreed," Saira said. "I now think we should work with the Khanate to bring stability to Central Asia which which was impossible while those member nations were being squeezed between Russia, Europe, China and India.""What are you a doctor of?" I asked."I specialize in 'failed states', among other things," Saira grinned."This could still turn into one bloody cluster-fuck," Zelda mused."My peopled don't have the resources to devastate Thailand," OT finally spoke. "If you, the US, agrees to intervene on our timetable, you will have our thanks, off the record, of course.""How do we know this isn't some ruse to allow the Khanate to overthrow Thailand's existing government?" Justin questioned."You have my word," I replied. No one said anything for several heartbeats."Really?" Nisha balked."Mr. Nyilas, Cáel, do you give me the Great Khan's word?" Chris studied me intently."Without reservation," I answered. "For what you have done for us and more, the Great Khan will honor this deal. We and the Thai's will do the bleeding. You will get your accolades. We avoid a pointless clashing of forces, which is why we are all here today.""I will give you my written recommendation in a few hours," Saira told Nisha.Chris stepped forward to shake my hand. He was an alpha-type alright. I gave as good as I got. His eyes bore into mine, looking for a faltering of will."What did you do in Romania?""I got a lot of good men killed.""Okay.""Okay?" Nisha squawked. "A handshake, a pat on the back and the deals done? Since when did our democratic republic do business this way? He admitted he got men killed in Romania. What is to say this won't be Romania writ large?""Ms. Biswal, he told the truth. He got good men killed and he isn't happy about it. I would be worried if he claimed one bit of glory from that episode. He didn't.""Nisha," I took a deep breathe, "When you unleash men with weapons, nothing is assured. Maybe the Thai government will see the hate coming their way and back down. Maybe the people will resist the intrusion. Maybe the Khanate's forces will get slaughtered at the starting line. It isn't like they have enough time to deploy enough forces to win a protracted war.""What happens if the Khanate decides it won't go?" she continued."Then they get destroyed on the ground in a war of attrition," Chris answered for me. "He's right. They can't bring enough in the time allotted to completely overwhelm the roughly 120,000 members of the Royal Thai Army that have remained loyal to the regime.""In three days they will be out of fuel, shells, rockets and bullets. It is logistics, Ms. Biswal," Zelda piled it on. "The Khanate war-fighting systems are not NATO compatible. That means they can't simply capture more material as they penetrate the frontiers. If they overstay their welcome, we can launch missile strikes against their fuel depots. The combat devolves back to World War I and that's a style of war they can't afford to fight.""What about stopping the Khanate from invading in the first place?" Nisha wouldn't give up."Had the US acknowledged the Khanate, none of this would have happened, Ms. Biswal," I became snappish. "Neither superpower talked to the other until other commitments had been made.""If you think you can come in and start dictating Khanate policy, you are dreadfully mistaken. The US doesn't have the power, or the resolve," I glared at her. "Don't try convincing the Khanate that isn't the case. We know better.""You don't know what the US is capable of," she snapped back."Abandoning Iraq with a fractured pseudo-democratic process? Abandoning Afghanistan without destroying the Taliban? The Syrian Civil War? The Donbass Crisis? The collapse of Libya? Boko Haram? Somalia? Yemen? Exactly how has the US's power and resolve solved any of those issues?" I countered."Ms. Biswal," OT spoke again. "We are willing to create a desert and call it 'Peace'. Our enemies know that. Your unwillingness to do so is neither a strength nor a weakness. It is a hallmark of your society in the same way that 'Total War' is a hallmark of ours. We are more than willing to leave you to manage the Peace. Let us manage the War against the forces opposed to civilized discourse.""As ugly and disagreeable as it is, we are willing to keep creating pyramids of skulls on every street corner until either they learn their lesson, or we kill them all. Let us do that and you will have your global stability and reap the economic benefits and accolades of Pax Americana. We are not your enemy. We are precisely the ally you need to keep the peace and we will do that, if you let us.""To allow barbarism is to become barbarians," Saira mused."That is complete fiction," I scoffed. "The United States didn't become communist because it allied with the Soviet Union in World War II. Truman didn't become Stalin. The enemy of my enemy is my friend is older than recorded history.""It is the Carrot and the Stick on a Global basis," Justin agreed. "Listen to the gentle words of the West, or you will end up feeling the wrath of the East.""As long as the Khanate accepts the limitations of is role," Saira added, "this might work. Please understand there will be factions in the Western Democracies who will not accept that status quo. It is not in the nature of our societies to stifle dissent.""Is it possible to get any political concessions from the Khanate's leadership?" Justin requested. "A pledge to hold some level of democratic elections? A Constitution with some strong provisions to protect individual rights and liberties would be nice.""Justin, in case your bosses missed it, the Khanate is still at a state of war with the PRC," I shook my head. "With their limited experience with democratic government throughout most of the Khanate's territories, that would be madness.""With limited concessions to the Imperial State, we have not interfered with the politics of Albania, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey. We are never going to become a Western-style democracy. We have had limited rule by consensus long before White Men arrived in the Western Hemisphere," OT informed them."Discounting the Irish Monks, Vikings and Knights Templar," Pamela interjected."If you say so," OT gave a minuscule bow to Pamela. "Long before your nation was anything more than the scribbled history of a long-faded Greek city-state, we had meritocracies, oligarchies of senior statesmen & warriors, thinkers and religious leaders, and we had codified judicial moral equality into the political arena. We have a far superior record of religious and minority freedom, of genuine multi-culturalism plus a deeper understanding of the arts and crafts as a means of uniting disparate peoples. We find your claims of cultural superiority to be childish.""Oh, snap," I snickered. "You get'em, OT.""I bet the boys in Foggy Bottom felt that pimp-slap," Pamela agreed."I bet the bronzed skull of some Harvard dean just fell off its pedestal.""They are called 'busts'," Anais groaned. "With a name like that, how could you forget it?""So true," I concurred. "All this responsibility must have clouded my normally hedonistic vocabulary.""That doesn't change the fact that you have employed biological warfare and genocide in this current day and age," Justin pointed out."Tell that to our Native Americans," I snorted. "They are easy to find. They live in trailer parks in whatever blasted Hell Hole we stuck them in, or in their casinos where they are buying back their country, one rube at a time. Ask them if they've gotten over it.""We don't claim to be perfect," Justin insisted."No, we merely claim to have the only correct form of government, economic policy and schools of philosophical, political, scientific and educational thought," I pointed out."We definitely should revive ethical utilitarianism," Pamela slapped a fist into her palm. "Oh, and the guillotine. Work houses for orphans and grist mills for the disabled, and A Modest Proposal for those chronically unemployed and terminally homeless, yes, and,""Pamela, what is it with you today?" I snickered."It is nearly sunset,""Ah, and you haven't killed anyone yet.""You know how cranky I get when I don't get my daily dose of homicide.""Are you two done?" Anais frowned. She did that a lot around me."And you don't hand out Mini-Uzi's to your preschoolers," Pamela glowered. "What is wrong with you people?"Pause, waiting for that punch line that was never coming. See, it was more difficult to sense Pamela was an immediate threat to your health if you thought she was completely off her rocker."Hmm, well, on that note, ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a deal. Chris and Justin, I will leave you with my loyal Iskender to work out the gory details. Who wants to grab dinner?" I inquired."Are you serious?" Nashi gasped."Oh yeah. I had the Russian invasion of Manchuria figured out in this amount of time and Manchuria is way bigger than Thailand." Was it? I didn't know. Geography was not one of those subjects which gets you laid."What do you have in mind?" Zelda inquired."Whatever you want."{1 am, Sunday, August 31st ~ 8 Days to go}"How did I end up in bed with you?" Zelda sighed happily, her body splayed halfway over mine and her head resting on my chest, listening to my heartbeat."You aren't the first girl to ask me that question."On the other side, Anais moaned in her sleep. Yeah, she was over me. Abso-fucking-lutely. If you recall, she'd try anything once. I convinced her the military babes were totally different than that Goth chick we'd blown the mind of back in Montreal.Zelda was with me because I had caught her in a lie. She claimed to be a lesbian when I first hit on her. She was adamant. I destroyed her with incontrovertible evidence.A) She hadn't scoped out Anais when she came in. A glance didn't count and Anais oozed sexy when she was angry, which was most of the time.B) She hadn't scoped out Juanita's figure when said worthy went to the kitchenette. I look for such things and Juanita has thighs to die for.C) When I told her she had a wicked sense of humor, she blushed. Honestly, lesbians rarely care about strange men complimenting their personalities.D) Then I double-downed by asking her if she preferred a shower, or bath. She said shower (because that's the butch thing to say). When I asked her 'when was the last time she'd had a bubble bath', she blushed again. Lesbians don't like it when a man imagines them naked. Straight chicks, unless you are a creepy, stalker guy, like it when men fantasize about them swathed in bubbles, thus semi-clothed, thus not creepy.E) In a final and fatal act of evasion, she asked a grumpy Anais what she liked about me. Anais was blunt."He can fucking hammer you all night, sneak in a romantic quickie in the shower, cook you a delicious breakfast then give you another round of mind-numbing intercourse up against the wall before you have to go to work. And still find the time and energy to fuck your neighbor."Woot!"So, this happens to you often?" she mused, it was a trap. She really wanted to know if I was an egotistical scumbag who took advantage of every woman I came across. At the same time, she wanted to know if I considered her a 'whoe' ~ a woman who gives up the goodies for free."Do you mean 'am I taking advantage of you'?" I replied."That is not what I asked," she persisted. That meant 'yes'."Let me see," I laid back and looked up at the ceiling. "I have a fiancée, six women I am close enough to to spend quality time with, a fuck-buddy who is a sweet girl and trusts me too much and a passel of ex-girlfriends who have found my infidelity to be reprehensible.""Six women?" she frowned."Four co-workers (Rhada, Oneida, Yasmin and Buffy), the girlfriend of a co-worker who dumped her in a very public fashion (Brooke) and that woman's friend (Libra). She was the wing-chick who was stuck with me on a quadruple-date and was underwhelmed with me when we first met."I didn't count my 'hook-ups' and I wasn't sure how to qualify Nicole."Ex's?""'No' is not a word in common usage in my vocabulary. I've dated a best friend's girl, a mother, sister and aunt of the same girlfriend, basically, I'm either highly immoral, incredibly loose, or a letch.""Don't you take responsibility for any of those, relationships?""Hell yeah," I tilted her chin up so that we could make eye-contact. "I've never blamed a woman for taking out her frustrations on my flesh, ran away from a screaming fit (Big Lie!), or blamed them for any failing in our relationship. It is always my fault because I can't stay loyal.""That's depressing," Zelda moped."Don't get me wrong. I don't find fault in any of the women I have spent time with. That is my problem, I find women fascinating; never boring, or bland. Quite frankly, it is a gift that I don't regret having. I may be a fuck-up, but I'm a fuck-up who will give you the very best attention.""Full of yourself, much?" her attitude shifted. I had short-circuited her fears; I was a cheater, I confessed to it without shame because I was inexorably drawn to her beauty, personality and charm. With Anais around, I couldn't claim to be solely enchanted with Zelda, so I had to think quickly on my feet. After all, Zelda was energetic and had great stamina."I promised you pleasure," I countered. "Did I deliver?""Yes, you are full of yourself," she slapped my stomach. I wasn't full of myself. I was a confident sex machine."Thank you.""Huh?""Wonderful sex, taking a chance with me, agreeing to a three-way, being awake after," I looked at the bed-table clock, "six hours.""I run five miles a day," she bragged."I try to have ten hours of sex a day," I teased. Zelda slapped my stomach again. Anais stirred."Do any women like you, for any reason beyond your cock?""I'm considered loyal where sex is not concerned, reliable and brave," I offered."What happened in Romania?""Have you ever been in combat?""I've been in violent confrontations, but not a true firefight," she admitted."Hmm,""Is it something that you can't relate?" she asked."No. You are a soldier so you probably know more about combat than I do. It was, not chaotic at all. I never lost perspective of what was going on despite the bullets flying around. The Romanian Captain in charge knew his stuff, directed his company well and all I had to do was figure out where the terrorist leader was.""What happened?" she perked up."I am here talking with you and he's in a morgue in Bucharest.""Oh," She wanted more."I have to live with the knowledge that I set all of that in motion, Zelda. I convinced the Romanians that they had to confront that terror group before they moved on to their next target, me.""I knew they would come after me and my friends, no matter where we were. Which would have ended up as a blood bath in some urban center. So I felt compelled to strike first. Based on information I provided, the Romanian Army sent two battalions, the 22nd and 24th, of the 6th Mountain Troops Brigade into battle.""It was a massacre," I remembered sadly."But you won," she tried to comfort me."Of the four companies involved in the battle, the Romanians suffered nearly two hundred dead and wounded. I hardly consider it anything other than a massacre. Yes, we won. Only three of the terrorists escaped. Their leader died. I don't think I've ever felt so hollow in my life," I finished."Forty percent losses, that is horrific," she crawled on top of me."The kicker is the Romanians sent some men of the 24th to hunt me down when I was kidnapped. A squad was in the group that rescued me and my companion from Johnston Island. I thought they would never want to deal with me ever again.""Don't be so hard on yourself. If they thought well enough of you to send their men out to rescue you, then you must have done right by them.""Chaz said something like that too," I felt sheepish and sleepy."Chaz? Who is she?"Honest to God, one day I want to find a girl who thinks I'm talking about another girl and asks if we can have a three-way, instead of trying to compare herself to this unknown person. Wait... I already had someone like that. Her name was Odette."Chaz is Color Sergeant Charles 'Chaz' Tomorrow of Her Majesty's SSR," I corrected her assumption."SSR? Those are some tough people. How do you know him?""Black Bag directives from the National Security Council, sworn to secrecy upon penalty of death, pinky-promise kind of stuff," I grinned. Maybe I wasn't all that sleepy after all."You really are a Man of Mystery," Zelda purred. She had truly exceptional stamina. "Maybe I can convince you to talk.""Maybe I can find another use for my tongue," I countered and off we went. Somewhere along the process, Anais woke up and joined in.It wasn't all fun and games. Anais' parting words were "You are a pig," then she sauntered out of my room and out of my life. Had she remembered to take her Serge with her, I would have bought the act. As it was,"Is she always so volatile?" Zelda remarked."Volatile? That's not her being volatile. That's Anais being affectionate. Volatile usually is accompanied by thrown objects and bodily harm," I sighed happily. Meeting her one more time couldn't be all that bad, could it? Zelda looked hungry so I shoved that thought to the back of my mind and got to work.That was the highlight of my Sunday. Zelda had to fly back to Washington D.C. and I had to go to work with JIKIT. It seemed that the Khanate and the US military were heading for a showdown. I unloaded all my Saturday's activities to the team and we got to work, no recriminations. I was the Khan's spiritual brother and sometimes that meant I had to do him favors.I asked Addison when she thought he would return the favor. She laughed, then smiled and told me that wasn't how it worked. He was a world leader now and I was merely his kooky kinsman that he would keep throwing problems at until one day I broke. Then it would be some other poor saps turn.Then she told me she was kidding and clearly the Great Khan thought the world of me. I chose to believe the second lie because it made me feel better, and it was promising to be a long weekend/start of the week.Note: Geopolitical DevelopmentsWhat follows are snippets of the Battle for Thailand that takes place late in the night of September 1stand continued into the early morning of September 3rd. If this does not interest you, you can rejoin Cáel's exploits in four pages)On the eve of battle, the Royal Thai High Command had decided to strip all but one armored unit from the 2nd Army in order to give the First Army's offensive against the rebels more of a punch. It's decision to strip the tank battalions from both their infantry divisions as well as the armored and one of the two mechanized regiments would prove to be disastrous. It was as if the leadership of the Royal Thai military were idiots.The least economically valuable part of the country was the northeast which the 2nd Army warded. They had severely underestimated the airlift capacity of the Khanate as well as the willingness of Laos and Cambodia to both use their armed forces in an invasion as well as their willingness to let Vietnamese troops cross their countries.That thinking had led the Thai military to adopt a 'forward defense' strategy, the desire to fight the enemy at the borders, as opposed to having stronger formations deeper within the country. Considering the relative weakness of the Cambodian and Laotian militaries, that policy had made sense:- The baseline Laotian and Cambodian tank was the T-54/55, a 1950's Soviet relic. The normal anti-tank capabilities in all Thai infantry formations was more than equal to such a threat.-Neither country had an air force worth worrying about.In contrast, the Khanate's primary tanks, the T-90SM and T-95 were resistant to most of what the Thai Army could throw at them, at least from the front. The seven hundred combat aircraft the Khanate and the Vietnamese were able to field was an equal catastrophe for the Thais. It greatly compensated for the relative small numbers of invaders.Finally, there was a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Alliance's goals were. Military logic dictated the destruction of Thailand's mobile force followed by the capture of Bangkok. As long as the Thai regime held the capital, it would remain the legitimate power in the country.Due to the altering political landscape, the Alliance's only option was to make the government 'look bad'. The loss of peripheral provinces, while of negligible immediate strategic value, looked great on the maps the world-wide media would be showing to their audiences. It would appear that the Thai army had failed to defend their country. That would (hopefully) make the Thai Third Army look like the legitimate authority in Thailand.That was the plan anyway, and you know what they say about battle plans and the enemy, right? H-hour was 4 am, September 1st.The commander of the Zuun stood up and waited to be recognized. The staff officer from the Yunnan Command pointed at him."Sir, why are we doing this? I am not afraid to fight for the Great Khan, but this action seems to be suicidal. We will be far behind enemy's lines while our offensive force will be grossly under-equipped.""You will have to rely on our ability to supply you by air.""We only have supplies for two days of operations. What happens then?""We rely on the Americans to come and save us," the senior officer responded bitterly."Allah save us from allies," the young commander muttered. What else could he do?He was part of the 2nd Mountain Sultan Mehmet Tumen which had just arrived in Yunnan to replace the exhausted 1st Mountain Abu al-Ghazi Bahadur Tumen. His men were from Turkey, inexperienced in combat and using new equipment they were not familiar with. They would be working with a unit he had never worked with before, the 1st Airmobile Tauekel Khan Tumen, Kazaks, who would be seizing the small airport his men needed to land in.From there, they were to 'run amok'. That was the technical term for racing south down a highway in Central Thailand, attacking the headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division, an armored unit. Once that was accomplished, they were to attack the local police precinct. Provided they were still alive after that, they were to return to the air strip to resupply then they were to 'spread chaos' until they were finally hunted down by the vastly larger Thai division his 100 men would be fighting.Of course, there was the plan for the rebel Royal Thai Third Army to force their way through the larger frontline forces of the loyalist Royal Thai First Army and come to his rescue. How would the Thai troops respond when ordered to fight their fellow Thais? No one was sure. If there was any hope in this mission, it was the knowledge that several other Zuuns had the exact same mission in other areas of Thailand.  It was H-hour minus twenty-two.It was 11 o'clock in the evening when the general in charge of the Royal Thai 9th Infantry Division was woken up. The Marines were leaving. That was correct; the three Royal Thai regiments were heading west to Sattahip Naval Base, because they had been ordered to by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize why this was going on.Seven hours earlier, the Royal Thai Army had seized all the Air Force bases in the 1st and 2nd Army districts as well as ordering the 4th Army to do the same thing (The Royal Thai Air Force had been trying to remain neutral in the upcoming civil war).Undoubtedly the navy had decided to make their assets less 'hijack-able'. A few phone calls later confirmed that most of the Navy had set sail for parts unknown and the naval air units at Ban Sattahip Air Base (U-Tapao International Airport) had also departed either out to sea, or to ports and bases in the South.He made a personal appeal to the commander of Marine Forces to no avail. They wanted no part of the upcoming struggle and advised the general to do the same. The general had other problems. The Royal Thai Marines were the frontline forces facing the southern border with Cambodia. He quickly reorganized his regiments, sending them to take the old Marine strongpoints to await further orders. Stopping the Marines never entered his mind.That was a bloodletting he wanted no part of. The last thing he did was inform his superiors, thus avoiding any stupid orders to the contrary. Suddenly the nebulous movements along the Cambodian border developed a haunting significance. He wondered how much longer he had before something happened.  It was H-hour minus five.At midnight a loyalist commander of a company of mechanized infantry in the 2nd Cavalry's 11th Battle Group (named after their axis of advance, Highway 11) decided to send a motorized section of his command forward to the advance position his battalion was to occupy come sunrise. Either later in the day, or tomorrow morning, the forces loyal to the regime would launch a coordinated assault against the rebels main supply center at Phitsanulok.He had a cot set up in his communications hut and had just nodded off when the radio squawked to life. His lieutenant in charge of the advance made a hurried report. They had encountered serious opposition in a confusing night action, then he went silent. The captain immediately swung into action. He put the rest of his men on alert, then contacted the neighboring Tank Battalion. He needed some armored support. He made a similar call to the attached artillery component.The Tank Battalions night officer quickly put a platoon of light tanks at his disposal. The artillery were ready for any fire mission he sent their way. Before the armor could arrive, the company commander found himself being called to the carpet by the Duty Officer at the 3rd Cavalry (two regiments of the 2nd Cav. had been attached to the 3rd's command) over his 'offensive' action and the relief mission was called off. What had happened to the patrol of 20 Royal Thai soldiers? He was ordered to wait until sunrise to find out.Little did anyone know, these were the first combat casualties of the upcoming rebel offensive. His patrol had stumbled across a battalion of mechanized troops arriving at their jump off point for the attack that was less than six hours from beginning. Neither the commander of the 11th Battle Group, the 3rd Cavalry Division, or First Army was informed that the enemy had already advanced twenty kilometers south of where they were supposed to be.  

Durante los últimos 80 años hemos estado viviendo el período más pacífico y próspero de toda la historia humana y eso ha sido posible gracias a un orden mundial impuesto por los EE.UU. que ahora, y para sorpresa de todos, comienza a ser desmontado desde el mismo país que lo creó.Para ser mecenas del podcast visita mi perfil en Patreon.

Richard Solomon discusses his Tao guidebook and spiritual technology on navigating our times (e.g. the "Satanic matrix"). China is rising and it remains to be seen if Beijing capitulates to the one world order or whether it retains its civilizational state. He describes the Anglo-Zionist empire, the decline of Pax Americana, the neo-feudal technocracy, the Trump PSYOP, and more! Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube Geopolitics & Empire · Richard Solomon: As West Declines, Will China Fold to Globalism or Retain Civilizational State? #528 *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics easyDNS (use code GEOPOLITICS for 15% off!) https://easydns.com Escape The Technocracy course (15% discount using link) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis (CitizenHR, CitizenIT, CitizenPL) https://societates-civis.com Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites Tao Is Now https://www.taoisnow.org About Richard Solomon Richard Solomon is a geopolitical analyst and writer. He is also an activist philosopher and president of the Tao Institute of Cognitive, Martial, and Spiritual Technology- currently a metaphysical institution. *Podcast intro music is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to sift through the geopolitical implications of Trump's middle-finger diplomacy as he retreats from U.S. commitments abroad and edges closer to an alliance with Vladimir Putin. Then they discuss what's next for Europe as France ramps up support for Ukraine, Poland seeks its own nukes, and Germany rearms: If this is the end of Pax Americana, is it a new beginning or the end for NATO, too? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Noam and Jen muster the strength to talk about the week that was, as crappy as it was. We go over the ongoing saga of the Tate brothers and those who feel the need to platform them, Jen finally gives her rant on the right-wing podcast sphere and how fake it all is, how antisemitism is the new cool thing, Europe getting it together, the insanity of the US's new policy of turning off military tech when it feels like it, and the end of Pax Americana.  We will be back on Twitch this week, discussing all of the TV we've been watching over the past few weeks. Click below to subscribe!  https://www.twitch.tv/ambitiousxover 

This episode stars Kurt Baumeister (Twilight Of The Gods, Pax Americana). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Baumeister's home in greater Philadelphialand in February 2025.

Neue US-Sicherheitspolitik - die EU rüstet auf: Ein Interview mit Hannah Neumann, Europaabgeordnete der Grünen; Grönland vor der Wahl; Machtkampf in Rumänien; Deutscher Döner begeistert Briten; „Denk‘ ich an Europa“ mit dem luxemburgischen Schriftsteller Guy Helminger: “Europa hat ein Demokratie-Problem“; Mod.: Andrea Oster Von WDR 5.

To Sarah Isgur's dismay, today's episode is heavy on the foreign policy. Between last week's humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump's apparent embrace of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and the remilitarization of our European allies, the outlook for Pax Americana isn't bright.Sarah, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes also compare notes on the highs and lows from Trump's address to a joint session of Congress before finally getting around to their discussion of woke chili. The Agenda: —Is this Putin's world now? —Zelensky's errors. Trump's disgrace. —The allies step up —Our gelded Congress —Good television —Beans are woke Show Notes: —Better Righteous than Right About Ukraine? —The key to understanding Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine war —The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entrevista a Ignacio García Valdecasas por José Figueroa García y Miguel Angel González Suárez para el programa Tiempos interesantes Diplomático ex embajador de España y comentarista geopolítico , una entrevista imperdible y fundamental para entender la actualidad internacional.

In the past 24 hours there has been further indication that an immense transition in international relations is under way, far more significant that the retreat into isolation at the end of the First World War. Trump and Vance have signalled their intent to shift the US away from its traditional post war role of being the centre of Pax Americana, the metropole of an unofficial empire, to the first amongst great power equals. The consequences for Europe in this realignment will be dire, but there is little indication that European Union heads of state have fully appreciated this yet. Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/explaininghistory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has signalled a great strategic alignment away from the principles of Pax Americana, the post war unofficial imperium that America has operated since 1945 towards something that resembles the concert of great powers before the First World War. One of the powers thrown into diplomatic and strategic crisis as a result of this is Britain.Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/explaininghistory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future of Ukraine and the defence of Europe will dominate when Keir Starmer jets out to the White House for talks with Donald Trump next week. Can the UK prime minister help save 80 years of Pax Americana? Or is the US on the verge of becoming an ‘adversary' to Europe? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues Robert Shrimsley, Gideon Rachman and John Paul Rathbone to discuss the military implications for Britain and Europe, as calls grow for rapid rearmament across the continent.Plus, the FT's media editor Dan Thomas joins the panel to lift the lid on the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (Arc) conference this week, at which Nigel Farage, Jordan Peterson and Kemi Badenoch spoke. Part ‘megachurch', part political rally, Lucy, Dan and Robert unravel what the movement is.Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher, Robert: @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley, Gideon @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachman; JP Rathbone @JP_Rathbone; Dan Thomas @DanielThomasLDNWant more? Free links: How Europe can defend itself without US help France and UK plan air power-backed ‘reassurance force' in postwar UkraineThe MAGA-fied right are missing Britain's real crisisPart megachurch, part political rally: inside London's ‘right-wing Davos' Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter' award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mixed by Breen Turner. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brothers welcome Aslı Bâli, Professor of Law at Yale Law School and President of the Middle East Studies Association. They discuss the increasingly repressive academic climate in the United States over the question of Palestine led by private sector as well as the current Trump Administration, how anti-Palestinian racism is used as a wedge issue in contemporary culture wars, how Zionist and rightwing organizations seek to criminalize dissent by claiming that it is discriminatory, and then how this politics is connected to the increasingly repressive Pax Americana in the Middle East itself. Finally, they discuss the stakes of fighting for international law and human rights, and the minimum duty of solidarity with Palestinians incumbent upon ethical scholars committed to justice. Watch the episode on our YouTube channel Date of recording: January 28, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including a live conversation with Samir Makdisi*    

Pax Americana, which means "American Peace" in Latin, refers to a period of relative peace and stability that has been maintained through the predominant influence and power of the United States on the global stage. This concept is often compared to historical periods of peace enforced by dominant powers, such as the Roman Empire's Pax Romana.Pax Americana emerged in the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, during the second half of the 20th century and extending into the early 21st century. Key elements of Pax Americana include:Superpower Status: The United States emerged from World War II as one of the world's two superpowers, along with the Soviet Union. This gave the U.S. significant influence over global affairs.Economic Dominance: The U.S. became the world's largest economy and played a central role in shaping the global economic system, including the establishment of institutions like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank.Military Power: The United States maintained a strong and technologically advanced military, which it used to deter aggression and promote stability in various regions. It also entered into alliances, such as NATO, to provide collective defense.Nuclear Deterrence: The United States developed and maintained a robust nuclear arsenal, which served as a deterrent to large-scale conflicts between major powers during the Cold War.Promotion of Democracy and Capitalism: The U.S. promoted democratic governance and market-oriented economic systems as part of its foreign policy, often engaging in nation-building efforts.Cultural Influence: American culture, including music, movies, and technology, spread around the world, contributing to soft power and influencing global perceptions.Global Policeman Role: The United States often acted as a global policeman, intervening in conflicts and crises to maintain order and protect its interests.Then on a clear fall day in September, it all came crashing down when those planes slammed into the World Trade Center. (commercial at 14:10)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Donald Trump's first week in office has ushered in a new era in America's relationship with the world. Pax Americana out; Great Power Competition is in. Whether it is buying Greenland, controlling Panama, threatening tariffs on Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and China, Trump wields American power to get what he wants. That creates both new opportunities. And new dangers. James Lindsay of the Council on Foreign Relations and Matt Kaminski of Politico join Ivo Daalder for a discussion of Trump's World in this week's edition of World Review.

Welcome to the Transformation Age We are living in one of the most extraordinary moments in human history. The world is shifting beneath our feet — politically, economically, technologically, ecologically, and spiritually. This new era is characterized by rapid, self-reinforcing transformations across all aspects of life. Unlike previous historical shifts, change itself has become the dominant force, creating a world that is increasingly difficult to navigate with traditional ways of thinking. This is the mission of The Big Picture Mind — to cultivate a way of thinking that can navigate these vast changes, helping us make sense of complexity rather than being overwhelmed by it. Why Big Picture Thinking? Too often, our world is shaped by small ideologies masquerading as big pictures—fragmented views that fail to address the depth and interconnectedness of our crises. “Big picture” minds are those that can rise above these limitations, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines, paradigms, and perspectives. Robb introduces the idea that knowledge has evolved through four key stages: Disciplinary – Specialized fields of study (economics, psychology, physics, etc.). Interdisciplinary – The blending of fields to generate new insights (e.g., behavioral economics). Transdisciplinary – Actual big pictures in the 21st century, identifying patterns that connect across all knowledge. Arch-Disciplinary – An emerging, speculative level that distills the core onto-epistemic primitives of the universe common to all big pictures. To meet the demands of the Transformation Age, we must think more holographically, learning to see the interwoven nature of reality with greater clarity and wisdom. The Five Crises Defining Our Time Robb outlines five seismic shifts reshaping our world: Ecological Transformation We are transitioning from the Holocene to the Anthropocene, where human activity is the dominant force shaping the planet. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecological degradation are no longer distant threats—they are shaping our societies now. The Rise of Hyperreality Borrowing from philosopher Jean Baudrillard, Robb describes how we increasingly live in a world of symbols detached from reality—a world where a meme coin can represent political power, and narratives are engineered rather than discovered. This disconnect is creating a profound crisis of discernment. The Meaning Crisis Across the world, people are struggling with existential confusion, depression, and a loss of purpose. Without a credible story of wholeness, individuals feel unmoored, caught between outdated mythologies and an arid, reductionist modernism. The Technological Singularity AI is accelerating toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and beyond. If left unchecked, this could reify neo-feudal social structures, concentrating power among a small elite while diminishing social mobility. Governance systems are woefully unprepared for the scale of these disruptions. The Breakdown of Global Governance The world order that has existed since World War II—often referred to as Pax Americana—is fracturing. In its place, we see the return of realist imperialism, economic volatility, and social instability. Populism and reactionary authoritarianism are symptoms of this deeper structural unraveling. The Metacrisis and the Integral Response These crises do not exist in isolation — they form a “metacrisis”, an interlocking systemic breakdown of coherence at all levels of human life. This calls for a new kind of intelligence — one that is capable of integrating perspectives rather than getting lost in fragmentation.

In this premiere 2025 episode of Faith Driven Investor, host Richard Cunningham welcomes David Bahnsen, founder and CIO of the Bahnsen Group, alongside regular contributor John Coleman. The conversation begins with a comprehensive review of 2024's market performance, examining how corporate profits exceeded expectations despite earlier recession fears. Bahnsen provides detailed analysis of current market valuations, particularly focusing on the concentration risk in the top 10 companies of the S&P 500 and potential opportunities in small-cap stocks.The discussion shifts to the implications of Trump's upcoming presidency, with particular focus on deregulation, M&A activity, and trade policy. Bahnsen offers a detailed critique of protectionist positions on the Nippon Steel deal, while Coleman provides perspective on global security implications. The episode also features insights from Coleman's recent piece on Pax Americana and the enduring strength of American innovation and economic leadership.The conversation concludes with deeper reflection on purpose and meaning, drawing from Bahnsen's 2024 book "Full Time Work and The Meaning of Life," and exploring Christian perspectives on work as a divine calling rather than a curse. Both guests share powerful closing thoughts on God's work in history and the promise of new beginnings in 2025.Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction and holiday reflections 09:45 - 2024 market review 18:30 - Current market valuations and concerns 27:15 - Trump administration and economic policy 35:40 - Discussion of Nippon Steel deal 42:20 - Global security and Pax Americana 48:15 - Work and meaning 53:30 - Closing reflections

Become a Member - www.parallelmike.com Mike's Investing Community and Financial Newsletter – www.patreon.com/parallelsystems Consult with Mike 1-2-1 - www.parallelmike.com/consultation Is the American empire on the verge of collapse, following in the footsteps of ancient Rome? It's a question that sparks endless debate, but before we jump to conclusions about decline, let's pause to consider what made Rome exceptional in the first place. How did this ancient civilization achieve greatness, and what can we learn from its wisdom to shape our own lives today? To answer these questions, I've invited Alex Petkas, a brilliant scholar of ancient history, to join us. Together, we'll explore the rise and fall of Rome, decode the cycles of empire, and uncover powerful lessons from its collapse—lessons that might illuminate how to thrive, even as Pax Americana begins to fade. Join Mike In Group Coaching For Investors January 2025 - Watch Here!   Guest Links: Website: https://www.costofglory.com/  

We don't think it's an exaggeration to say that we're standing at the precipice of what could be a third world war. At the very least, the thing that we refer to as the “Free World” is burning at its outer edges. Just a few weeks ago, Iran launched its largest-ever ballistic missile attack against Israel, while its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, continue to wage war against Israel, making use of the steady flow of weaponry and funding from Iran—which is ever closer to having nuclear weapons. The war in Ukraine continues to rage, with both sides engaged in intense fighting across multiple fronts. After over a year and a half of relentless Russian bombardment, Ukraine is barely holding the line as the grinding war of attrition drags on. According to The Wall Street Journal, more than one million people on both sides of the border have been killed or injured. And then there's China, which has lately been attacking Philippine and Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea, terrorizing international waters with impunity as the world watches anxiously. Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran have solidified a new axis of autocracy, united in its goal to unravel the Pax Americana and undermine American dominance. The question on our minds tonight is: What should America do about it? Many Americans are saying they don't want the United States to continue leading the world order. A 2023 Chicago Council on Global Affairs survey revealed that 42 percent of Americans think that the U.S. should stay out of world affairs, which is the highest number recorded since 1974. It is easy to talk about foreign policy as an abstract idea because war, for us, is thousands of miles away. But foreign policy is a matter of life and death. Not just for people around the world, but for the more than two million Americans that serve in our armed forces. It's conventional wisdom that American voters don't prioritize foreign policy. But this year, given the state of the world, that might be different. Which is why we hosted a debate, live in NYC, on this very topic.  Arguing that, yes, the U.S. should still police the world is Bret Stephens. Stephens is an opinion columnist for The New York Times and editor in chief of Sapir. As a foreign affairs columnist of The Wall Street Journal, he was awarded the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. And he is the author of America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder. Bret was joined by James Kirchick, contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, writer at large for Air Mail, and contributing writer for Tablet. He is the author of The End of Europe: Dictators, Demagogues, and the Coming Dark Age. He is also a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Arguing that no, the U.S. should not still police the world is none other than Matt Taibbi. Taibbi is a journalist, the founder of Racket News, and the author of 10 books, including four New York Times bestsellers. Matt was joined by Lee Fang. Lee is an independent investigative journalist, primarily writing on Substack at LeeFang.com. From 2015 to 2023, he was a reporter for The Intercept. Be it resolved: The U.S. should still police the world. If you liked what you heard from Honestly, the best way to support us is to go to TheFP.com and become a Free Press subscriber today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China's vertiginous rise over the past three decades has finally dawned on the Washington DC foreign policy blob. The hopes and dreams of China's reform-and-opening period have transitioned to the fear and loathing of the Xi era, triggering broad concerns about America's standing in the world today and in the future. Are we falling behind China in economic performance, research, dynamism and talent? Are America's best days behind it? For Dmitri Alperovitch, the answer is an emphatic “no.” The co-founder and former CTO of cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike and the co-author of this year's “World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century,” Alperovitch believes that the United States already has all the qualities to extend Pax Americana for another century. In his view, there is far too much cynicism in DC these days, and not enough of the optimism for the future that he bears with him from years as an entrepreneur and as an immigrant from the former Soviet Union. Alperovitch and host Danny Crichton discuss the qualities that America still has going for it, and how the media overemphasizes negative trends at the expense of a more holistic picture of America's performance. We then talk about upgrading the Defense Department, the need for better procurement around emerging technologies, the advent of software complementing hardware on the battlefield, and the lessons we can learn from Ukraine's experience fighting Russia.

Телеграм-канал Андрея Школьникова Заказать книгу "Хроники будущих войн и катастроф"

Телеграм-канал Андрея Школьникова Заказать книгу "Хроники будущих войн и катастроф"

On this edition of Parallax Views, Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival and director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary. Rev. Dr. Theoharis delves into her recent article for TomDispatch, The Nation, and Counterpunch, where she critiques the Heritage Foundation's controversial Project 2025, likening it to an American version of Pax Romana. Key topics include the rise of right-wing Christian Nationalism, the conflict between the Christian Left and the Christian Nationalist agenda, and the implications of Project 2025 for labor rights and the working class. The conversation also covers the intersection of militarism, the war on the poor, the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and bipartisan support for the military-industrial complex, which diverts resources from critical needs like healthcare and affordable housing. Additionally, the episode examines the influence of Pax Americana and parallel rises of Christian Nationalism and neoliberalism in the United States. We'll also discuss the social justice work that the Poor People's Campaign and Kairos Center are engaged in, especially during this year's election season.

Die zweite Episode direkt aus der Ägäis! Das Beinahe-Attentat auf Donald Trump und was es für die Weltpolitik bedeutet hätte, wenn es geglückt wäre, beschäftigt Isabel und Lukas in dieser Folge.

Has the Pax-Americana truly fallen? Can America's sole dominance over global influence be restored? What can we learn from the WWII-era that we can apply to today's multi-front and multi-faceted threats? Hudson Senior Fellow Arthur Herman rejoins the show to illustrate why desire for global power and influence requires an industrial base to do so and a balancing of means to commitments. Read Arthur's National Interest piece, "Toward a New Pax Americana."

Pax Americana, which means "American Peace" in Latin, refers to a period of relative peace and stability that has been maintained through the predominant influence and power of the United States on the global stage. This concept is often compared to historical periods of peace enforced by dominant powers, such as the Roman Empire's Pax Romana.Pax Americana emerged in the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, during the second half of the 20th century and extending into the early 21st century. Key elements of Pax Americana include:Superpower Status: The United States emerged from World War II as one of the world's two superpowers, along with the Soviet Union. This gave the U.S. significant influence over global affairs.Economic Dominance: The U.S. became the world's largest economy and played a central role in shaping the global economic system, including the establishment of institutions like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank.Military Power: The United States maintained a strong and technologically advanced military, which it used to deter aggression and promote stability in various regions. It also entered into alliances, such as NATO, to provide collective defense.Nuclear Deterrence: The United States developed and maintained a robust nuclear arsenal, which served as a deterrent to large-scale conflicts between major powers during the Cold War.Promotion of Democracy and Capitalism: The U.S. promoted democratic governance and market-oriented economic systems as part of its foreign policy, often engaging in nation-building efforts.Cultural Influence: American culture, including music, movies, and technology, spread around the world, contributing to soft power and influencing global perceptions.Global Policeman Role: The United States often acted as a global policeman, intervening in conflicts and crises to maintain order and protect its interests.Then on a clear fall day in September, it all came crashing down when those planes slammed into the World Trade Center.(commercial at 14:10)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Pax Americana, which means "American Peace" in Latin, refers to a period of relative peace and stability that has been maintained through the predominant influence and power of the United States on the global stage. This concept is often compared to historical periods of peace enforced by dominant powers, such as the Roman Empire's Pax Romana.Pax Americana emerged in the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, during the second half of the 20th century and extending into the early 21st century. Key elements of Pax Americana include:Superpower Status: The United States emerged from World War II as one of the world's two superpowers, along with the Soviet Union. This gave the U.S. significant influence over global affairs.Economic Dominance: The U.S. became the world's largest economy and played a central role in shaping the global economic system, including the establishment of institutions like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank.Military Power: The United States maintained a strong and technologically advanced military, which it used to deter aggression and promote stability in various regions. It also entered into alliances, such as NATO, to provide collective defense.Nuclear Deterrence: The United States developed and maintained a robust nuclear arsenal, which served as a deterrent to large-scale conflicts between major powers during the Cold War.Promotion of Democracy and Capitalism: The U.S. promoted democratic governance and market-oriented economic systems as part of its foreign policy, often engaging in nation-building efforts.Cultural Influence: American culture, including music, movies, and technology, spread around the world, contributing to soft power and influencing global perceptions.Global Policeman Role: The United States often acted as a global policeman, intervening in conflicts and crises to maintain order and protect its interests.Then on a clear fall day in September, it all came crashing down when those planes slammed into the World Trade Center. (commercial at 14:10)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Aaron Slodov, CEO of Atomic Industries, joins Marshall Kosloff to discuss how the US can strengthen its industrial base through the use of next generation technology to produce more quality at a better margin to more effectively deter adversaries.  Read Aaron's "Techno-Industrialist Manifesto" in Pirate Wires

[00:55]EscalationWith its terror empire established and growing, the Islamist regime has crossed the line to launch a direct attack from Iranian soil to Israeli soil.The King of the South [19:17]Turning to ChinaGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz accepted an invitation from the Chinese Communist Party and therefore cordially avoided uttering one particular phrase.He Was Right“Why the Trumpet Watches the Development of a Massive Anti-American Trade Bloc” [28:09]Russia Targets TexasWhen Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, Americans expressed faux concern for Atlanta. This time it's a cyberattack, and this time it's real.“China Attacks America—and ‘None Goes to the Battle'” [39:35]Pax Americana vs. DebtWhat might seem like just another week in Washington is more properly a financial bell tolling for the U.S. military-reliant global order.“Can America Afford Its Military?”

On today's Inside Politics podcast, Hugh is joined by David Rieff. David is the author of many books, including In Praise of Forgetting. He reported on war in Bosnia in the 1990s, and has written on everything from the political and ethical complexities of humanitarian aid and international intervention in sub-Saharan Africa to political developments in Central and south America. He also has a Substack newsletter in which he reflects on the progress of the current culture wars and their implications for intellectual life. He currently spends half his time in Kyiv where he is observing and reflecting on the ongoing war against Russian aggression. He talks to Hugh about the idea of a just war and its relevance to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the remilitarisation of Europe and the decline of Pax Americana, as well as the rise of anti-establishment populism and why he believes contemporary trends in technology, capitalism and politics will inevitably lead to the end of high culture and the triumph of kitsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about America's place in the world. They discuss the waning Pax Americana, American isolationism, Republican fondness for Putin, Tucker Carlson, why America should support Ukraine, the significance of Alexei Navalny, what it would mean to properly hold Putin responsible for his death, nuclear blackmail, valid criticisms of Israel, the war in Gaza, Palestinian public opinion, the need for total military defeat, a two-state solution, the isolation of Israel at the UN and the International Criminal Court of Justice, waning support for the war in the Biden Administration, Hezbollah and war with Iran, Israeli politics and the settlements in the West Bank, charges of “settler colonialism,” antisemitism as a series of double standards, the prospect of a Trump victory in 2024, Biden's age problem, the crisis at the southern border, U.S. immigration policy, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That's why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life's most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

Pax Americana, which means "American Peace" in Latin, refers to a period of relative peace and stability that has been maintained through the predominant influence and power of the United States on the global stage. This concept is often compared to historical periods of peace enforced by dominant powers, such as the Roman Empire's Pax Romana.Pax Americana emerged in the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, during the second half of the 20th century and extending into the early 21st century. Key elements of Pax Americana include:Superpower Status: The United States emerged from World War II as one of the world's two superpowers, along with the Soviet Union. This gave the U.S. significant influence over global affairs.Economic Dominance: The U.S. became the world's largest economy and played a central role in shaping the global economic system, including the establishment of institutions like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank.Military Power: The United States maintained a strong and technologically advanced military, which it used to deter aggression and promote stability in various regions. It also entered into alliances, such as NATO, to provide collective defense.Nuclear Deterrence: The United States developed and maintained a robust nuclear arsenal, which served as a deterrent to large-scale conflicts between major powers during the Cold War.Promotion of Democracy and Capitalism: The U.S. promoted democratic governance and market-oriented economic systems as part of its foreign policy, often engaging in nation-building efforts.Cultural Influence: American culture, including music, movies, and technology, spread around the world, contributing to soft power and influencing global perceptions.Global Policeman Role: The United States often acted as a global policeman, intervening in conflicts and crises to maintain order and protect its interests.Then on a clear fall day in September, it all came crashing down when those planes slammed into the World Trade Center.(commercial at 14:10)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com