Short Take Politics

Strong men and weak men come in all shapes and sizes. In people and politics there is a sometimes understated connectivity. Heather Cox Richardson explained it this week. Support Israel and a war that might be endless, until Trump wins and Hezbollah sees Trump won't support them so a cease fire happens (perhaps the only positive consequence of Trump winning. Crediting Trump for the ceasefire is my observation.)

Then Syria's Assad falls, because Russia is weakened by war in Ukraine and can't prop him up. Meanwhile in Africa, President Biden visited Angola a couple weeks ago with Niagara Falls friend The Right Reverend Doctor Sylvester Beaman, AME Bishop and chairperson of President Biden’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. Beaman is a proud Falls native now doing great things internationally.

The United States and allies are supporting a rail spur to carry copper and cobalt ore from the interior in the Republic of Congo to port in Angola because a weakened Russia can't afford to support the rebels even though disrupting the African market would give Russia, which also exports ore, a stronger position. Ore also comes from China.  

Now it will take 48 hours to get ore to port. It used to take 48 days. Weak men, strong men and the interconnectivity of it all is mind-numbing even as we consider our microorbits and those closest to us.

It is 3D chess, a game about to end with isolationism where Russia will rise again. If you thought our economy was a mess before, check the price of gas and eggs this time next year, especially when imported oil from Canada has a 25% tariff. It’s impossible to win by blustering and being the bigger jerk but never understanding the value of international cooperation and strategic spending as you shit your diaper at an event in France where you weren't invited and no one wants to sit next to you because you smell bad.