Friday, June 9, 2017

Listening to History



From the conclusion to my post regarding a look back at some of the early history of the Arab-Israeli conflict in Palestine:

If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience.

-        George Bernard Shaw

This “unexpected” hasn’t gone on for over one hundred years because political leaders are stupid, “incapable…of learning from experience.”  When something like this is sustained – when the same “mistakes” occur repeatedly – one might consider other reasons.

I will revisit my view for the reasons behind this ongoing history in the coming days.

Today is “the coming days.”

Considering the comments I received to the post, I think I threw a bit of a curveball with this conclusion.  While the subject post was regarding conflict in the Middle East, my views of the ongoing history see this as a mere portion of the story.

Halford Mackinder

I remain swayed by the geo-political view first presented to the Royal Geographical Society by Halford Mackinder in 1904: “The Geographical Pivot of History,” also known as The Heartland Theory.

He begins by describing the preceding 400 years as “the Columbian epoch,” the time when Europe explored and controlled the seas and much of the coastline of the several continents. 

He looks back to the long history of invasions from the east – forming in the steppes of Central Asia and moving into Europe or China.  He describes the geography of the region, the rivers (and lack of navigable rivers), the climate.

He contrasts control over the oceans – as Europe has demonstrated effectively over the preceding 400 years – with control, or lack of control, over this Eurasian heartland.  The oceans give access to coastline over a vast and widely dispersed space; the heartland is an area three times the size of North America, all accessible by land.

While Europe – and by this time, specifically the British Empire – has maintained control of the seas, there remains this land mass:

The Russian railways have a clear run of 6000 miles from Wirballen in the west to Vladivostok in the east. The Russian army in Manchuria is as significant evidence of mobile land-power as the British army in South Africa was of sea-power. True, that the Trans-Siberian railway is still a single and precarious line of communication, but the century will not be old before all Asia is covered with railways.  The spaces within the Russian Empire and Mongolia are so vast, and their potentialities in population, wheat, cotton, fuel, and metals so incalculably great, that it is inevitable that a vast economic world, more or less apart, will there develop inaccessible to oceanic commerce.

Of course, a detour through communism was first taken (with a not insignificant push from the west), drastically delaying the possibility of success.

He describes this as the pivot region of the world: Russia is to the world island as Germany is to Europe, the key geo-strategic player.  According to Mackinder, Russia was wise to part with Alaska, recognizing that Russia could not compete with Britain over the seas.

Outside the pivot area, in a great inner crescent, are Germany, Austria, Turkey, India, and China, and in an outer crescent, Britain, South Africa, Australia, the United States, Canada, and Japan.

For the visual:

 




Mackinder sees the United States and Germany as critical in this equation:


The United States has recently become an eastern power, affecting the European balance not directly, but through Russia, and she will construct the Panama canal to make her Mississippi and Atlantic resources available in the Pacific.

The oversetting of the balance of power in favour of the pivot state, resulting in its expansion over the marginal lands of Euro- Asia, would permit of the use of vast continental resources for fleet-building, and the empire of the world would then be in sight. This might happen if Germany were to ally herself with Russia.

He concludes by suggesting that it does not matter who controls the pivot area – were the Chinese to overthrow the Russians, this would be irrelevant.  All that matters is that the pivot area is controlled.

A Hundred Years Have Come and Gone

So, what has happened since Mackinder’s presentation?  If you want a shortcut…note how well this map corresponds to Mackinder’s world island:

 



It’s an old map – there are bases even closer in Eastern Europe today…and (not pictured here) don’t forget Alaska…and don’t forget Canada via the North Pole route…and don’t forget Australia to the southeast…and Hawaii to the east.  There, that about covers it.

OK, now for the longer version.

William Thomas Stead


William Thomas Stead (5 July 1849 – 15 April 1912) was an English newspaper editor who, as a pioneer of investigative journalism, became a controversial figure of the Victorian era.

Yes, he died on the Titanic.

I offer an extensive background here (including a somewhat less mature picture of my global view).  For those who want the short version…

Stead wrote a book: “The Americanization of the world; or, The trend of the twentieth century,” published in 1902.

Stead was an imperialist; Stead was a confidant of Cecil Rhodes; Rhodes was a major mover regarding British imperialism; Stead saw that Britain had reached its limits and in any case could never compete with the industrial might of the United States; it was time for the English-speaking people of the world to unite; Stead saw no possibility that the American people would accept subservience to the crown; relatively isolationist America must be convinced to take the lead; Britain must accept whatever terms are offered.

Some background:

Lest it be forgotten, relations between the United States and Britain were shaky ever since, oh, about 1776.  Things were no better in 1812.  During the American Civil War, Britain backed the South.  Britain’s support of the South did not help relations.

Yet, a few short years after the end of the Civil War came The Great Rapprochement:

The Great Rapprochement, according to historians including Bradford Perkins, describes the convergence of diplomatic, political, military and economic objectives between the United States and Great Britain in 1895–1915, the two decades up to and including the beginning of World War I.

As early as the 1860s, William Gladstone recognized that the day will soon come when Britain could not sustain its “public burdens.”  He had little doubt that “the daughter at no very distant time will, whether fairer or less fair, be unquestionably stronger than the mother.”

Stead cites Rhodes:

“If only we had held together,” he remarked, “there would have been no need for another cannon to be cast in the whole world.  The Federation of the English-speaking world would be strong enough in its command of all the material resources of the planet to compel the decision of all international quarrels by a more rational means than war.”

At least Rhodes got part of that right.

And Carnegie, who in 1892 wrote of this hoped-for reunion:

If England and America were one they would be able to maintain the peace of the world and general disarmament.

Note the theme – peace through strength!

Mr. A.W. Tourgée, writing in the Contemporary Review two years prior to Stead’s work, wrote:

An alliance between the great branches of the Anglo-Saxon family means the creation of a world-power against which it is not only impossible that any European combination should make headway, but it will have such control of the commercial and economic resources of the world as to enable them to put an end to war between the Continental Powers themselves without mustering an army or firing a gun…. They are the peacemakers of the Twentieth Century….

Sir Walter Besant, in his book “Rise of the Empire,” wrote:

We want an everlasting alliance, offensive and defensive, such an alliance as may make us absolutely free from the fear of any other alliance which could crush us.

Stead concludes:

There lies before the people of Great Britain a choice of two alternatives.  If they decide to merge the existence of the British Empire into the United States of the English-speaking World, they may continue for all time to be an integral part of the greatest of all World-Powers.

Shortly thereafter, the US was dragged into two World Wars – neither in defense of the United States.  Yet, through these wars two things happened: Britain went bankrupt, and the United States became the pre-eminent Western and even global power.

An interesting aside: Churchill, who more than any single individual, held political power throughout much of Britain’s demise – geo-politically and financially – is lionized.  Strange, don’t you think? Not if you believe my story.

By the end of the Second World War, the United States had colonies (you can call them whatever you like) throughout Europe and East Asia.  Military bases remained.

Since then and until the end of the Cold War, wars fought by the United States along the periphery: Korea, Vietnam; it was too risky to fight in Europe.

The Cold War ends, yet the wars continue.  Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, even Ukraine.  Why? 

Were these wars all for oil?  For Israel?  To stop the spread of communism?  No.  Each of these is a convenient story, specific to the particular war.  Each of these is a useful tool, explanatory for one or the other – but not all – of these wars. 

So, why the wars?  For control; not any more complicated than this.  As stated by Rhodes: “…command of all the material resources of the planet….”; as stated by Tourgée: “…control of the commercial and economic resources of the world….”

Sure, they proclaimed it was for peace.  Such men are not so naïve – Rhodes saw how well that was working out in South Africa.

And since the end of the Cold War, Russia has re-emerged – as a power and as a bogeyman; China is building transcontinental railways, potentially uniting 70% of the world’s population.  The world island is coming together. 

Since the end of the Cold War, all is done to prevent Germany and Russia from growing closer; NATO moves ever further east.  Why?

To disallow others from controlling; not any more complicated than this.

And the map, remember the map: Russia wants war: Look how close they put their country to our military bases.

Conclusion

There is one explanation that fits this history.  And it is found in the paper presented by Halford Mackinder in 1904.  All other explanations require contortions. 

I like to keep things simple. 

Appendix I

As it plays a critical part in the story, I must comment on the purposeful destruction of Western Culture, best explained by Antonio Gramsci (emphasis added):

While firmly committed to global Communism, [Gramsci] knew that that violence would fail to win the West. American workers (proletariat) would never declare war on their middle class neighbors as long as they shared common Christian values. So the Italian communist -- a contemporary of Lenin -- wrote an alternative plan for a silent revolution. The main weapons would be deception, manipulation and infiltration. Hiding their Marxist ideology, the new Communist warriors would seek positions of influence in seminaries, government, communities, and the media.

Gramsci himself rejected Christianity and all its transcendent claims. Nevertheless, he knew Christian culture existed.... For that was the force binding all the classes... into a single, homogeneous culture. It was a specifically Christian culture, in which individual men and women understood that the most important things about human life transcended the material conditions in which they lived out their mortal lives.

The first phase in achieving "cultural hegemony" over a nation is the undermining of all elements of traditional culture.

He has a thing for Christian culture, don’t you think?

What does this have to do with my theory of history?  Disallow others from controlling.  Common culture provides governance with much less government.  Destroy common culture and you inherently invite more government, more control.

But why the focus by Gramsci (and others, continuing to this day) on Western, Christian culture?  Why not African culture, Chinese culture, whatever?

From which culture came forth the idea of liberty, from the earliest days of the Middle Ages?  Where was the highest level of liberty achieved (over a meaningful population) by man on earth?

That’s why.

Appendix II

It’s the Jews, the Zionist Jews. 

Yes, they have played an outsized role in this history.  Perhaps because they remain the most tribal people of the West, they are disproportionately effective.  But I see them as being very good at using the system; they see benefit in maintaining the system.  Not a small thing, but not everything.

Multi-generational global banking families.

Yes, we know the names; yes, there is some overlap with the above.  But I think that there has to be something more, something else – because the bloodlines can’t work, not with human blood. 

Everyone reading this has parents and/or grandparents and/or children and/or grandchildren and/or siblings.  How many of these ended up on the extreme right-hand side of the bell curve for intelligence, cunning, organization, planning, and corruption?  Enough of them to pull the wool over the eyes of billions?  How many generations in a row?

Yeah, that’s what I thought.  No human has such a super-human gene pool.

So, it isn’t the Jews and it isn’t the multi-generational families, at least not at the center.  I see each at being good at using the system, though neither is in control of the system. 

The system is a toolkit, developed to be used for control.  There are several individuals and groups who benefit from the toolkit, who know how to use it well and will do all in their power to sustain and support the system.  On some projects they work together; on others, they are apart.  But they all support the system, the toolkit.

The toolkit was developed by the west – the west that was well underway by the time Mackinder gave his speech. The three main legs of the stool are central banking, public education, and regulatory democracy.  From these, all else follows.

I see the use of the system like I see the market and especially prices: the result of human action, but not of human design.  I do not see a tribe or a family, generation after generation, able to pull the strings of all of the powerful people in this world, let alone countless billions.

This, of course, leaves one other possibility:

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This could explain many things, and much more succinctly than can I.

19 comments:

  1. Thanks for this summary. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am always rather skeptical when someone says there is a larger plan driving events across history. Those events may sum together to form our history, but taken apart it is generally possible to identify the (human) goals driving the event.

    BM, I hope you take this line of thought further than Ephesians. I'm not ready to credit forces of evil in heavenly realms for the destruction I've seen in my lifetime alone. All of my monsters are flesh and blood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff, if there is a larger plan - spanning centuries - I can only credit this to Ephesians.

      I don't say one way or the other. I included the second appendix (and Ephesians) to make the point: for those who see it as "the Jews" or multi-generational families...I see only one explanation.

      Beyond this, too theological for this blog.

      What I do see spanning centuries is the toolkit. This is defended totally.

      Delete
    2. Yes - our "monsters are flesh and blood." because we can see them! There are lots of things we can't see for various reasons which would take too long to explain here - even if I could do it:)
      "We only see throught the glass darkly." - so said Paul the Apostle.
      My own take is simple - things play out through human beings most of the time - the Bible makes that pretty clear. The question remains - who is the power behind the action played out?

      Delete
    3. BM, looking at my previous post I see I worded it badly. I was actually trying to agree with you. By taking the line of thought further, I meant looking at what might come next.

      Considering the toolkit, maybe there is a larger force at work, just not a larger plan. In math and science, people discover rather than invent those things that work for a desired purpose. And in many respects the discovery often guides the purpose.

      I would argue this tool set is no different. They were discovered and used by people who became wealthy and powerful as a result, so those tools persist and evolve over time.

      Delete
    4. Jeff, I am not sure I am following your question. I will try, but if I am off let me know.

      I see a well-developed toolkit; I see powerful and smart people who have developed, maintained, and improved on those tools; not all of these individuals are on the same team - they compete with each other; the one thing they have in common: defend the toolkit at all costs, even if it means taking a step back from time to time.

      Now, the question: is there a common thread spanning multiple generations and / or to include a common nationality / religion (nominally)? If there is, I can only explain it with Ephesians.

      Delete
    5. This tool kit you mention is it the collectivist methodology or the Progressive ideology and thus legislation that works towards the World Government these Elite Envision? I mean there has always been desire for Dominion, but the latest coterie of privileged individuals have taken conquest to a level never seen before.

      Good work....

      Delete
    6. BM, I wonder if those smart people who improved the tools would have been so successful without the advances in technology occurring at the same time. I can't envision a system of controls as large and as comprehensive without the technology we have today. That is the common thread I see spanning generations, though not a conscious one.

      Delete
    7. Jeff, I have given some - albeit relatively little - thought to this; I even recall writing on this once or twice.

      It strikes me that every advance in technology offers the good and bad; yes, these come with further possibility for control, but also we cannot deny the benefits to our lives - both material and educational.

      I certainly wish the controls were not implemented. But, even knowing what I know today about the controls, do I wish to revert to the world before the internet?

      To write more would turn into a post.

      Delete
    8. I actually expect the trend to reverse if it hasn't already. Accelerating advances will allow small groups and (some) individuals to eventually challenge and resist governments effectively, which will lack the resources to go after them.

      I guess that's a bit off topic here, though it's a theme I've been following for decades. I haven't run across many with similar ideas or even much interest.

      Delete
    9. I agree with this, and the general trend has already reversed The world is decentralizing more than it is centralizing. As central planning cannot work, this must occur.

      Delete
  3. Another keeper for my archive - thank you! As a possible explanation for the seeming effectiveness of those 'spiritual forces of evil' of Eph 6:12 might be Hebrews 5:11-14 - "11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
    As you write in Appendix I - Christianity had to be neutered first. Well, those 'spiritual forces of evil' have done their best work in the church itself - the pulpits dispense pabulum and the pews sing Kumbaya.
    That premise pretty much defines the reason for my presence on the internet.
    The fields are ripe - but the laborers are few - but we slog on!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It was Ayn Rand that pointed out all of the Nazi politicians were populists, but Hitler was the most extreme and best at playing to the cultural mysticism. He rose to power by expressing all the common fears and prejudices, however irrational. Since he was living in a mostly homogenous society, his power was increased to the max. Had it been diverse that would have made his job more difficult.
    Therefore, destroying the common culture is not necessary or desirable for a tyrant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Common culture can result in good or bad; the type of common culture matters, obviously.

      With that said, Hitler lasted 12 years, a drop in the bucket. Probably shouldn't overstate the case.

      Delete
  5. Regarding Ephesians, perhaps it is not a concentrated and intentionally directed center of power spanning centuries at work? Perhaps it is the outworking of similar world views NOT based on Biblical principles?

    In the study of Anti-Trust law, there is a distinction made between concerted effort, where people knowingly work together toward a common goal, and the idea of unconscious parallelism, where people appear to be working together when looking at things from the outside but they are actually only working in similar ways because they share similar values or ideas. The latter group may consist of people completely unaware of the existence and/or efforts of other people in the group.

    To put it more directly, Satan does not have to be controlling the actors on the world stage so long as those actors share his desires and values, even if they are materialistic atheists. Look at those in power. What do they want? They want admiration/worship of themselves by others. They want power at any cost. They seek their own interest at any costs. The see others as threats to their desires, even when others are considered allies, because NO ONE can truly be trusted. So even if these idiots aren't literally having secret meetings where they worship Satan and offer up babies for sacrifice as some conspiracy lovers claim, the end result is pretty much the same...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The one thought that comes to mind when reading your comment: they go to the same schools, they sit on the same boards - and all of the important boards, they attend the same international meetings, etc.

      So it may not be a concerted effort, but it is something more than unconscious parallelism.

      What this means regarding Ephesians, etc., I cannot say.

      Delete
  6. "...they go to the same schools, they sit on the same boards - and all of the important boards, they attend the same international meetings, etc..."

    This fellow points out the bloodline ties between the various powerful Jewish families and the various powerful Gentile families, i.e., crypto Jews. E.g., the Salem Witch Trials appear to have been faked by related parties in an effort to undercut Puritanism, to make way for unfettered commerce by both Jewish and Gentile merchants.
    http://mileswmathis.com/salem.pdf

    I found the guy's essays on the O.J. trial, Lincoln's assassination being hoaxes absolutely convincing. Same with his essay on Washington and wife being tied to British royalty.

    P.S. -- he is a hell of a painter, too. Those nudes are breathtaking.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Secret Empire, books 1 and 2. And others.

    ReplyDelete