So Trump & Pompeo just massively embarrassed the US on the world stage with a humiliating loss at the UNSC. Passionately fighting losing battles has become the hallmark of Trump and Pompeo's Iran policy, but this takes it to an entirely new level. >>
Only two votes in favor, two against and 11 abstentions.
It would be a mistake to solely look at this as yet another example of Trump's diplomatic vandalism as it misses the real point: The structural stupidity of US Middle East policy that long predates Trump. >>
It would be a mistake to solely look at this as yet another example of Trump's diplomatic vandalism as it misses the real point: The structural stupidity of US Middle East policy that long predates Trump. >>
From embarrassing the U.S. at the Council, Trump and Pompeo will now move on to create an existential crisis for the Council. Even if the US manages to trigger snapback, other P5 states will challenge the legitimacy of the move and leave the Council in an unprecedented crisis.>>
The UNSC has often been deadlocked, vetoes have been used, and the US has at times acted outside of the Council.
But this is the first time in which P5 will have a disagreement on what actually has happened and who has authority to speak for the Council.
But this is the first time in which P5 will have a disagreement on what actually has happened and who has authority to speak for the Council.
Even if it were to succeed and prompt Iran to exit the JCPOA in retaliation, any celebration in the White House will be premature since nothing prevents a Biden administration from reintroducing UNSC Res 2231 on his first day in office and restore the JCPOA. >>
So is the United States is wasting so much political capital - alienating all its allies and embarrassing itself on the world stage - on a losing battle? Because of the structural folly of our policy in MidEast guided by a foolish quest to dominate the region militarily. >>
This hegemonic quest has led to a poisonous fixation on Iran. We’re not pursuing our national security, we’re pursuing our obsessions. Nothing illustrates that more than sacrificing all our other international objectives and priorities just to squeeze Tehran. >>
A course correction - one that starts with discarding the misguided bid to dominate the Middle East - is long overdue.
Here's how that could look: quincyinst.org/2020/07/17/end…
>>
Here's how that could look: quincyinst.org/2020/07/17/end…
>>
Obviously, far fewer arms in the MidEast is a good thing. But pouring billions of $$$ of weapons into one side of the Persian Gulf while imposing an arms embargo on the other will not advance stability or US interests. It will only feed our destabilizing obsession with Iran.//
