Happy New Year!

2017 is over. I wish the new year is more peaceful and prosperous than the last one. I hope for a miracle because we seem determined to destroy ourselves. We are doing it on two fronts:

1. By not doing enough to reverse the climate change, and 
2. By increasing the chances of a nuclear war.

On issue # 1, most of the world is trying to push things in the right direction, but the USA remains opposed to take its share of responsibility. Instead, it dropped all pretenses and is now ruled by the most dangerous organization in human history, which controls all branches of power.

On issue # 2, we see an aggressive militaristic USA blaming Russia (and its "dictator" Putin), or North Korea, or China, or Iran... for everything that is wrong in the World, even though most of the problems are of USA's own doing. Instead of resolving conflicts, the USA creates them.

Because of its superpower status, the USA plays the major role in both of humanity's existential problems. Unfortunately, they play a negative role, and drag the entire World to disaster.

The global warming goes on steadily and its disastrous effects are usually seen as acts of God by most people. The capitalist system is fundamentally unsuited to deal with a problem that requires limiting consumption and growth, but the USA, which was trying to limit or sabotage all international climate change initiatives, will never allow any altering of this destructive system.

The fundamental reasons for the increased risks of nuclear war are not much different. The USA's military-industrial complex needs an enemy for its existence and growth. The main-stream media (MSM) portrays the NATO as a "defensive" alliance. It was created to counter the "Soviet threat". The Soviet Union collapsed more than a quarter of a century ago, but the NATO remained. And not only that - it grew up, and tries to grow further...

Of course, the idea that the NATO is a defensive alliance is preposterous. No NATO country has ever been attacked by another country! But the NATO has been waging wars all around the globe.

I am often surprised how many Europeans believe in the myth that NATO is a force for peace. NATO is an instrument of the US empire. In the words of Lord Ismay, the 1^st NATO secretary general, the original goal of NATO was to “keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down”. To understand the current goal of NATO, watch here George Friedman, the boss of Stratfor, or listen to Noam Chomsky.

Without the MSM the growth of the military-industrial complex (and NATO) would not be that easy. It would be difficult to justify all the wars if people had accurate information and knew what is going on. The fact that most Americans don't know much history and even less about their country's atrocities abroad, demonstrates the success of the US corporate media in justifying the American policy. The objectivity of the media is getting worse every year. Laws get tightened, the pressure against whistleblowers is growing, and people like Julian Assange are deprived of freedom, even if there is no legal basis for that. Who would dare to leak something like this after the ordeal of Chelsea Manning?

It is painful to watch the blind belief of so many people that "it's just that crazy Trump", and if we impeach him, everything will get better. The problems is not Trump, but the corrupt system that made him possible. I don't see anything good after Trump's removal, if the system remains. The only difference will be the new face on top of the same machine. Only a Christian fundamentalist can believe that Pence will be a better president than Trump!

Do you remember Obama? Do you remember the hopes that he would end the Bush era militarism? The only thing that Obama changed was the rhetoric. He was a smarter, more eloquent salesman for the same policy. Not surprisingly, the US military footprint increased. The drone-strikes, the mass surveillance, the war on whistleblowers... all these increased under Obama. 

According to the US constitution, the Congress has the power to declare war, but the last time that was done was in 1942. Was USA in peace with the rest of the World since then? Not at all. It is hard to count the number of wars the USA was engaged since the end of the WWII. Every administration, including Obama's, finds pretexts to justify whatever wars they want. 

Now we have Trump and he also tries to show his strength by giving more power to the military. The pattern is so obvious. Every US president gives more power to the military-industrial complex. The only exception is probably Kennedy and we know how he ended...

So, the only hope for the World is if the USA changes its policy, but I don't see how this can happen before it changes its system. Some very smart people foresee the end of the US empire, but I don't see how this can happen without violence. 

In theory, the non-violent change can come through democratic elections, but this would require at a minimum, to end the money influence on politics and an objective media that reports the real news. Unfortunately, the rich and powerful elites are increasing their wealth, and together with it, their grip on the government and the media. The latter does its job superbly - keeping the US population ignorant, confused, and divided, so that it continues to vote against its own interest. Therefore, it is most likely that the change comes with the collapse of the system, but this can easily lead to internal and/or external violence. Given the number of weapons in the USA, including the nuclear weapons, the violent end of the US empire might mean the end of life on Earth...

To end this post on a positive note, I must admit that I cannot imagine every possibility. Therefore, non-violent change in the USA and anywhere else in the World is possible. Miraculous changes in human consciousness and society are possible. Let's hope for a miracle in the new 2018!