"Negotiations are a euphemism for surrender unless the shadow of power is cast across the bargaining table." George Schultz.
The two "shadows of power" in the negotiations between the US and Iran are military power - specifically Iran's challenge to the US and Israeli exclusive possession of the nuclear bomb in the region - and the petrodollar. Iran has been challenging both. That's what this war is about. There is one and only one way that the U.S. can convince Iran to give up on becoming a nuclear power: If it forces Israel to surrender its nuclear weapons.... "The “shadow of power” that hovers over all South West Asia North Africa (SWANA) is Israel’s nuclear bomb. They may be reluctant to use it, but if it becomes necessary to enforce their power they will, and everybody knows it. That’s why Iran is trying to develop one of its own. This has gone hand in hand with the shift to the IRGC becoming the major power base of the Iran regime, which also means even more vicious repression of the masses of the Iranian people. In fact, the IRGC government’s drive for regional power facilitates its repression at home. This shift has an ideological aspect. Petrodollar The other driving cause of the war on Iran is the threat Iran poses to the petrodollar system.... "Black gold" (oil) became a substitute for yellow gold.... Now the petrodollar system is under threat. Ukraine <https://www.facebook.com/UkrainianSocialistSolidarity?__cft__[0]=AZZZBRGujci-z2usvc8x-kr6hMPfV977E3Kk1mJcuxMQpUpBDPa2BJs8c7KbiE1QqpvcmuFtb9rJd11H6pIuIlxhf5AhCwmXGhGHmkc19EF_w-ERfWhN5A42I1FD0tZWelE&__tn__=-]K-R> All these points apply to the war in Ukraine, where Putin feels threatened not by military power (Nato) but economic power (the EU), and here also this war cannot be ended by "negotiations". It can only be ended by force. Any calls for "diplomacy" instead of strengthening Ukraine are in reality calls for the victory of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Perspectives 'Iran’s drive towards getting “the bomb” is also an example of the spread of nuclear weapons – “nuclear proliferation” – as a result of the increasing geopolitical instability. This proliferation is a threat to human society and life on the planet in general. This is where capitalism is driving us – either later or sooner. Given the present direction, “sooner” seems more likely than “later” unless the working class intervenes.' Read full article: https://oaklandsocialist.com/2026/04/15/iran-the-bomb-and-the-petrodollar/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#41467): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/41467 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/118843811/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
