The Worm That Didn’t Turn

Submitted by Lindsay
Melbourne Australia!

Big fish eat little fish - proverb

(2/2022) Some truly good news this month. Australia has become one of the major supporters of the American economy. In the past three years we have ordered more than $280 billion worth of goods, but before you get too excited, I have to add that it is the amount from one sector only: Defense. (And that’s the oxymoron of the century; these are for offence, not just defense)

But that’s OK too, because it is all a phantasm: the delivery times are way ahead, (10 - 15 years), the money will only be paid on delivery, and the reasons for all this business are strategic and political. (And we can add another 50 billion in other trade that is actually paid for).

The strategic stuff is there to send more warnings to China, (ha ha), and to Vladimir, who doesn’t care. But the main reason for all this commitment is to make sure Australia will help fight its wars, should one occur – and that is increasingly likely. China might just be stupid enough to invade Taiwan, but the call may well come to join the U.S. to help in Ukraine. The president said today (Jan 21) that ‘our allies will be asked to do their part in any action needed’.

So that’s the front cover of the 2022 hyperbole post, which has the business section inside.

Here’s a summary of the trade between you, us, and China: in 2020 you exported 125 (all in billions) to China and imported 435 from them. You exported 50 to us and imported 39. We exported 100 to China and imported 93.

Yes, we had a trade surplus with China!

So a bit of circular business has developed. We sell China iron ore, coal and gas; they turn that into goods, some of which they sell to you. We buy armaments from you to show China you have a very strong ally and will not be messed with. You sell China stuff to help them make chips and so on, which you and the rest of the world buy.

Does that mean we are like a nut in a nutcracker? Maybe, but we’re more likely to burn to death first. We ‘know’ America will come to our aid no matter what because we are buddies, ignoring history.

And that history shows us that you do not help your friends unless it is in your own interests to do so. It took Pearl Harbour to get you into WW2, and having convinced yourselves that you won that war, you began to right wrongs. Communism was bad, Vietnam had to be democratised. Convincing yourselves again that you somehow won that one too, you slid into a policy of converting countries to your idea of democracy, countries that had things you need, like oil, or were ready for exploitation. (At last count, that was about 30)

Well, that’s not diplomacy, that’s just plain old aggression. You didn’t need to declare war -just pretend you’re introducing your version of democracy to their poor benighted country.

But that’s history. You cannot do that anymore.

But to see that, you have to stand back, read history, and remove the rose-coloured specs. No politician has ever done that, as rose colour hides the horrible truths. The point is, we have decided to cast out lot with you because we had to. We had no other choice.

And that is frightening. Being part of your empire happened gradually - we already have your giants here in all their technical glory, fried chicken and low pay. We have your military bases, your secret intelligence gathering, and now a huge new fuel storage facility near Darwin. The Marine rotation to our most strategic area, near that city in the Northern Territory, is being increased to about 500, and we see that as a sign of our growing closeness.

Now here’s my real worry: that we will be obliged to act with you in your takeover deals. Or your illegal wars. We will be unable to deny the Trumps of this world, and all because we thought we had no alternative. We definitely do not want to get caught up in your politics, but, seeing we are a quasi-state of America, I believe we are now able to ask the questions that no one in your country bothered to – or were terrified to raise.

Number one: Why?

Why did G.W. Bush react to 9-11 by anger and demands instead of asking ‘Why has this happened?’ His ‘axis of evil’ condemned America to years of useless war.

Why has that question never been debated in Congress? Why have none of the top brass insisted that the hawks were wrong? Because they like making war. That’s what they think they are there for, democracy be damned.

How come the brass was able to get their way over the removal of Saddam Hussein?

See above, and add the oil industry and their one-eyed view of power.

Why has money become your god? Because too many influencers love it, and knew they could sell it easily to dumb presidents – Bush, Reagan and Co.

And here’s a truth – we are all totally sick of this nest of hawks, far-right cruelty, and self-serving republicans.

But, and here’s the rub, we are becoming Americans (silent scream). We are polishing our swords, repairing our slingshots, preparing to be eaten. (Do you remember the story of the worm? It was picked up by a sparrow, the worm thinking, ‘my, this mis terrible,’ but halfway down the bird’s throat it began to feel something, something strange. ‘Hmm.. this isn’t so bad after all.’

So much for all that angst; I know that you and me (collectively) like each other, have a degree of trust, and are prepared to take all those strange customs and likes/dislikes with a grain of salt.

We are neither worms nor fish, (apart from our political leaders here – one’s an overstuffed fish, the other has worms in his brain).

So, greetings to all my friends who are standing up for the underprivileged, the bottom of the heap. You deserve a medal.

From the true land of the free.