Jan 4, 2026
Let’s look at the Big Picture. Might makes right again. Imperialism is back.
Following WWII, key leaders who had endured three decades of cataclysmic wars and had acquired foresight forged over three decades by those horrific experiences came together and said NO MORE. We must change the world order so that the generations who follow us will not go through what we have been through. They created several institutions to prevent a reoccurrence. They recognized that imperialism was at the root of both wars – Imperialism being the concept that might makes right and that it is ok for one nation to invade and conquer another nation and take their stuff. So, these wise war weary leaders created institutions including the IMF, the precursor to the WTO, NATO and the UN. The purpose was the prevent future world wars and mitigate regional wars.
Article 2(4) of the UN charter states that all member states must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The Charter emphasizes the sovereignty of nations and the importance of peaceful coexistence. Every nation on the planet, except the Vatican, signed that charter. The key to making it viable was for the most powerful nation on the planet, the USA, to stand behind it. And, along with many other allies, we have done a reasonably good job. We and our allies have been successful in preventing wars between major powers.
That is until Russia invaded Ukraine. When that happened, the United States, along with many allies, came to Ukraine’s aid and prevented Russia from prevailing, as we should have. Were Russia to prevail, then might would make right, and imperialism would be resurrected as the world order again.
When Donald Trump, a man with zero foresight relative to the long term well being of the people of America and of the world, was returned to power by a minority of the US electorate , he withdrew support for Ukraine and has been trying to force Ukraine to give up territory to Russia – exactly what the UN charter prohibits. But worse, so much worse, Trump has now invaded Venezuela. Now had he done so to free the people of Venz and allow them to have their own democratically elected government, that would be good and justifiable. But he has said he is there for the oil, and the United States is going to rule Venezuela. This is exactly what Hitler did when he invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland as well as most other countries in Europe.
This is so terrible. There is now no way to say to China, it is wrong for you to conquer Taiwan. Or to Russia that it is wrong for you to conquer other nations in your region. Thanks to Donald Trump, Imperialism is back. The world is a much more dangerous place than it was at the end of 2024.
Anyone who thinks this is a good thing is an idiot and a fool.