While USSR existed, the United States has treated its “allies” with respect, using only soft force. Since the fall of Berlin Wall, things have changed. Rather radically.
Historically, self-proclaimed “Empires” never could resist the temptation of using hard force. It is always the last phase in the “life” of an Empire. Most radical change in the US policy during last 20 years was discarding of diplomacy and use of force against everyone. “Allies” are now treated the same way as colonies… because they exactly are. This moment Trump’s administration is destroying the remnants of the rules established after the WWII hoping that sheer force will be enough to rule the World. It is not.
Force is effective only until there is credible threath. When you use it, threath doesn’t matter any more, and everyone is immediately searching for alternative. Rogue regime of USA openly started a trade war against its colonies… ie. “alies” in the EU. Imposing tariffs to the import from EU and breaking out of “Iran Nuclear Deal” brought EU before very unpleasent choice: To bow under the US pressure and support sanctions towards Iran at its own expense, or to form an independent foreign policy and protect interests of its own corporations. Enter SWIFT…
SWIFT is an acronym meaning Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications. In its essence it is a global secure ID system of interbanking transactions with more than 11,000 clients in 200 countries. SWIFT claims political neutrality, but that is just an illusion. SWIFT is under control of US government, and it is quite obvious. Just as is the simple truth: Who controls finance, controls everything.
Germany is the key EU country, and therefore the biggest target of the trade war and Iran sanctions. German foreign minister Heiko Maas know that very well. He can see that Germany will have to pay the steep price of US sanctions to Iran, because German corporations could be cut off the SWIFT system if they do not cave. So, in his text for Handelsblatt, he has called for global payments system that is independent of the US…
Would you believe that? Colony wants to break free!
As we said in the beginning — use of force always lead to alternatives. Making alternative, independent payment system implies weakening of the dollar influence alongside the lost financial grip. Can you remember what has happened to Saddam Husein and Moamer al Khadaffi when they decided to launch gold backed alternative to dollar?
“The Empire” can never learn. Temptation of force is too strong. And when you use force, you can only watch how swift (pun intended) alternatives can grow. Cryptocurrencies were created as one big alternative. And now it is pretty clear that the whole Western system of “partnership” between “the Empire” and its colonies is heading to a breakup.
Unfortunately, history tells us that these kinds of breakups never can go peacefully. Just remember 1776…
