Hi Theodore. Here is an article I wrote about Afghanistan where I go into what I mean by "legal system" of the West and how the world operates where iit doesn't exist https://maxrottersman.medium.com/afghanistans-business-is-extortion-but-under-new-management-18a83884dc2d
About your comment "Anyone who doesn't abide [by the rules] should be punished" Punishment has nothing to do with it whatsover IMO. But that's what plays in the media. People can't get enough of punishment, from the Squid Games to the news. Rather, the rules are about protecting the interests of the traders as I go into the story above.
Russia wants to sell gas/oil. We want to buy it. Invading Ukraine broke expectations of the sovereignty of the parties. Yes, military might makes sovereignty (in the final analysis) so I'm not criticizing Russia for invading. Go for it ;) The West is trying to buy off Ukraine with money and Russia through military means. Putin played a gambit. The game was lost a long time ago as I've written in the beginning--but we shall see. Anyway, nothing to do with punishment. It's all about who and how business be done with Ukraine in the future.
Russia is surrounded by many -stans that don't have anything the West wants so do we care if Russia strong arms them? Takes a piece of George? Or even the Donbas? No. Ukraine is different because Ukraine REALLY WANTS to be part of the West (or many of them do) and it has huge gas/oil reserves that were found after 2014.
I say this time and time again (not that I'm right). When housecleaners the world over stop saving their pay in US dollars the dollar will cease to be the reserve currency. The US doesn't make it so, any more than England once made it for the Pound. It's what everyone in the world chooses on their own. It's the most democratic thing in the world.
What I, and others worry about with the dollar, is we use that global desire (demand) to create more domestic debt which can bring it down for everyone.
Agree, those countries aren't going away anytime soon. The problem is there are 3 now. When there's two everyone just drafts behind their superpower of choice and spends as little on military as possible. With 3, everyone is always recalculating their alliances leading to an arms race. That's what we're in now. One reason we'd had 70 years of peace is we only had 2 bullies. Now we have 3 and it's hard to know which one to pick for most of the world. (Though I believe Russia is done, for what it's worth).
Finally, what "moreal principles and priorities"? HAHA :) Great chatting!
