Don Corleone carried his message through the United States. He conferred with compatriots in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and Boston. He was the underworld apostle of peace and, by 1939, more successful than any Pope, he had achieved a working agreement amongst the most powerful underworld organizations in the country. Like the Constitution of the United States this agreement respected fully the internal authority of each member in his state or city. The agreement covered only spheres of influence and an agreement to enforce peace in the underworld.
The Godfather, Mario Puzo
President Trump is moving towards the biggest change in US foreign policy since World War II.
Close study of The Godfather yields far better insight into the mind and methods of Donald Trump than the invariably wrong blather of the media and most of the commentariat. A cottage industry of pundits hyperventilates daily about his tweets and public pronouncements, 90 percent of which is fluff and misdirection. It’s a much smaller group who focus on what Trump actually does.
Three realities confronted Trump when he assumed office. The US empire is unsustainable, so too is the trajectory of its spending and debt, and the government is fundamentally corrupt. It would be foolish to bet Trump doesn’t understand these issues and the linkages between them.
Trump faced an insurrection from official Washington. The insurrection, borne of desperation and the miscalculation that Clinton would win, was laughable and its execution grossly incompetent. Trump saw through it and turned it to his advantage.
Someday Robert Mueller will bring his pathetic investigation to a close. It’s been a gift that keeps on giving for Trump. It’s shone a light on government criminality and the shadowy Deep State, which 74 percent of Americans now believe runs the country. Establishment hostility towards Trump is rooted in fear of exposure of that criminality, not policy differences. Once elected, Trump had access to troves of secrets, and controlled the investigatory and prosecutorial resources of the US government. That’s what kept the powers that be and their minions awake at night and launched the insurrection.
Their investigatory witch hunt has boomeranged disastrously. Trump’s counterstrike has been too slow for his partisans, but investigations and the legal process are necessarily slow. Moving hastily might lead to mistakes that would allow some or all on the long list of powerful and well-heeled potential defendants to slip through the prosecutorial grasp.
Slow as it may be, Trump’s counterstrike has put official Washington on the defensive, giving him sufficient latitude to address the US’s unsustainable, debt-financed empire. Trump’s Syrian maneuvers gave the first indication that Trump was rejecting the imperial imperative. His offer to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provides further evidence of where’s he going.
A classic Trump tactic is a first move in the opposite direction of his ultimate move. He bombed Syria before he issued an order to stop arming “moderate rebels,” who were a pipeline to ISIS. That’s a sea change in American policy. The US has been arming Islamic rebels (always moderate, of course) for various Middle Eastern objectives since Jimmy Carter sent weapons to Afghanistan’s mujahideen.
Trump also negotiated a little-noticed ceasefire with Vladimir Putin in part of Syria, and changed the US goal from deposing Assad to defeating ISIS. Trump’s moves recognized that much of Syria was under control of the Russia-Assad-Iran-Hezbollah axis, and nothing the US could do short of total war was going to change that (see “Powerball, Part Two,” SLL).
In North Korea, Trump’s and Kim Jong Un’s heated rhetoric, and Trump’s dispatch of US carrier groups to waters off the Korean peninsula, had legions of commentators fretting about imminent war and nuclear exchanges. It was again the feint-one-direction, move-the-other tactic.
Trump pressured China and Russia, who in turn pressured Kim Jong Un. Kim probably was told that his rule of North Korea was at stake. There have been a series of diplomatic initiatives between South and North Korea. Kim has signaled flexibility on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and now Trump has announced he’s willing to meet Kim.
Trump’s new world order comes straight from The Godfather. There are three global powers: the US, Russia, and China. None of these powers can militarily defeat either of the other two, and even an alliance among two of them would have trouble defeating the third.
Like Don Corleone, Trump is dividing up the larger territory into smaller, great-power controlled sub-territories. He is tacitly recognizing Russia and China’s dominance in their own spheres of influence, and holding them to account in their territories. The implicit agreement among the three is apparently that each power will, in their, “sphere of influence…enforce peace.”
There will never be a Trump “New World Order” speech. It would provoke fierce opposition within the powerful Military-Industrial-Intelligence Complex. Undoubtedly, enlightened elements within the complex recognize that the US, with its $21 trillion and climbing debt, can no longer play unipolar global cop, lucrative as that role has been for the complex. However, it serves no purpose to announce what is in effect a retreat to this more sustainable position.
People in government and politics who don’t have a price are as rare as atheists in foxholes. As he bribed Saudi Arabia and Israel to sit still for his policy change in Syria (see “Powerball, Part Two,” SLL), he’s buying off the MIIC with huge spending increases. The MIIC will take the money and come around, even as its mouthpieces continue to spout their tedious “exceptional and indispensable nation” and “greatest military on the planet” rhetoric.
The true ruler of the world, Emperor Debt, is tightening his grip, forcing luminaries like Trump to alter their countries’ trajectories. He will decimate the best-laid plans, including those of China (whose total debt is unknown, but huge) and Russia, particularly their costly New Silk Road collaboration.
Say what you want about the Emperor, he has a sense of humor. Amused by his subjects’ delusions, he plays with them like a cat plays with its prey. When financial asset prices drop, buy into the next debt-fueled upswing. Prosperity won’t end as long as credit standards fall and more credit is extended. Borrow two dollars for a dollar’s worth of growth. Credit is income. Creditors’ claims are wealth.
Sooner or later, both the Emperor and the cat tire of their games. Pouncing, they make waste of the best laid schemes of men and mice. The Emperor has stopped armies, brought down governments, sparked revolutions, opened countries to invasion, and left poverty, devastation, and misery in his wake. Only fools doubt that he is not once again readying a destructive masterstroke that will level welfare and warfare states alike. Given the paper and promises that litter the globe, encumbering every asset and income stream, this one will be his most terrifying.
The Ruler of the World, SLL, 3/5/18
Trump can finesse his enemies and the decline of the American empire. He can’t finesse, outrun, bargain with, hide from, or defeat the Emperor. Neither can Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, or all those other nominal “rulers” who fancy themselves in control of events.
From “The Ruler of the World”: “The more you borrow from the future, the less future you’ll have.” That will serve as the dreary anthem of the actual New World Order.
You Should Be Laughing At Them!
STRAIGHT LINE LOGIC 
Pingback: Trump’s New World Order, by Robert Gore – Dirt People
Excellent analysis. Like I’ve said before, biggest bankruptcy in human history coming down the pike.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
This agreement was reached decades ago. Nixon was the architect not Trump. The empire talk is a bad joke. The US has no troops in nations that do not wish them. Can the same be said of Russia or China. Trump isn’t under any illusions about the motives of these two “families.”
The only part of the Godfather analogy that bears any substance is what Michael is prepared to do to those that cross him. The other assertions sound like they were made by Fredo.
LikeLike
Pingback: Trump’s New World Order, by Robert Gore – Southern Nation News
Fine article and congrats on 4 figures: “Join 1,002 other followers”
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLike
“The US has no troops in nations that do not wish them.”
That’s some sick joke.
“Kim has signaled flexibility on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and now Trump has announced he’s willing to meet Kim.”
His name is Moon. He doesn’t want war in Korea (nor THAAD nor any other crap Trump is trying to push) and has been dreaming for reunification. He’s probably willing to reunite under North’s dominance which will give him plenty of opposition domestically and abroad – history tells us that he’ll get suicided or jailed. My guess as to his reasoning? If it’s the same torture, same nukes, and same tyranny, mind as well choose our “own” asshole.
It doesn’t look good for the Dear Orange Leader to be nose-bleeding the place if the people want to sit down and talk it out.
The only reason I want Trump to remain the President is because Pence would be worse.
LikeLike
Kim Jong Un is the leader of North Korea, Moon Jae-in is the leader of South Korea. I was referring to Kim Jong Un.
LikeLike
Kent awe us with your brilliance. Exactly what country’s do not wish American troops? Tell us did you graduate from Amherst or Havard Law?
LikeLike
Pingback: SLL: Trump’s New World Order | Western Rifle Shooters Association
Nice bit of writing. There is one word that wasn’t included that might be important – “Jubilee.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Leave the gun, take the cannolis”
LikeLike
Would you say that, figuratively, Trump will pull one like Michael Corleone did while becoming godfather to his sisters baby, in church? It wouldn’t have to be as bloody as all that. Subpoenas and visits by US Marshalls with arrest warrants would be more of Trump’s style. Do you think he might do that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could happen. I don’t think he’s going to do anything outside the bounds of normal judicial process, like some of the more fervid corners of the internet are speculating (There all going to locked up in Gitmo!), but yes, you could have large-scale subpoenas and arrests. The criminality is certainly widespread. It’s something to hang a hope on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trump understands money and debt. It wouldn’t surprise me if he took the ‘Lincoln Option’, and a Jubilee to back it up… then he could do anything if he put the ‘Emporer of Debt’ out of business….
Oh, what is the Lincoln Option? Lincoln told the International Bankers in NY to go to hell when they wanted to charge him double digit interest to fight his war,.,,, then went and told the US Treasury to print US Treasury Notes ….’Greenbacks’… FDR removed the connection to gold… money it seems iis an ‘executive action’ … a button to be pushed when the executive thinks is necessary, then arrest those who disagree…
then like nixon in 1971 when the last link to gold was cut, he could tell the rest of the world the same thing; “its our currency but tyour problem, besides what the differebce> Pa\per and ink, is paper and ink, or, bit coin like digital currency…
Where there is a will, there’s a way…
LikeLike
Most Americans do not wish to understand how deeply the darkness has infiltrated our country and our institutions of power. They prefer to neither hear nor understand anything about the terrible catastrophe that awaits our nation.
The dark forces which now control the shadow government in America are as hideous and evil as they are real; they have led us to the edge of an abyss in which our military was intentionally weakened and our nation left virtually defenseless. The window of vulnerability that exists today was left wide open by their design.
B. Barusch
LikeLike
Pingback: Daily Reading #262 | thinkpatriot
It’s interesting to read something, that should be so obvious to anyone paying attention, in such a concise and well-written essay. I forwarded this to several people, and have seen it reposted elsewhere. I don’t like everything you write, Mr. Gore, and I think Russia is our enemy, but I enjoy and agree with you most of the time.
You absolutely nailed it with this one. Nicely done.
LikeLike
I’d be deeply disappointed if you, or anyone else, agreed with everything I write. But thank you for the compliment. I think the Godfather analogy carries some water on the Russian question. The Mafia capos didn’t all like each other, but they recognized some degree of accomadation with each other was in all their interests. I think some degree of accomodation between Russia and the US is in both countries’ interest, recognizing that we will always have interests that conflict as well. Wisdom will consist of recognizing when accomodation is and isn’t in the US’s best interests. Demonization and things like the Russiagate concoction serve no one’s interest, and only make it harder to reach wise agreements and accomodations.
LikeLike
Like Don Corleone, Trump is dividing up the larger territory into smaller, great-power controlled sub-territories. He is tacitly recognizing Russia and China’s dominance in their own spheres of influence, and holding them to account in their territories. The implicit agreement among the three is apparently that each power will, in their, “sphere of influence…enforce peace.”
Yeah, I would like to believe that. I’m not sure how our troops, aircraft and naval vessels on Russia’s western borders or our forays into the South China Sea or the recent bill on Taiwan fit the analysis.
LikeLike
Pingback: News That May Interest You: In Chronological Timeline | Dirt People
Enforced Peace. Is this True Peace?
LikeLike
Pingback: The Eagle, the Dragon, and the Bear « Financial Survival Network
Pingback: The Eagle, the Dragon, and the Bear - The Daily Coin
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear | CENSORED.TODAY
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear | Daily Forex Circle
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear | peoples trust toronto
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear | Newzsentinel
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear - Novus Vero
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear – Cui Bono News
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear | Wall Street Vibes
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear – Conspiracy News
Pingback: Today’s News 23rd June 2018 | The One Hundredth Monkey
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear | Golden Gate Daily
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, And The Bear - HiddenHandNews
Pingback: The Eagle, The Dragon, and The Bear – Astute News
Pingback: The Empire’s Sea Of Woes – TCNN: The Constitutional News Network
Pingback: The Empire’s Sea Of Woes | peoples trust toronto
Pingback: The Empire's Sea Of Woes | StockTalk Journal
Pingback: The Empire's Sea Of Woes | ValuBit