The bull in the china shop.

 This war in Iran, started by Trump has - unforeseen consequences for the world economy and for individual economies. Trump has a limited ability to concentrate for long, so it’s very possible that by the end of the week, he might decide this war is - too expensive politically and economically. In retrospect the decision by Starmer, not to join America in this - idiotic confrontation - looks very wise and sapient. Tony Blair, was highly critical of the stance of the prime minister. The shadow of the 2003 - invasion of Iraq hangs over the decisions about Iran. It’s obviously clear the Blair doesn’t fully understand the political consequences of this war. So for once Starmer comes out well from his decision, not to join the invasion. The bull in the china shop - continues to destroy so much credibility. Trump will regret this myopic decision. 

G7 crisis meeting.

 The finance ministers of the G7 will hold an emergency Zoom meeting today as the oil price passes $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022 and the war in Ukraine. There could be a serious impact on the world economy, unless the war in Iran ends very soon. The UK is therefore very vulnerable to this shock as our productivity is so anaemic and not sufficiently robust in the current environment. We have suffered for many years with a below average productivity relative to our other G7 countries. The longer the war goes on Rachel Reeves, will be kept awake at night. 

Are we reading enough?

The historian Dominic Sandbrook, has argued that we are - not reading enough and in particular great literature like: Wuthering Heights, Emma, Middlemarch and Moby Dick et al. And consequently this is detrimental to our ability to empathise with other people. He started his podcast The Book Club earlier this year. He cites the polymath and late academic at Oxford University, Dr John Cary’s book What Good are the Arts? Despite the obvious observation about some of the most heinous people in history loved the arts. People like Hitler and other notorious Nazi followers. Nevertheless Carey still argues that overall the arts are - generally good for you. The problem is - how do you measure this? There isn’t an alternative cohort to study over time and make comparisons with. The basic premise is still worth considering. 

Not needed.

 Apparently president Trump has expressed his exasperation with Starmer, by stating - ‘we aren’t needed’. The so called special relationship in - on life support. Moreover Tony Blair has been less than helpful in saving in a private meeting - ‘we should have been more supportive of the US’. These are troubling times both nationally and internationally as the Middle East goes up in flames. Can the government reclaim any credibility or are we on a downward trajectory? It seems to me that there is obviously a lacklustre leadership at the centre - and this consequently leads to mismanagement of the crisis. We are cut adrift from America and have lost a role in Europe as we approach the 10th anniversary of Brexit. What a mess. 

Hollowed out.

 Nothing more starkly tells us how much our atrophy as a military power has happened - than the obvious failings at Akrotiri. Its a statement about how much our - military has been hollowed out. We didn’t respond as we should have done and as a consequence - great damage has occurred to our military credibility and prowess. Other nations - however did react in a proper way, including Greece, France and other countries. We have been humiliated. It will take many years to recover from this political and military nadir. Can our allies rely on us to turn up when - called upon? I don’t think so. This sorry state of affairs didn’t happen overnight, but occurred following the financial crash of 2008/9. Since then we haven’t been spending enough or taking defence seriously. What must Putin be thinking of us now? We wouldn’t be able to offer much resistance, if he decided to attack. What a catastrophic failure of leadership and government - to be in this parlous position. 

Too little, too late.

 The prime minister has got himself in a terrible pickle over - whether or not to support the American attack on Iran. According to Tim Shipman in The Spectator magazine, he was bullied by his cabinet colleagues in the National Security Council (NSC). Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper, didn’t want to support the US and moreover - not to allow our bases in this country to be used by American aircraft. In addition countries in the Gulf region are incandescent, that we have been ‘asleep at the wheel’ and ill prepared for battle. We therefore have managed to infuriate Trump and let down important allies and as a consequence have caused unnecessary damage to these important relationships. It’s a lack of political nouse that bedevils Starmer - he is naive, gullible and an ingenu. The bogeyman in the background is the attorney general Lord  Hermer - who is pedantic and something of a bete noire. He is a close legal friend of the prime minister, which exacerbates the crisis. 

One crisis after another.

 We are finding it difficult to give the - band width to so many crises across the globe. Christina Lamb of The Sunday Times - says on Wednesday on the Media Show, BBC Sounds. She said referring to Ukraine that “all the journalists have left” they have go to the Middle East to cover the war. The general fatigue about so many international problems is so - daunting for the average person in the UK. We have forgotten about Afghanistan and the political problems there - where girls and women are marginalised - because of the religious Taliban. It’s emotionally impossible to follow each of these problems.