#Biden calls #America’s democratic values the “grounding wire of our global power” & its #alliances “our greatest asset.” …#Trump, called for withdrawing American forces in #Europe & #Asia & has promised… to cut loose even our closest #allies if they don’t do as he tells them. …Trump sees all countries as unreliable, the relations between them #transactional. That sentiment has spread throughout a #GOP that once championed America’s values abroad…
During his 40 months in office, events have tested #Biden’s vision of American world leadership. #Alliances haven’t been enough to win a new European #war in #Ukraine. US #power & leverage haven’t prevented a #humanitarian catastrophe in the #MiddleEast, marked by alleged #WarCrimes. #Putin is trying to assemble an axis of #autocrats from #Tehran to #Beijing. In #China, the US faces an adversary potentially its equal in economic & military power intent on tearing down the American #GlobalOrder.
…TFG’s admiration for #autocrats has been reported b4, but in comments by Trump recounted to me for my new book, “The Return of Great Powers,” …Kelly & others who served under #Trump give new insight into why they warn that a man who consistently praises #autocratic ldrs opposed to #UnitedStates interests is ill-suited to lead the country in the GreatPower clashes that could be coming, telling me they believe that the root of his admiration for these figures is that he envies their #power.
"According to Palestinian health authority figures reported by Al-Jazeera, at least 10,022 Palestinians, including more than 4,100 children, were killed by Israeli attacks in the first month of the war alone.
War and civil conflict, along with natural disasters, are the biggest drivers of refugees."
"As autocracy spreads in the world, more deaths and displacements will be the norm. And war as waged by autocrats often results in more violence and less compromise, especially when the autocrat sees continuing that war as crucial to his self-preservation. …
As autocracy advances in the world, supporting democracy is not just a political choice, but a vote for the fundamental human values of compassion, solidarity, and love."
Via Trygve Olson: Seven Rules for Dealing With #Autocrats.
"This Autocratic Intention Signaling by Donald Trump is perhaps another excellent opportunity to remind people of the Seven Rules for Dealing with Autocrats and their enablers. I wrote these when working with those worldwide fighting for Democracy in their nations, and they are just as applicable today with what we face in America in the coming months."
Yes, the Arab rulers are o.k. with that, I'd say. Up to a point. And that is when it (will) involve Muslims, too. (#Niemöller's "Then they came for..."1))
IDK any of them personally, of course, but I still seem to remember from an article or a pod in @TheEconomist that the Arab rulers, as well as #Xi, were quite shocked about the insurgencies of the #ArabSpring. All these #autocrats chiefly want to remain in power, and #Twitter...
He saw how Trump used #Twitter - and its far-right incubators - to his advantage, and won.
Musk wants to do the same, but needs to avoid true moderation, and suspension of abuse and bigotry. Ultimately, prevent being expelled like Trump was.
So the best way to ensure his target voters get to see unopposed propaganda is by taking over the far-right propaganda channel itself and mould it to his advantage.
There's nothing new about it, all #autocrats do it.
I was watching #Stargate SG-1 defeat the human & alien villains on PlutoTV last night.
I thought about Biden's victory over the GOP. I think it's important to celebrate the victories, even if the relief we feel doesn’t match the worry & anxiety we've been through.
NOTHING screams delusion like claiming to “counter #China” & the #CCP & defend #Taiwan — where #LGBTQ#Rights are enshrined in the #Constitution — LIKE aggressively championing:
"The world’s richest people emit huge and unsustainable amounts of #carbon and, unlike ordinary people, 50% to 70% of their emissions result from their investments. New analysis of the ...
"It’s increasingly looking like this may be one of the most hilariously inappropriate applications of AI that we’ve seen yet." I am riveted by the extensive documentation of how ChatGPT-powered Bing is now completely unhinged. @simon has chronicled it beautifully here: https://simonwillison.net/2023/Feb/15/bing/
...This said, I might also as well say that I see little chance for this happening, the globe being ruled by #oligarchs following the principal of #plutocracy and #capitalism (no, I am not a #Marxist;)) and #autocrats
Even a non-#superintelligence with access to the sensors of the #IoT will easily be aware of any threat to its existence and will find ways to circumvent the #LawsOfRobotics.
Opinion | No One Should Want to See a Dictator Get Old (www.nytimes.com)
Xi and Putin are entering a dangerous time in the life cycle of dictators.