US & Israel attack Iran again

Created Tuesday 03 March 2026

The US and Israel just started another illegal war in the Middle East at the weekend. And let’s be real, there is no credible evidence that Iran has or is near to having nuclear weapons. Anything suggesting this is pro-war propaganda targeted at western audiences. The real goal, first, is propping up Israel hegemony in the region. And, second, re-incorporating Iran’s resources, oil, into Globalisation 2.0's global economic circuits. In other words, out of China’s hands.

Initially, it looks like the goals of the strikes were Iranian state collapse. US officials have admitted to long-term planning designed to decapitate the Iranian regime. Then presumably they would flood Iran with cash and guns to fuel internal factions and chaos. While this is probably conducive to the main goals, after numerous failed adventures in the region, you would think the US would know better.

But two more things come into play here that may have convinced US war planners it was worth the risk. First, the ensuring instability from the conflict will be, as usual, highly profitable for Western capital. And, if there is one thing Trump and his people like, it’s making money. Second, Trump’s vanity.

Trita Parsi⁠ (Quincy Institute) has some insight here. He believes that Israel tapped into Trump’s vanity and convinced him that Iran was weak and could be taken down quickly. Not true. Therefore, we may see US troops in Iran. Primarily because the Islamic state will not back down until US and allies have suffered enough that they leave Iran alone.

Parsi also notes that the peace talks, from the US side, were always about Iran surrendering unconditionally, not a new nuclear deal. The idea that the US was a bad faith actor in the negotiation is untrue. Propaganda from Israel; as they do not like the US negotiating with their enemies. This is one way to stop future negotiations.

In all, it looks like we may be in for a conflict that is going to keep escalating. Though Trump's meeting in China next month may help de-escalate the conflict.

Carney on Iran – Liberal Hypocrisy on Full Display

One of the more interesting points for me, in terms of the liberal order, has been the response of the West to the attack. Not much resistance here. This is in contrast to Mark Carney, Canadian president, a few weeks ago at Davos. There he complained about Trump ripping up the rules based order. Noting that while it was a liberal fiction, it was one that worked. Adam Tooze pontificated about the real meaning of this back in his blog in January. He felt a rupture between the US and the rest of the West when he was at Davos. A view driven by US administration officials stomping around the conference making deals and demanding Greenland as a prize for Emperor Trump.

At the time I thought transition, a la the theory of state infrastructural power. The idea that the Trump administration is building on top of the neoliberal order, rather than a radical change of direction. Especially as the latter, and elite consensus about it, has been breaking down since the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2008. With Carney’s remarks on Iran, I think it is clear there is no rupture, but a new consensus on the transition.

Indeed, Carney's full of shit. Ben Norton, Geopolitcaleconomy.com, also comes to this conclusion. The West’s hypocrisy clearly demonstrated by the words of leaders such as the Canadian PM in backing Trump's new imperialism. In effect, accepting Narco Rubio's invitation to the Europe, at the Munich conference a few weeks ago, to get on board with US empire plans.

These clowns switch to whichever narrative gives them leverage. Carney talked big when the whole world was watching Trump’s uncouth demands over Greenland. But, once war kicks off suddenly the whole West lines up behind the US, no conditions.

In reality, they need to stay tied to the US. For one they do not have the military capabilities to let the US abandon them, at least not any time soon. While, second, due to a negligible tech sector they are also reliant on the US for advances in this field.

Further, the liberal European states are already shifting to the mode of governance we see in the US. Characterised by continued finacialisation of their economies (Globalisation 2.0), illiberal surveillance systems and militarisation. Shifts encouraged not just by the US, but by numerous post GFC effects. Namely, more state economic intervention globally and far-right electoral advances driven by immigration fears and economic stagnation in Europe itself.