“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation.” Quote by Jean Kerr
“If Trump were to go ahead with a renewed policy of hostility toward Iran, it would immediately raise tensions, and could quickly escalate in the direction of war, with grave dangers of producing another Syrian tragedy of massive displacement and prolonged strife that could cause turmoil and disruptions throughout the entire region, and give rise to a new cycle of extremism.” IfsGivingWarCausesDangerPolicyTrumpTragedyRaisesGravesTensionRegionsCyclesIranMassiveStrifeHostilityExtremismTurmoilDisruptionDisplacement Author:Richard A. Falk
“I can only hope that Trump comes to realize the grave dangers of adopting a policy of confrontation toward Iran. Among these dangers is the likelihood that hardliners would again gain the upper hand in the governing process in Tehran, and the moderates who have sought to end national and regional tensions would be marginalized, or worse.” I CanEndsHandsWould BeProcessRealizingDangerPolicyTrumpGainsGravesTensionIranModeratesGoverningConfrontationLikelihoodAdoptingMarginalizedTehranUpper Hand Author:Richard A. Falk
“It should be appreciated that if the arrangement on Iran's nuclear program collapses after being so patiently negotiated, and successfully implemented since 2014 despite the intense opposition of Netanyahu's Israel and its American loyalists in Congress, it would be widely perceived around the world as a huge setback in the search for regional stability and the struggle to prevent any further spread of nuclear weapons.” IfsWorldShouldWould BeStruggleHugeWeaponsProgramCongressIsraelSpreadNuclearIntenseDespiteAround The WorldOppositionIranStabilityCollapseNuclear WeaponsArrangementsAppreciatedSetbackLoyalists Author:Richard A. Falk
“Trump will have to take up juggling if he goes ahead and scraps the agreement with Iran and at the same time, seeks to avoid alienating Russia, and quite possibly France and Germany. These European countries are already nervous about what the Trump presidency means with respect to the future of the post-World War II international order that has essentially kept the peace on the continent since 1945. This order is far from perfect, of course, and under pressure from other sources, especially due to the rise of chauvinism and European Trumpism.” IfsWorldMeanWarCountryOrderCoursesPerfectSourceTrumpPressureInternationalDuesRussiaNervousFrancePostsWar Of The WorldsGermanyAgreementIranWorld War IiWorld War IContinentsPresidencyScrapUnder PressureEuropean CountriesJugglingChauvinism Author:Richard A. Falk
“In light of Trump's irresponsible behavior, even Putin may decide that it was time to recalculate Russian interests. This could happen quite quickly if Trump goes ahead and wrecks one of the few potentially stabilizing developments in the Middle East during the last several years. Similarly, if Israel joins NATO, this might be more than Putin is willing to swallow.” IfsYearsMayLightMightHappensLastsInterestMiddleWillingDevelopmentTrumpBehaviorIsraelEastMiddle EastPutinIrresponsibleWrecksNato Author:Richard A. Falk
“I am quite confident that there are numerous discussions going in various "deep states" throughout the world about how to contain Trump's America geopolitically and economically, given the early indications that his policies will intensify conflict in many parts of the world.” WorldStatesAmericaGivenPolicyTrumpConflictVariousDiscussionIndication Author:Richard A. Falk
“It is possible that, in fact, Trump's call for "America First" (despite evoking unpleasant recollections that such a phrase was the invention of those in the 1930s harboring fascist sympathies) and a positive relationship with Russia, might lead [to] a more relaxed global setting.” FirstsFactsMightAmericaTrumpRussiaInventionSettingDespiteSettingsPhrasesRelaxedRecollectionFascists1930sPositive Relationship Author:Richard A. Falk
“We should not rule out the possibility that Trump's diplomacy could deescalate Middle East strife and international tensions, give the US a lower global profile and enable a more balanced world order to emerge, doing most of its damage here at home, through moves to implement his vision of nativist nationalism.” WorldGivingShouldHomeMovingOrderVisionMiddlePossibilityTrumpInternationalEastDamageTensionNationalismMiddle EastBalancedStrifeDiplomacyProfileWorld Order Author:Richard A. Falk
“My own sense is that if David Friedman chooses to live in Jerusalem, and quietly conduct diplomatic business from the now existing US consulate in the city, it will not be noticed very much. It will not be treated as a rupture with the past unless it is accompanied by other American encouragements of Israeli extremism undertaken with the clear backing of the White House.” IfsPastHouseMy OwnWhiteCitiesClearEncouragementTreatedWhite HouseIsraeliExtremismJerusalemDiplomaticRupture Author:Richard A. Falk
“Any move by Israel to end the conflict with the Palestinians by unilateral moves - such as annexing the West Bank, delinking Gaza and declaring that there be no further diplomatic process - will lead to strong regional and global reactions, as well as intensify efforts at the UN and in civil society to brand Israel as an outlaw state dangerous to regional and world peace and guilty of criminal behavior.” WorldWellsEndsStatesMovingStrongProcessEffortDangerousConflictBehaviorWestIsraelCriminalsReactionsGuiltyBrandsPalestinianCivil SocietyDiplomaticOutlawGazaDeclaringCriminal Behavior Author:Richard A. Falk