While taking a little scroll through some of my earlier blog posts this morning, I happened upon one from February 2nd of this year concerning the establishment of Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace.” And I wondered why we haven’t heard anything from them since then. So, of course, I went fishing . . . and it turns out that there was an update just this week. (I still don’t think I’m psychic, but . . . )

You may recall that this organization was initially promoted as a means of settling conflicts throughout the world, beginning with Gaza — a sort of alternative United Nations. Trump, of course, would be chairman for life, with unrestricted veto power over the Board’s decisions, including the choice of his successor. A permanent seat on the Board could be obtained by eligible countries for a mere $1 billion (or more, if one was feeling generous). It wasn’t immediately clear what the money would be used for, though presumably the chairman would let everyone know in due time.

A number of countries immediately applied for membership, reportedly pledging a total of $17 billion. These predictably consisted mainly of autocratic regimes, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Belarus, Kosovo, and Uzbekistan. Vladimir Putin said he might consider membership, though he was holding out for the release of some frozen Russian assets to cover the $1 billion fee.

Those who promptly said “thanks but no thanks” included Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the U.K., and Ukraine. No surprises there, either, as Trump has not particularly endeared himself to our traditional allies since reclaiming occupancy of the Oval Office.

You should note that the initial $17 billion consisted of pledges, and not cold, up-front cash payments. Now — and this is the reason for the sudden flurry of news items — it appears that those pledges may not have been engraved in stone, or set within a specific time period. Because, though he vehemently denies it, Trump may be facing a cash crunch.

He calls it a “funding gap,” saying that the Board is an “execution-focused organisation that calls capital as needed . . . [and that there] are no funding constraints.” [Emma Farge and Alexander Cornwell, Reuters, May 19, 2026.]

That’s a nice way of saying that only a small portion of the pledged funding has actually been received. And now Trump is calling for “faster disbursement of funding pledges” to cover his proposed $70 billion — yes, that’s $70 billion, not a mere $17B — plan to end the war in Gaza and to rebuild the territory.

And there it is: “ . . . to rebuild the territory.”

This is something the United Nations is not equipped to do. While it does assist with recovery in war-affected areas such as Gaza, it is not a bank; instead, it coordinates with the World Bank and other entities to assess damages and fund the immediate needs of recovery, such as clearing rubble and restoring basic health and water services. The U.N. also relies on agencies like the UNDP, UNHCR and UNICEF to provide humanitarian aid, temporary housing, and financial opportunities to people in war-torn regions.

It does not build high-end resorts and commercial/residential communities.

But that is precisely what Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner have in mind.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January of this year, Kushner described a plan that begins with a “coastal tourism” zone to include up to 180 skyscrapers, many of which would likely be hotels. A residential zone would consist of high-end homes and apartments. He envisioned a new Dubai: another Middle Eastern playground for the rich and infamous. And he said:

“We have a masterplan. . . . There is no Plan B. If Hamas does not demilitarize, that will be what holds back the people of Gaza from achieving their aspirations.” [Andrew Carey , CNN, January 22, 2026.]

I hardly think the wounded, homeless, starving people of Gaza are really dreaming of a “new Dubai” to replace their former homes and rebuild their shattered lives. That is the dream of a family of billionaires looking for their next billion in profits from the sale and operation of those skyscrapers and apartments.

Kushner did go on to describe his proposed provision for the current residents of Gaza: an area called “New Rafah,” which would offer more than 100,000 permanent housing units, plus schools and medical facilities. But he didn’t explain what would happen to the rest of the estimated 2,000,000 displaced persons currently living in the Gaza Strip, nearly half of whom remain in the devastated northern region. Nor did he offer a plan for temporary accommodations while his “new Dubai” is under construction.

*. *. *

I wonder whether the delay in fulfilling their pledges is due to Trump’s friends’ awakening to the fact that what they signed onto was not a peacekeeping mission at all, but another Trump-branded scheme to further enrich himself and his family, and to gain a foothold in yet another part of the world.

Ask yourself this: Would you invest any sum of money in a start-up organization created by, and under the sole control of, someone with this man’s record?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/19/26

On Friday, May 15th, I wrote about Donald Trump’s latest threats against the neighboring island nation of Cuba, and wondered why he had sent the Director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, to Havana rather than a diplomatic team. I closed with the following words of apprehension:

“Those of my generation remember all too well what happened when the CIA stuck its nose into Cuba 65 years ago. Maybe they’ve learned from their earlier mistakes . . . but this still makes me nervous.”

I was, of course, referencing the disastrous (for us) “Bay of Pigs” invasion of April 1961, which in turn triggered the following year’s Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Soviet Union stepped in to “defend” Cuba against any further U.S. threats.

For 13 days in October of 1962, the world trembled on the brink of World War Three. I remember clearly the feeling of going to bed each night, convinced that — because I lived at “Ground Zero” in Washington, D.C. — I would not wake up the following morning.

We were lucky then; our President was John F. Kennedy — a learned, seasoned politician and diplomat who kept his finger away from the nuclear button, and was able to convince Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to take a deep breath, withdraw his missiles from Cuba, and let the world continue living for a while longer.

Today, our world is not the same as it was 64 years ago. There are — as far as I know — no Russian missiles on their way to Cuba. But Vladimir Putin’s Russia still has a strong presence there. And the White House is now occupied, not by a man of reason, but by a hotheaded malignant narcissist who delights in threatening to wipe out entire civilizations if they do not bend to his will.

Donald Trump has made no secret of his intention to “take over” Cuba, allegedly to rescue it from a very real economic and political crisis, but in reality to allow him to claim another victory in his parade of hostile takeovers.

And now, as though in answer to my question of a few days ago concerning the involvement of the CIA, U.S. intelligence sources have reported that Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones and has recently begun discussing plans to attack the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, U.S. military vessels, and possibly even Key West, Florida. [Marc Caputo, Axios, May 17, 2026.]

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has responded by accusing the U.S. of fabricating a case in order to justify potential military intervention, and said in a post on X that “Cuba does not represent a threat.” He added that any offensive military action against Cuba would lead to a “bloodbath.” [Kylie Madry, Reuters, May 18, 2026.]

And Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez posted that Cuba, “like every nation in the world,” has every right to defend itself against foreign aggression under the U.N. Charter and international law. [Id.]

So here we are again — though now in a world of drone warfare, splintering political alliances, and inmates running the asylum that is Washington. Who is telling the truth? Cuba’s president did not deny having the drones; but does he believe his country really has the capacity to launch and sustain an attack against the United States?

Or is Trump indeed fabricating a Cuban threat as an excuse for yet another unwarranted invasion?

And if he does make a move against Cuba, will Russia once again step in to defend its ally in order to maintain a toehold in the Caribbean?

And finally . . . will we all wake up again tomorrow morning?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/19/26

“They’d better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”

– Donald J. Trump, May 17, 2026

So said Trump about Iran on Sunday, as he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the Times of Israel. [Ella Kipling, BBC, May 18, 2026.]

On Monday, after Iran said it had responded to the most recent U.S. proposal and that talks were continuing through Pakistani mediators, Trump did another of his dizzying U-turns and said that he would “hold off” on his plan to attack Iran on Tuesday, in accordance with a request from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. [Kit Maher, Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins, CNN, May 18, 2026.]

Adding that negotiations were becoming more “serious,” he nevertheless posted that he has instructed his leadership “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice” if a deal isn’t reached . . . and that “This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN.” [Id.]

He later told reporters:

“It’s a very positive development, but we’ll see whether or not it amounts to anything.” Referring to other occasions when he thought a deal was close, he added, “but this is a little bit different. We were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow. I put it off for a little while — hopefully, maybe, forever — but possibly for a little while, because we’ve had very big discussions with Iran, and we’ll see what they amount to. I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and some others if we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal. . . . If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy.” [Id.]

So tomorrow (now today, Tuesday) was supposed to be Doomsday. But then it wasn’t. Although it might be just around the corner. Or not. He really doesn’t want to annihilate Iran. But he will gladly do it if they don’t meet his demands . . . whatever they might be. But definitely NO NUKES.

But hey — what ever happened to regime change? Has that already taken place, or did I imagine that it was ever an issue? And there was the little matter of opening the Strait of Hormuz . . . which, the last I heard, we (the U.S.) were still blocking. Though it was open before he tore up the prior agreement, thus giving Iran carte blanche to go ahead and develop the nukes they didn’t have before this all started.

The whole ugly mess is more than confusing; it’s downright vertiginous. Is he trying to scare the Iranians to death? Or does he really not know what the f*ck he’s doing? Maybe he’s just getting bored with this war, and is ready to move on to Cuba.

Seriously . . . who the hell knows anything anymore?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/19/26

The other day, a friend told me her age (she’s just a few years younger than I), and then asked mine. I did tell her; but I was surprised at my reluctance to say the number out loud. And that led me to thinking about women and age.

Today’s quote comes from a Chinese philosopher . . . though surprisingly not attributed to Confucius, as is so much of that culture’s wisdom. In fact, I don’t even know whether it’s an old or a newer saying.

But it is about women, and about age: two perfectly normal subjects that, when combined, tend to react like a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. And it appears that the Chinese have always understood this very well, because these words — whether ancient or recent — explain perfectly how we women feel about the subject:

“The woman who tells her age is either too young to have anything to lose or too old to have anything to gain.”

– As quoted by Advaita Suresh, US News, May 17, 2026

So now you can understand why you should never ask the age of a woman who is, or appears to be, anywhere between 18 and 80, because if you do, you are likely to have your lights knocked out.

And now, perhaps you could help me figure out how to deal with my new-found realization that, according to the Chinese proverb, I have nothing left to gain.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/18/26

If you’ve been contemplating where Vladimir Putin’s wandering eye might focus next, you may have been thinking about one of the Baltic states: Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia. And you could be right. But don’t overlook an area that a lot of people aren’t familiar with: the Transnistria region of Moldova.

Moldova — the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldavia — formally applied for membership in the EU in March of 2022, and was granted candidate status in June of the same year . . . clearly signaling its intention to remain outside the sphere of Vladimir Putin’s influence. And, while not a member of NATO, it does cooperate with the bloc through its Partnership for Peace program.

Despite the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has continued to claim hegemony over other former Soviet regions — most notably, the Crimean Peninsula and other regions of Ukraine, but also the de facto independent Transnistria region of Moldova.

Like much of that part of the world, the history of Transnistria is complex. Pro-Russian separatists declared the region’s independence from Moldova (then still part of the USSR) on September 2, 1990. Russia then — and this will sound very familiar — sent in troops to occupy the area as a “peacekeeping” force; and, even after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and despite pledges to withdraw over the years, has not left. In March of 2022, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe formally designated Transnistria as Moldovan territory occupied by the Russian Federation; and there the matter stands.

Looking at the map, it is easy to see why Russia wants so badly to hang onto Transnistria: its eastern side forms the border with the western side of Putin’s primary objective . . . Ukraine.

On its west, Moldova also shares a long border with NATO/EU member Romania, further rendering it of great strategic importance as a buffer (from Putin’s standpoint) or a connector (for Ukraine) between Ukraine and Romania.

As we all know, Putin is adept at creating excuses to send his armies into non-Russian territories. He did it in 2008 in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia. In 2014, he repeated his success in Crimea. And he did it yet again in February of 2022, when he claimed that Russian-speaking separatists in the Donbas region of Ukraine were being persecuted by the so-called Nazi regime in Kyiv and needed protection. Since then, he has expanded his control to other areas of Ukraine, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia — all in the guise of “liberation.”

Once entrenched, he “granted” Russian citizenship status to the residents of those areas. And now, he has signed a decree doing the same for the citizens of Transnistria who are at least 18 years of age and were living there permanently on the day the decree took effect (May 15, 2026), even offering expedited citizenship by waiving three of the requirements of Russia’s citizenship law: five years of residency, Russian language proficiency, and passing exams on Russian history and legal foundations. [Katherina Popilnichenko, United24Media, May 15, 2026.]

On May 13th, the Russian State Duma unanimously approved legislation expanding Putin’s authority to deploy Russian armed forces abroad, amending existing regulations on citizenship and defense, and allowing the Kremlin to use military force to “protect” Russian citizens against alleged persecution by foreign states and by international courts not recognized by Moscow. [Id.]

Over the years, this has become a tried-and-true tactic of Putin’s, intended to destabilize areas formerly belonging to the Soviet Union that have now become members of NATO and/or the EU, or that simply border on NATO and/or EU member nations. It is one more weapon in his hybrid attacks throughout Europe, which have included sabotage, assassination plots, attacks against infrastructure and security . . . and all as part of his master plan to recreate, in some form, the Russian Empire.

With himself as Emperor, of course.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/18/26

On June 24, 1826, as the 50th anniversary of the signing and approval of the Declaration of Independence approached, an aging Thomas Jefferson wrote what would be his last letter. It was addressed to Roger C. Weightman: an American politician, civic leader, printer, and the eighth Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Jefferson would die on that Independence Day, just ten days after writing his final letter. But his words live on as a history lesson and a caution to succeeding generations . . . if only we have the wisdom to heed them:

“May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately . . . These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”

– Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Roger C. Weightman, 24 June 1826.

As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of that momentous event with fireworks, patriotic music, and enormous amounts of picnic food, let’s also take a few minutes to recall what it is we’re actually commemorating . . . and what we are now fighting to keep alive for our children and their succeeding generations.

Don’t let that be stolen from us.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/17/26

Each week, I mention the sad fact that my list of Putin’s political hostages consists of only a small fraction of those actually held in prisons and penal colonies throughout Russia, Belarus, and other Russia-friendly locations.

And every now and then, I happen across the names of others previously unknown to me. Such was the case this week, when I read about the recent death of Russian human rights activist and dissident Nina Litvinova at the age of 80.

Nina, a prominent ocean researcher, was not a prisoner; her body was found on a street in central Moscow. And she had left behind a suicide note. [The Moscow Times, May 15, 2026.]

According to the Russian human rights organization Memorial, Nina had been advocating for political prisoners since the 1960s, including for her own brother, Pavel Litvinov, who had taken part in a demonstration against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. She attended high-profile trials, including those of historian Yury Dmitriyev, Memorial co-founder Oleg Orlov, and numerous lesser-known prisoners. She had also appeared briefly in a 2022 documentary by RFE/RL’s Russian Service when she visited imprisoned activist Olga Bendas. [RFE/RL’s Russian Service, May 15, 2026.]

Nina Litvinova’s death was first reported on May 13, 2026. The next day, her cousin, journalist Maria Slonim, published a story on social media that included what she said was an excerpt from Nina’s suicide note. As Slonim wrote:

“Nobody — neither RIA nor Gazeta.Ru, which first reported it — will, of course, publish the note, because it lays out the reasons for her death far too plainly. So we decided to show the real reasons: Putin killed her!” [Id.]

Nina’s farewell note is a testament to the extremes to which Putin’s repressive regime has gone and the effect it has had on the entire country; and as such, it bears repeating here:

“I love all of you and think about you. But I must leave; living has become unbearable for me. Ever since Putin attacked Ukraine and has been killing innocent people, while here at home thousands are endlessly thrown into prison, suffering and dying there simply because, like me, they oppose the war and oppose killing. I can do nothing to help them. Yevgenia Berkovich, Svetlana Petriichuk, Karina Tsurkan, and thousands of others behind bars are suffering and dying. I tried to help them, but my strength is gone, and day and night I suffer from helplessness. I am ashamed, but I gave up. Please forgive me.” [Id.]

*. *. *

It is from Nina Litvinova’s story that I have gathered the names of Yury Dmitriyev, Oleg Orlov, Olga Bendas, Yevgenia Berkovich, Svetlana Petriichuk, and Karina Tsurkan, for inclusion in my list of political prisoners. In the coming week, I will research their histories to relate to you in next Sunday’s chapter.

In the meantime, they are included in my weekly tribute to those who remain in limbo, awaiting our help. Once again, here is the list of those known, which is still only a fraction of the total:

Prisoners of War:

The 20,000+ Kidnapped Ukrainian Children
The People of Ukraine

Immigrant Detainees in Russia:

Migrants from the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Endangered Exiles:

Pavel “Pasha” Talankin
Mikita Losik
Yulia Navalnaya
Countless Journalists and Other Dissidents

Political Prisoners:

In Afghanistan:

Mahmoud Habibi (Afghan-American)
Paul Overby (American, missing since 2018)

In Azerbaijan:

The “Azerbaijan 7”:
— Farid Mehralizada
— Ulvi Hasanli
— Sevinj Abbasova (Vagifqiai)
— Mahammad Kekalov
— Hafiz Babali
— Nargiz Absalamova
— Elnara Gasimova

In Belarus:

Andrei Chapiuk
Uladzimir Labkovich
Andrzej Poczobut
Marfa Rabkova
Valiantsin Stafanovic
Yuras Zyankovich

In Georgia:

Mzia Amaglobeli

In Russia:

The “Crimea 8”:
— Oleg Antipov
— Artyom Azatyan
— Georgy Azatyan
— Aleksandr Bylin
— Roman Solomko
— Artur Terchanyan
— Dmitry Tyazhelykh
— Vladimir Zloba

James Scott Rhys Anderson (British)
Aleksandr Andreyev
David Barnes (American)
Olga Bendas
Yevgenia Berkovich
Gordon Black (American)
Hayden Davies (British)
Yury Dmitriyev
Anastasia Dyudyaeva
Antonina Favorskaya
Konstantin Gabov
Robert Gilman (American)
Stephen James Hubbard (American)
Sergey Karelin
Timur Kishukov
Vadim Kobzev
Darya Kozyreva
Artyom Kriger
Michael Travis Leake (American)
Aleksei Liptser
Grigory Melkonyants
Nika Novak
Oleg Orlov
Svetlana Petriichuk
Leonid Pshenychnov (in Russian-occupied Crimea)
Nadezhda Rossinskaya (a.k.a. Nadin Geisler)
Lev Schlossberg
Sofiane Sehili (French)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Grigory Skvortsov
Eugene Spector (American)
Joseph Tater (American, disappeared)
Karina Tsurkan
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland (American)

You have not been, and will not be, forgotten.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/17/26

Sun Tzu, it turns out, was more than just a great warrior; he would also have been an outstanding Human Relations Director, if there had been such a thing 2,500 years ago.

He was, of course, speaking of the oversight of military forces; but his philosophy is applicable to all walks of life, from the treatment of one’s own family, to the running of a business, to the operation of an entire government:

“When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders.”

Anyone who has ever held a job, or been part of a family or other cohesive group, understands the wisdom of those words.

Or they should.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/16/26

How long have I been writing about the strategic importance of a narrow, 40-mile-long strip of land that forms the border between Lithuania and Poland, known as the Suwalki Gap?

A year ago, on May 24, 2025, in an article titled “It Isn’t Just About Ukraine,” I pointed out the increased security measures being instituted by the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia — as well as neighboring NATO ally Poland — and the importance to Russia of being able to access that single, small land passage between Russia’s ally Belarus and the Russian military enclave of Kaliningrad.

I followed up on September 15, 2025, with a bit of a geography lesson, and on January 29, 2026, with reports from those regions on new security developments amid growing concern over the increasing number of drone incursions and other hybrid attacks in NATO countries, as well as the threat of future full-scale invasions by Russia.

A number of U.S. Senators and Representatives have expressed grave concerns over the Trump administration’s waning support of Ukraine in the wake of Donald Trump’s new war in Iran; of his worsening relations with European allies due in part to his accusations that they are not carrying their fair share of the load; his tiptoeing around Vladimir Putin; and, most recently, his withdrawal of troops from Germany and the Pentagon’s sudden cancellation of a promised troop deployment to Poland.

And now, at long last, the State Department appears to be waking up to the reality of the situation.

Christopher Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on May 14th that, while Russia currently has committed “about 90 percent of its combat power” to Ukraine, Moscow is likely eventually to “rebalance its forces and look for opportunities to project power and also create dilemmas for NATO. This is particularly acute in the Baltic region.” [Alex Raufoglu, RFE/RL, May 15, 2026.]

Which is a diplomatic way of saying that Vladimir Putin is as determined as ever to expand Russia’s borders westward.

While that was hardly news to anyone, there is now concern being expressed that an end to the conflict in Ukraine might actually accelerate that movement on Russia’s part. The chairman of the subcommittee, Republican Representative Keith Self of Texas, said at the hearing that Russia is already rebuilding its military, even as it continues to pursue its “special military operation” in Ukraine:

“When this war is over, there is a real risk that Russia may position its battle-hardened troops on the borders of the Baltic republics. History suggests the cessation of the conflict in Ukraine will not reduce the Russian threat. It may instead simply redirect it.” [Id.]

Smith then referenced the recent Russian cyberattacks, sabotage operations, and hybrid tactics being directed at the Baltic region, adding:

“We should expect Russia to rebalance its forces . . . [as they are already using] . . . hybrid operations against the Baltic states.” [Id.]

It’s good to know that someone in the U.S. is finally paying attention to a serious threat that should long since have been apparent to everyone, and has been shouted about by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for years. But now, what are these newly-conscious American officials going to do about it? What will it take to get through to the people — Trump, Rubio, Hegseth, and the others — who have been ignoring the obvious and making these disastrous decisions?

And will they do it before it’s too late?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/16/26

Sad to say, he’s gone to that great negotiating table in the sky. And let’s face it: Marco Rubio is no Henry Kissinger.

As for Donald Trump . . . well, except for a similar (and greater) propensity for dishonesty, he’s no Richard Nixon, either. Not when it comes to foreign affairs, at any rate.

Nixon, for all of his faults, understood foreign policy. He listened to his advisers, who were learned, experienced people. And I’d be willing to bet he could pronounce Thucydides.

Trump probably thinks that name belongs to a Greek martial arts master. And, in a sense, he’d be close — just off by a couple of millennia.

Thucydides was an Athenian historian and army general, best known for his “History of the Peloponnesian War.” Sometimes called the father of the school of political realism, he viewed the political behavior of individuals and the resulting outcomes of relations between states as based upon, and ultimately mediated by, fear and self-interest.

Clearly, a man before his time.

Around 2011, American political scientist, Harvard Professor of Government, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Graham Allison popularized the term “Thucydides Trap” in describing the tendency toward war when an emerging power (such as China) threatens to displace an existing great power (such as the United States) as a regional or international leader. His basis was the writing of Thucydides himself, stating that:

“ . . . it was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.”

– Thucydides, “History of the Peloponnesian War”

Allison then expanded on this theory in 2017 when he wrote:

“China and the US are currently on a collision course for war.”

– Graham Allison, “Destined for War”

And yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the “Thucydides Trap” during his opening remarks when meeting with Donald Trump in Beijing. Xi questioned whether China and the U.S. could overcome the “Thucydides Trap,” and added that “The East is rising and the West is declining.” [Elliott Davis, The Hill, May 14, 2026.]

Later — presumably after someone on his staff filled him in on who this Thucydides person was — Trump posted on X:

“When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct. Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!” [Id.]

As if anxious to display the full level of his ignorance and arrogance, he went on to add that Xi “was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration . . .” making reference to his attacks on Venezuela and Iran. And he continued:

“In fact, President Xi congratulated me on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time. Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi! But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!” [Id.]

Years from now, when our children and grandchildren study this period of U.S. history, they won’t believe what they are reading and being told, because it truly does defy belief.

Unless, of course, they’re reading it in Chinese.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/15/26