Month: July 2024

Almost An Assassination

Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13. This highlights the need for everyone to show greater restraint when it comes to engaging in political rhetoric. The Democrats have accused Trump of trying to establish a dictatorship. Others have said he is another Hitler.

When someone accuses an individual of being Hitler, it gives unhinged individuals ideas. Trump is not Hitler and the left must stop making that comparison. Trump is not going to establish a dictatorship.

Joe Biden for the first time appeared Presidential. His condemnation of the attempted murder of Trump is welcome and well stated. Of course, in the past he has engaged in dangerous rhetoric suggested democracy will end if Trump wins the elections.

No further comments until investigations are completed. To date, there is no reason to believe this was a conspiracy. In the meantime, both sides should avoid dehumanizing their political opponents. No one wants a return to the political violence of the 1960’s.

books

Frustrations And Byzantium

Book Review

The New Roman Empire A History of Byzantium

Anthony Kaldellis

Oxford University Press.

2023

This book is an excellent history of the Empire of New Rome from Constantine to the fall of Constantinople. It is very long at over nine hundred pages but very much worth reading. It is encouraging that the field of Byzantine studies is flourishing.

The book covers much ground by going through the reigns of all of Constantinople’s Emperors with great detail regarding their military campaigns and foreign relations. A great book but as with all works on Byzantine history, one can not help but get frustrated.

The author recounts the great successes of the Macedonian dynasty. Specifically, Nikephoras Phokas, John Tsimiscez, and Basil II. Here is where the Empire turned the tables on the Muslim invaders. Militarily and politically they could do no wrong. The murder of Phokas by Tsimizces was an outrage but at least the new ruler (on behalf of the child Emperor Basil II) kept the Enpire strong militarily and was feared by external enemies.

Basil II performed miraculously and crushed all foreign invaders. The Caliph fled Syria when he heard Basil was on his way. It would have been good to have more on Basil’s role in the conversion of Russia to Christianity, but what is here is great. It is noted that the treachery that would become a pattern in the Empire was not tolerated Basil. Basil crushed elements in the Empire that attempted to start a civil war while the Empire was at war.

This was the glory of the Empire. After Basil, the decline slowly began. In 1071, the Battle of Manzikert led to the devastating loss of territory in Asia Minor. Even after Manzikert, the great Komneni dynasty emerged that recovered much of this territory. But corruption and treachery led to the rise of the Angeli dynasty one of whose members stupidly brought the Fourth Crusade to Constantinople. Things were never the same after the Fourth Crusade attacked Constantinople.

Byzantine history is a joy to read, but also frustrating. The last two centuries saw the Turks take everything until the end came in 1453. Byzantine history is heartbreaking.

Letters

Greece And NATO

Letter to Foreign Affairs Magazine

The following letter is intended to convey a critical view of NATO in response to “What NATO means to the World” by Jens Stoltenberg. Being of Greek ancestry, I am acutely aware that NATO has double standards. A perfect example of this is NATO’s treatment of Greece and Cyprus. Greece has been on the receiving end of Turkish threats and the government in Ankara has openly claimed the Greek islands. NATO member Turkey is an aggressor state and an outright sponsor of terrorism and jihadism as can be seen by its alliances with pro Al Quada elements and its tolerance of Islamic State.

Turkey also invaded the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, which is not a member of NATO. This makes NATO itself an aggressor and supporter of Turkish ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories of Cyprus. More recently, the Greek Prime Minister asked Secretary Stolenberg himself to condemn Turkish threats against Greece. Mr. Stoltenberg refused to so do, making him and NATO hypocrites who are ready to sacrifice Greece and Cyprus to Turkey. In addition, NATO has looked the other way as Turkey aided and abetted the genocide of Armenians from Artsakh by the fascist-jihadist regime in Azerbaijan.

The NATO alliance is not indispensable. It is in many ways a threat to small countries considered of less importance as can be seen by the struggles of Armenia, Cyprus,
and Greece.

Theodore Karakostas
Boston

political

First Family Of Narcissists

Post author By admin
Post date July 2, 2024
1 Comment on First Family Of Narcissists

The ability of the media and the Democratic Party to hide President Biden’s dementia has collapsed. Democratic Party officials and liberal media are calling for Biden to end his candidacy for President at the very least. They have asked the Biden family to persuade the President to end his campaign.

Unsurprisingly, the Biden family are in effect urging the senile President to continue his campaign. To expect narcissists such as First Lady Jill Biden and sociopathic son Hunter Biden to do the right thing is naive. This family is dysfunctional and does not adhere to conventional morals and ethics.

Biden should not have run for President four years ago, as he was already too old and showing signs of dementia. That the Biden family let him run then demonstrates they are never going to be helpful or consider what is good for the country. On the one hand, one is inclined to have pity on an old man who is enduring the indignity of losing his mind in front of the entire world.

On the other hand, he ran for President four years ago while ignoring his advanced age and signs of declining health. Thirty five years in the Senate and eight years as Vice President were not enough for this career politician who wanted more and more. The Democrats would be doing the country and the world a favor if they proceed to deny him the nomination.

Whatever happens, Trump is assured of being elected President in November. The Democrats cannot win but they can do the right thing in ridding us all of the morally depraved Biden family. Hunter Biden’s corruption is notorious. Selling access to his then Vice President father to Ukrainian gas officials and spending his money on drugs and strippers while being a deadbeat dad are among his crimes.

Actor Bruce Willis suffers from a disease similar to Biden’s. His family compelled him to retire and care for him in private in order to protect his privacy. That is what loving families with members who suffer from dementia do. The Biden’s let their husband and father run for reelection as President in the midst of international upheavals and regional wars.

The Biden family must go. This classless and depraved family must be removed from the White House. The sooner the better. Jill Biden in particular will be remembered as America’s worst First Lady.