Tenchu's Thoughts: Maritime Law vs. the Law of Conquest
Just a reminder, since the MAGA cultists are now talking like little imperialists, here is the difference between the two laws that govern the world:
Maritime Law
Among other things, this law dictates that any given country would be better off trading with its neighbors than going to war with them.
This goes by many names, including something that I used to hear a lot back in 2022 but not anymore, namely the "rules-based world order."
This has been the dominating law that keeps the modern world at relative peace. Even Europe, whose entire history has been one of constant warfare and changing borders, is now in an extended period of peace.
The Law of Conquest
This was the law that dominated the world prior to WWII (arguably even prior to WWI). This is what led to the Age of Colonialism and the Age of Imperialism.
It's the reason why, among other things, the borders that define the nations in Africa, the Middle East, and much of Asia are completely artificial and drawn by foreign powers.
It's the reason why white nationalists here in America think they are the "original Americans." When you point out that Native Americans were here first, they'll tell you that it's OK because their ancestors "conquered" the land instead of stealing it.
The Law of Conquest, however, finally died with WWII and the Nuclear Age. That was when the Third Reich was soundly defeated along with Imperial Japan and their dreams of conquering most of East Asia.
Conquerors in the Modern Era
So what happens when certain leaders in the modern era forget that the Age of Imperialism is over?
You get guys like Saddam Insane, who tried to invade and annex Kuwait but got his ass kicked in Operation Desert Storm.
More recently, you get guys like Vladdie PooTin, who tried to invade Ukraine but is currently getting his ass kicked.
And you get guys like Xi Jinping, who still won't recognize Taiwan's independence, but instead is willing to take the island by force.
Trump's Delusions of Imperialism
Given modern history's abject failures to revive the Law of Conquest, why is Trump trying to do what previous imperialists have failed to do?
It's simple. Trump is a complete and utter dumbass whose ego has grown beyond the existing borders of America.
Now he wants Greenland.
Now he wants Canada.
Heck, he even wants the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed as the Gulf of America.
This moron wants to extend America's borders because that was the old way of making an empire great.
Not by having the strongest economy in the world.
Not by having the strongest military in the world by an order of magnitude above the next nation (China, probably).
Not by having a disproportionate amount of global geopolitical influence, which includes possessing the world's reserve currency.
Nope, been there, done that.
Gotta go further. Gotta take over some frozen wastelands and turn them into the next Alaska.
WTF is the point, other than stroking his own gigantic ego?
And how is this going to reduce the price of eggs?
Tenchusatsu |
