By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

Like any tin-pot dictator in the Third World, that he himself heartily detests, U.S. President Donald J. Trump is offering voters hard cash to vote for the Republican Party in the forthcoming mid-term elections on November 3.

This is unheard of in the annals of American history and shows the low depth to which American democracy has descended.

At the Republican midterm convention at Dallas, Trump proposed to pay every adult American US Dollar 5,000 – but only if his party wins in November [i.e. since he himself is not on the ballot, if the Republicans win both chambers of Congress].

This is evidently against the law and the Constitution, but the proposal was met with a shrug of the shoulders by most Republicans – corruptible as they have become.

The Democrats, who are slated to win at least the House of Representatives, denounced Trump and accused him of trying to buy people’s votes.

Only some Republican fiscal hawks panned the proposal as a socialist-style giveaway and a gimmick that could have harmful economic repercussions (NYT, September 12-13).

Trump’s elect us-we-pay-plan did dismay a number of Republicans who were not close to the president.

Even if the offer stands, Trump has a history of making big promises he has failed to win support for.

The payments would cost an estimated US Dollar $ 1.3 trillion and would be highly inflationary.

And this at a moment when voters are blaming the trump administration for not doing enough to tame rising costs.  

The Iran War Is Far From Over

In recent weeks, the United States has succeeded in loosening Iran’s grip over the Strait of Hormuz while virtually shutting down Iran’s own oil exports, accelerating its economic free fall.

“Unfortunately, the US is not winning in the war with Iran despite its limited success in loosening Iran’s grip over the strait and the devastating impact on Iran’s economy,” said Mona Yacoubian, a  Middle East expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

“Iran shows no sign of backing down, and instead has demonstrated a willingness to not only fight back, but escalate wherever it can. The war is likely to be protracted with no clear victor.”

Yemen’s Houthi Militants Take Over the Bab al-Mandab Strait Vital To Global Shipping

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis seized a strategic Red Sea island last Friday after capturing territory along the eastern Red Sea coast, sealing their takeover of a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia (AFP/Agence France Presse, Sep. 12).

The development is likely to deepen the Middle East’s impact on international commerce, months after the strategic Strait of Hormuz was blocked by Iran, which hailed its Yemini allies’ advance on Friday.

After a week-long offensive that left hundreds dead, the Houthis are now in control of territory along the Yemini side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea and further north, in turn, the Suez Canal.

A local official with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government said on Friday that the Houthis had “completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island.”

The capture of Mayyun Island, in the middle of the narrow waterway, heightens the militants’ ability to attack Saudi tankers, which they have been targeting since July of this year.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, has relied on the Red Sea ever since Iran’s Hormuz blockade choked off its shipments via the Persian Gulf.

There is clearly close collaboration – even collision between Iran and the Houthis.

Thus, Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei [who may or may not be still living], congratulated the Houthis on their “resounding victory” (AFP).

“Now the Iranians don’t only control the Strait of Hormuz, but they control the other most strategic chokepoint in the Middle East,”Farea Al-Muslimi, research fellow at the Chatham House think tank in London told AFP.

The Houthis are now attempting to allay any international concerns or even military actions against them.

A member of the Houthis’ politburo sought to allay fears for global shipping insisting “there is no cause for international concern” (AFP).

Clearly, this dire situation cannot be allowed to stand. International action against the Houthis must take place to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Both Iran and their allies, the Houthis must be cut down to size. If the United States or Saudi Arabia do not want to undertake any military action separately or even together, there is, of course, the Medina Defence Pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkeye and Pakistan.

In order to restore peace and security in the Middle East, both Iran and Israel must be cut down to size. They cannot be allowed to act as regional hegemons.

Regarding Israel’s depredations in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, it is the job of the United States and European countries as a whole to control and rein in the Jewish State.

Regarding Iran, it is up to regional powers and the Gulf states to take decisive action. Iran cannot be allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz or even the Babal al-Mandab Strait through the Houthis. These two maritime corridors must be free and open to international traffic.

This is anchored in international law and maritime conventions.

This should again be restated in a UN Security Council resolution, and if the proposal is vetoed by Russia, it can be taken up by the UN General Assembly in the coming autumn session.

These actions by the international institution could even lead to its rejuvenation.

This is essential in a fractured world, where the United States and Europe collectively are unwilling or unable to take the lead.

This must be taken by a coalition of “enlightened” countries to confront the grave and present dangers brought forth by climate change, the possible technological transformation wrought by AI and the erratic behaviour of rogue countries such as the U.S., Russia and Iran.

It is especially disappointing that previously leading European states like the U.K., France and Germany are too busy solving their own problems, instead of confronting world crises – such as energy crisis, climate change, epidemics like the Ebola in the Congo, AI transformation, etc, etc.

The two great civilizations of Asia – China and India–are also on the sidelines, basking in the glow of regional organizations like BRICS.  

The writer can be reached at: shashimalla125@gmail.com