Military

The age of the aircraft carrier is over

Ever since World War Two, America’s aircraft carrier fleets have served as imposing instruments of imperial power, roaming the oceans to cow recalcitrant nations into obedience. Favored by the Trump administration for this purpose, current experience indicates their day is done thanks to the proliferation of anti-ship missiles and the increasing ubiquity of drones. In America’s last Middle Eastern war but two, against the Yemeni Houthis in 2025, the carrier USS Harry S.Truman, complete with its attendant escorts, was driven into retreat, leaving antagonists in control of the Red Sea. On one occasion, the carrier’s desperate maneuver to avoid a Houthi drone caused an $80 million Hornet jet fighter to slide

Davos and the showy ruthlessness of the new ‘far center’ 

There has always been a section of the establishment which thinks that the solution to populism lies in a great straightening-out of the populace. Populism is happening because people are bored, they say, so conscript them, get them off their phones, give them things to do – especially the young. It is only through collective struggle and sacrifice, it’s thought, that liberal democracy may find coherence and purpose again after 30 years of supposed ennui.  This part of the liberal center is happy enough to wave the flag. Indeed its main tactic is to accuse its opponents of national treason. It affects to agree with the populists that a new

Carney Macron far center

Could military service become morally untenable for Catholics?

During his lengthy interview with the New York Times, President Trump was asked if there was anything that could check his power on the world stage. “Yeah, there is one thing,” he said. “My own morality. My own mind.” What are we to make of Trump’s morality? That’s between him and God, I suppose, and perhaps only the all-knowing could parse his mind. But it’s fair to wonder where morality factors into Trump’s foreign policy, and whether America’s moral justification of force has only ever been a convenient pretext for acting in our own interest.  At the World Economic Forum in Davos today, Trump said he “won’t use force” to take

Pope

Trump says the US has captured Venezuela’s Maduro

Donald Trump’s undeclared war in Venezuela against the Marxist regime of President Nicolas Maduro has erupted into the open. Trump says the US has captured Venezuela’s leader and his wife. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump wrote: The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP. Trump’s statement