Notebook
My essays and notes on economics, markets, politics, power, books, documents, and the machinery beneath events.
Trump and Iran
The note exposes the hollowness of Trump’s “ceasefire” claim: U.S. forces bombed a girls’ school, blockaded ports and issued threats; there is no ceasefire, only rebranded war.
The Pope’s Words
The note praises Pope Francis’ Cameroon speech condemning those who use religion to justify war. Contrasting billions spent on bombs with scarce healing funds, he called for conscience and care.
Politicians say nothing
This essay lambasts Starmer and Macron’s empty Iran‑war rhetoric: they promise a “multilateral” mission to reopen Hormuz only after Trump ends the war, taking no action as Gaza suffers.
The American project.
The note argues the American project is fracturing; Trump widened cracks but successors will exploit them. Institutions decay and only patient, long‑term work, not quick fixes, can repair the tear.
There Was No Golden Age
Referencing Weyl, the essay rejects myths of a bygone golden age, saying Trump’s MAGA exploits nostalgia and scapegoating and lets people ignore past injustices and avoid thinking about building future.
The Strait and the Trap
Invoking Thucydides, the essay shows Iran’s harassment of ships in the Strait of Hormuz turned insurance risk into strategic leverage after US‑Israeli strikes, revealing a structural trap beyond military strength.