36th-Parallel.com

36th Parallel is a geopolitical and strategic forecasting consultancy that provides intelligence, analysis & assessments of the South Pacific region and beyond.

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https://t.co/HYOgaz4I17

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US Secretary of "war" Pete Hegseth's ignorance shows when he states that NZ is "freeloading" on the US by not spending 3.5% of GDP on defense. NZ has no financial obligation to commit to US security endeavours and most countries that spend 3.5% GDP or more are authoritarian,

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with--sadly--widening differences when it comes to political values. NZ needs to retain its autonomy as a liberal polity when it comes to defense and security because if nothing else, Hegseth and his MAGA cohort will eventually be gone while broader geopolitical realities remain.

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Whether it is due to people in govt growing a spine or the US legal process finally delivering decisions, the judicial and political pushback against Trump and his administration now appears to be gathering momentum. The question is what will he do to stave off further defeats?

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The way in which Trump said that he "does not care" about the midterm elections was ominous. It suggested that he is not worried about the results but that instead he believes that the outcome is predetermined. That hints at electoral skulduggery in the lead up to Nov. Buckle up.

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It seems like a good time to recall the old adage that in an asymmetric war (and diplomacy), a tie/draw is a win for the "weaker" party. Such is the art of the deal.

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@MattNippert Uh tell us something we do not know. Are you aware of the blue balls theory of extremist propensity?

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The teenage San Diego mosque mosque killers left a manifesto in which they identified with a "New Crusade" led by "sons of *******," with "*******" referring to the 2019 Christchurch mass murderer. Do not let it be said that these acts are aberrations. Their roots are the same.

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Is the NACT election campaign strategy based on promoting sectarian hatred of public sector workers by private sector 'battlers?" Or to push public sector cuts so deep that they cannot easily be reversed and private interests can exploit the service delivery gaps? Just wondering.

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@TizzyEnt Here is a conflict resolution alternative: 50 cents worth of 91 unleaded applied from nozzle to his face would have shut him up right quick. Producing a match or lighter after that would have shut him up even quicker and de-escalated things in a hurry. No need for fisticuffs.

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In this month's "A View from Afar" podcast, Paul G. Buchanan and Selwyn Manning of https://t.co/EBIEqTqGRW. discuss geopolitical change, institutional lag and industrial resilience in the contemporary moment, with an eye on what comes next.
https://t.co/KMqiHXoGhO

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Contrast: Trump talks about the popularity of Chinese restaurants in the US (presumably because they are all the same to him). Xi cautions about the US falling into the "Thucydides Trap" where declining status quo powers enter conflicts against rising powers that they cannot win.

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The next "A View from Afar" podcast featuring Selwyn Manning and Director Paul G. Buchanan airs Monday May 18 at 12:30PM NZ time, 8:30PM Sunday May 17 US East Coast time. Subject: "Geopolitical Change, Institutional Lag and Industrial Resilience. A background to current events."

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Will Israel Nuke Iran? Director Paul G. Buchanan offers some thoughts on the background: https://t.co/WZnwnMUJxh

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representation? What about its impact on federal welfare, health and other social services as well as defense and domestic security? Do his advisors consider these things or is he winging it as per usual? Cognitive dissonance or is it a case of serious cognitive decline? SAD!

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Trump floats the idea of making Venezuela the 51st US state. Besides the legal requirements needed to do so, how will the MAGA base welcome 30 million brown skinned people as fellow voters? How will rightwing Venezuelans in US exile react knowing that they will be subject to US

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law and taxation schemes given their notorious corruption? How will US dependencies like Puerto Rico and Guam react to being passed over for statehood? How will smaller states react to Venezuela's rise to 3rd largest state when it comes to congressional and Electoral College

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Director Paul G. Buchanan sees parallels between MAGA-controlled Washington DC and Rome before the Fall--but with twist: https://t.co/LK3gKo60J7