“Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich” – Peter Ustinov
The US-Israel versus Iran war has caused the 8th fuel surge to date rippling an 8-10 peso increase per liter in the Philippines, and the inevitability of inflation just keeps getting higher while the household stringent budget is now choked to almost an “unbreathable” level. Beyond the borders of the archipelago the war slowly cripples major global economies due to a fuel crisis.
‘UNBEARABLE SHOCKWAVE’
This escalating war now causes global economic shockwaves in the oil markets pushing oil prices to the “highest levels” in recent history. Philippine motorists have no other choice but to bear the brunt of the crisis brought about by the aggression of America and Israel to Iran. Analysts predict that while this continues spiraling, fuel hikes are definite to take place more frequently and whether this will end soon or not – no one knows. What is ascertained is that the volatile fuel prices will soon reach its tipping point.
Many opined that for Iran, its objective is not to win but to make the war very expensive and costly for Israel and the United States, including their allies. Donald Trump’s declaration that “Iran is finished because 80 percent of its air defense is done” only satisfies himself and Israel, including his aides, but not the global community. Not even his allies to some extent. What is evident now is that the war is not going to end soon since Iran is not fighting a military war but an economic-based one. The Islamic Republic is trying to survive and determined to inflict an almost unthinkable economic damage to the United States and Israel.
These are two entirely separate strategies in the same battlefield. The Israel-US military war of aggression is engaged by an economic-based retaliation excruciatingly felt by their allies in the region. What we glean is that Iran has prepared for this aggression as it strikes regional headquarters of the world’s biggest companies and locks the “infamous” Strait of Hormuz, being the gateway of 20% of the world’s oil supply. Its tactical approach is to make prices of oil unbearable to the economies in Europe and the United States itself. This defines Iran’s organized plan, despite the demise of its supreme leader and military chief. Its leadership remains steadfast and solid.
TRUMP’S LOOSENING GEOPOLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HEGEMONY
Trump’s arrogant belittling of Iran is now a loose grip of its oil-based economic, political and military influence in the Middle East. After 3 weeks, the aggressors’ tandem of America and Israel fully push their military might while Iran sets out a more calculated military retaliation but with a more well-targeted economic blow is now painfully absorbed by their allies. A deep impact.
Globally, it is perceived as a self-damaging struggle of America in order to maintain its geopolitical and economic hegemony in the region. This clearly exposes its weaknesses and limits while Iran, on the other hand, is focused on destabilizing the economies of its allies. This highlights America’s predictable strategy that is solely dependent on military intervention with a fixated end goal of geopolitical and economic control. As it goes, it now becomes unsuccessful against Iran’s well-studied economic counter- strategy. Moreover, it establishes polarization not only among states and governments in the region but extends to global reach.
The on-going war underscores how military intervention is being used not only to reinforce influence in the Middle East, but also accelerates polarity among states – others with global power, as they assert autonomy and distancing their governments from a war they were not consulted but instead warned if they do not align with America and Israel.
PHILIPPINE’S DOLDRUMS
For the Philippines, it is not simply that we call to stop the war because as it continues, moral wisdom tells us to assert our own autonomy. While we call on the government to ensure safety and protection of our modern heroes who are at high risk in the Middle East, it is also our responsibility to denounce the war of aggression to global powers who seem to not succeed without military intervention.
Global powers already see us as powerless. The fuel crisis is already crippling us and for sure we do not wish to be aimed at by the muzzle of the gun.*
