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Global Issues and the Rhetoric of “World War III” — A Historical Perspective is Needed

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Each time international tensions arise — whether from the conflict in Ukraine or the imposition of Trump-era tariffs on China — there are invariably voices quick to associate such developments with the potential outbreak of a Third World War (WWIII). While this narrative is attention-grabbing, does it truly stand on a solid foundation of historical understanding and current geopolitical realities? A recent article I encountered offers a more nuanced and contextual perspective. It reminds us that history does not repeat itself in identical form, although recurring patterns may emerge. For instance, the historical rivalry between major powers such as Britain and Germany cannot be directly equated with the current strategic competition between the United States and China. A critical differentiating factor lies in the existence of nuclear weapons and the mechanisms of modern diplomacy. In truth, trade wars are not automatic precursors to armed conflict. More often, they serve as tools for ...
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The Art of Extraction: Understanding Trump’s Strategy Amid Global Trade Tensions

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Recently, global stock markets have experienced prolonged turmoil following Donald Trump’s proposal to impose new tariffs on almost every country. Analysts have warned that such measures could trigger a global economic recession. It is not only the markets that have reacted—billionaires such as Bill Ackman and Elon Musk have also voiced concern. Ackman openly criticized Trump on social media, while Musk shared a video by Milton Friedman emphasizing the importance of free trade. Although Musk did not mention Trump directly, his message was unmistakable. This raises a crucial question: what exactly is Trump trying to achieve? As a political realist, I believe that every political action, no matter how absurd or controversial it may appear, is driven by a rationale. To understand Trump’s decisions, we must examine two key aspects of his worldview: anti-globalism and transactionalism. Trump’s anti-globalist rhetoric is not merely an emotional outburst against “Made in China.” Rather, it re...
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حماية الله

كان هذا اليوم حافلًا بالأحداث ومفعمًا بالمعاني العميقة. أشعر بأنه لولا حماية الله ورحمته، لربما تعرضت لحادث خطير. في صباح هذا اليوم، واجهت موقفًا مفاجئًا. إذ أسقطت امرأة كانت تقود دراجة نارية هاتفها المحمول، ولسوء الحظ، سقط الهاتف أمامي مباشرة. فأوقفت دراجتي على الفور والتقطت الهاتف لإعادته إليها. وفجأة، اصطدمت بي دراجة نارية أخرى من الخلف. الحمد لله، لم يُصب أحد بأذى، وتمكّنا من حلّ الموقف بهدوء وروية. ولم تكد تمر لحظات حتى واجهت موقفًا آخر أثناء توجهي إلى كشك الطعام المفضل لديّ في وقت الظهيرة. وعندما كنت على وشك ركن الدراجة، رأيت طفلًا يقف على جانب الطريق. وبما أنني لم أكن متأكدًا مما إذا كان سيتحرك لعبور الشارع، فقد خففت من سرعتي. هذا التصرف كاد يتسبب في اصطدام الدراجة التي خلفي بي. لم تسنح لي الفرصة لرؤية تعبيرات وجه السائق الذي كان خلفي بوضوح، لكنني ممتن لأن الأمور مرّت بسلام. في هذا اليوم، شعرت حقًا بأن الله كان معي، يساندني ويحفظني في لحظات لم أكن أتوقع فيها شيئًا. وبعد كل هذه الأحداث، عدت إلى المنزل واستلقيت قليلًا منتظرًا وقت صلاة العصر. أما في المساء، فبإذن الله، سأتابع عملي ...
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Der Schutz Gottes

Der heutige Tag war außerordentlich ereignisreich und bedeutungsvoll. Ich bin überzeugt, dass ich ohne den Schutz und die Barmherzigkeit Gottes möglicherweise in einen Unfall verwickelt worden wäre. Am Morgen wurde ich mit einem unerwarteten Vorfall konfrontiert. Eine Frau, die mit dem Motorrad fuhr, ließ ihr Mobiltelefon fallen, das zufällig direkt vor mir auf die Straße fiel. Ich hielt sofort mein Motorrad an, um das Telefon aufzuheben und es ihr zurückzugeben. Plötzlich wurde ich von einem anderen Motorradfahrer von hinten erfasst. Gott sei Dank wurde niemand verletzt, und wir konnten die Angelegenheit in aller Ruhe klären. Kaum hatte ich mich von diesem Schreck erholt, ereignete sich eine weitere Beinahekollision, als ich an meinem bevorzugten Mittagsstand eine Pause einlegen wollte. Beim Versuch zu parken, bemerkte ich ein Kind am Straßenrand. Da ich mir nicht sicher war, ob es die Straße überqueren wollte, verlangsamte ich mein Fahrzeug. Diese Vorsichtsmaßnahme führte beinahe daz...
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Divine Protection

Today felt overwhelmingly eventful and deeply meaningful. I am convinced that if it were not for the protection and mercy of Allah, I might have been involved in an accident. Earlier this morning, I encountered a rather startling incident. A woman riding a motorcycle accidentally dropped her mobile phone, which happened to land directly in front of me. I immediately stopped my motorcycle and picked up the phone to return it to her. Unexpectedly, I was struck from behind by another motorcyclist. Praise be to Allah, no one was injured, and the matter was resolved amicably. Not long after recovering from that shock, I experienced another close call while attempting to stop by my favourite lunch stall. As I was about to park my motorcycle, I noticed a child standing at the roadside. Unsure whether the child intended to cross, I slowed down considerably. This caused the vehicle behind me to nearly collide with mine. Although I did not catch the full reaction of the person behind me, I am gr...
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Remember

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It’s important to remember that none of us had any say in where we were born or what nationality we were given. You didn’t choose your country, your culture, your language, or even the skin you’re in, these were all assigned to you by chance at birth.  You could’ve just as easily been born in a rural village in Ghana as in a high-rise in Shanghai, a suburb in France, or anywhere else on the planet. This realization should humble us and expand our empathy. National pride is fine, but when it turns into superiority or judgment of others, we forget that we’re all just products of circumstances we had no control over.  The lottery of birth is random. Let’s treat others with the same respect we’d want had our roles been reversed. 👍
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Kuda Mati

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Ada pepatah kuno dari penduduk asli Amerika yang mengatakan: “Jika Anda merasa sedang menunggangi kuda mati, strategi terbaik adalah turun dari kuda tersebut”. “Teori kuda mati” adalah sebuah metafora yang menggambarkan situasi di mana individu atau organisasi terus menginvestasikan upaya pada sesuatu yang tidak lagi layak atau berguna. Hal ini berasal dari pepatah: “Ketika Anda menemukan bahwa Anda mengendarai kuda mati, strategi terbaik adalah turun dari kuda tersebut”. Namun, alih-alih turun dari kuda, orang sering kali mencoba strategi yang tidak efektif, seperti mengganti penunggang kuda atau membeli cambuk yang lebih kuat. Metafora ini sering digunakan dalam bisnis untuk menyoroti resistensi terhadap perubahan atau kurangnya kemampuan beradaptasi dalam menghadapi proyek-proyek yang gagal. Contoh klasiknya adalah kasus Kodak. Selama beberapa dekade, Kodak memimpin industri fotografi, tetapi ketika teknologi digital mulai merevolusi pasar, perusahaan ini terlalu lama berpegang...
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