The rise and fall of civilisations are no different from the rise and fall of individuals. We all go through similar stages in life. Civilisational changes take centuries while the human lifespan is much shorter.
I remember vividly when my father was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after he had a stroke. I visited him some hours later; I was told doctors were carrying out some tests to determine and diagnose his condition. He was 83 years old and had all the usual health problems like asthma, cholesterol, diabetes, heart condition, etc.
When a patient is admitted to the hospital with such a severe or critical condition, the doctors often carry out various tests to determine the course of survival. The tests include:
- Arterial Blood Gases ratio called ABG’s
- Creatinine from kidney function test
- Pulse rate, Blood pressure, Oxygen saturation
- Pupillary dilation and Contraction for light and stimulus, etc.
In the back of my mind, I knew the prognosis was poor. Two weeks after being admitted, my dear father passed away (May Allah grant him the highest ranks in Jannah). Such is the fragility of life.
However, equally fragile is the life of an empire, all empires. When the empire is in decline, nothing seems to work to slow down the decay that has set in. Commentators then may describe rulers as if lunatics are in charge of the asylum. A kind of similar situation presents itself in the American Empire. People are wondering if Donald Trump is a genius or a lunatic. He is a showman and a good actor. He is a real estate contractor and a famous one too, but that is not the same as a builder of an empire.
One of the strong points of America is that it presents itself as a young and strong empire. However, illusions fail to impress, and sooner or later reality presents itself emphatically. The American illusion is also failing. President Donald Trump, unlike the previous senile president, is prehensile and understands the prognosis. He knows America is facing a huge energy problem, and the competitors have the edge.
All empires run on energy. For thousands of years, the life and blood of an empire depended on wood. Having control of a nearby forest was essential for an empire. The life and health of a forest was a good indicator of the health of the empire. A sufficient supply of wood was essential to meet the needs of all types of craftsmen and various industries.
The armies coveted wood for weapons and chariots. People required wood to build houses and furniture as well as to cook food. Farmers, carpenters, and blacksmiths would not be able to work without a regular, sufficient supply of wood.
When the Muslims took over Spain, the biggest treasure they found was Spanish forests. This meant plenty of wood to build ships and weapons as well as fuel for the industries.
The transformation from wooden coal to stone coal gave rise to the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. The British Empire had plenty of both. The British Empire was dependent on coal for their steam engines and railways as well as other industries such as foundries.
When the Americans discovered oil in the mid-19th century, it was inevitable that the British decline had begun. The secret of the American Empire’s success is the ample supply of wood, coal, and oil. President Trump is prioritising energy. His interest in Gaza is not just to build holiday resorts but rather to steal the gas and oil in the Sea of Gaza. Israelis launched the war on Gaza to steal the gas and oil that belonged to Palestinians. I predicted this war in 2017. [See link]
The question is, what options does America have to save its empire? The Palestinians are in no mood to give up their gas reserves or their land.
The bigger problem for the American elite is that (what if) the oil is no longer the king? The world of energy is changing and has changed. The world of energy is transitioning to a new energy source, rare minerals. China holds the largest known reserves of rare minerals. Rare minerals are an essential component in the manufacturing of new technologies and electric vehicles. In other words, the future is rare minerals.
Will the American capitalists be able to convince Greenlanders to hand over their reserves of rare minerals to the American corporations?
The rise and fall of any empire depend on an abundance of energy sources. You can smell fear of the American Empire as it searches for new frontiers, feeling desperate to find new energy sources. The prognosis is poor. It is for this reason that President Trump is so keen to fold the war theatre in Ukraine and sold some state-of-the-art weapons to Indian Prime Minister Modi to open a new war theatre on the borders of China.
Will President Trump succeed? Time will tell.
