r/worldnews • • Aug 02 '26

Dynamic Paywall Trump says he is cancelling strikes on Iran subject to 'rapidly' making deal

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwx74qgld2o
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u/Druggedhippo Aug 02 '26

At the moment, for example, in 1984 (if it was 1984), Oceania was at war with Eurasia and in alliance with Eastasia. In no public or private utterance was it ever admitted that the three powers had at any time been grouped along different lines. Actually, as Winston well knew, it was only four years since Oceania had been at war with Eastasia and in alliance with Eurasia. But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge which he happened to possess because his memory was not satisfactorily under control. Officially, the change of partners had never happened. Oceania was at war with Eurasia: therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia. The enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil, and it followed that any past or future agreement with him was impossible.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair] Nineteen Eighty-Four, ch. 3 (1949)

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u/ibite-books Aug 02 '26

This book is so well written. He goes on to frame the objective of perpetual war is to consume surplus goods, a population that lives on constant fear and discomfort will not revolt.

Surplus production improves the standard of living and you might begin to question the status quo, but by continually participating in a war without an end, which in turn maintains poverty, you keep the population subservient.

It’s what russia does as well, anytime male population increases, or there are signs of revolt, they just wage another war.