The comparison of the Middle East problem with such a phenomenon as a tectonic shift, made by Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, puzzled and even frightened almost all foreign TV channels. In her statement, they saw not only a challenge, but also a threat to NATO and the United States.
Apocalypse as such
For readers who have not seen the San Andreas Fault, this article explains in detail what a tectonic shift is and how to apply this concept to the political landscape of today. How much this phenomenon threatens humanity even explains the huge interest that is observed in the world in the possibility of an imminent apocalypse.
The reasons for its onset are also sensitively sleeping supervolcanoes, and the third world war followed by a nuclear winter, and, of course, a tectonic shift. Mankind is so worried about its fate that even a simple comparison with a given geological area from the mouthpolitician received a huge response in the world media.
About tramps
Geologists easily read chronicles of centuries and even millennia. From them we know that the sandy soils of the deserts are stored in huge deposits in the south of England, the remains of ancient giant ferns have been found in Antarctica, and in Africa there are clear traces of glaciers that covered it. This suggests that geological epochs also changed the climate. The shift of tectonic plates intensified volcanic activity, the ash obscured the sun, rising into the upper atmosphere for many years, a long winter came. Ice ages killed most of all life on Earth. For example, only less than fifteen percent of bird species remained after the last glaciation, and it is hard to imagine that today's diversity is a miserable remnant of its former splendor.
There are quite a few very different scientific explanations for the causes of global change. One of them, the most common and most evidence-based, says that the continents do not stand still. A small example clearly shows what a tectonic shift means. If you attach the east of South America to the west of Africa, they will be combined with almost no gaps. This means that they were not always separated by the Atlantic Ocean. There are many such examples. And the fact that America will face terrible tectonic shifts is not a threat from the lips of Maria Zakharova. This is what nature promises. And, since Hollywood has already flooded the cinema with many hundreds of films about the imminent end of the world, where even climate weapons are used, it means that the Americans are quiteanticipate and understand the impending danger.
Tectonic shift
The definition of this phenomenon was given long ago and accurately: it is a break in a single solid continental plate located under the earth's crust. What threatens humanity with faults in tectonic plates? The scenario is as follows: one, even a small fault will cover the planet in a chain reaction. The melted glaciers will release the plates from pressure with their huge mass, the earth's crust will rise, ocean water will pour into the depths of the faults. The magma under the crust is hot - about one thousand two hundred degrees Celsius. Steam with bas alt dust and gas will be thrown out of the ground with great force and everywhere. Downpours will begin - unprecedented, akin to a flood. Volcanoes will wake up - all to one. After that, indescribable tsunamis will sweep away everything from the face of the planet. Enough time is given for the entire alignment from the beginning of the fault to volcanic eruptions, you can even run away if you find somewhere. After the start of the tsunami, the earth will be empty in a matter of hours.
The continents we inhabit were formed two hundred million years ago when Pangea, the hypercontinent, split apart. The fled vagrants "take root" at approximately equal distances from each other, but still they are drawn to each other. Scientists predict that in some fifty million years they will reunite again. In the 70s of the last century, a model of the alleged movement of the continents was created. It turns out that the Pacific platform is moving quite quickly towards the North American tectonic plate. San Andreas tectonic shift threatensright at the junction of these two plates. There are frequent earthquakes of destructive force, which happened in San Francisco and Los Angeles just a hundred years ago. America is terrified of geological cataclysms, which is why the words of Maria Zakharova were perceived as if Russia was threatening the United States with tectonic shifts. What exactly did the director of the department mean?
Back to the background
Of course, it was a warning about the threat, but Russia did not promise "terrible tectonic shifts" (Zakharova quote). They will happen if the United States insists on replacing the Syrian leader Assad, who is at war with the Islamic State. Then radical Islamists and terrorists, with whom America is already very familiar, will inevitably come to power. The events of Iraq in 2003 and Libya in 2011 (after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi) speak for themselves. The Islamic State will inevitably grow and become much stronger. This is what Russia's Foreign Ministry is constantly signaling about. Then rampant terrorism may well exceed the dangers that tectonic shifts bring with them. Zakharova was told exactly this, and the conclusions followed were absolutely incorrect.
The Middle East did not gain stability in 2016, negative developments continue there: bloodshed in Syria, lack of stabilization in Libya, riots of the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq, the Yemeni conflict has worsened, the Saudi Arabian rebels are inflicting more and more serious blows onthe economy and financial situation of the country, which has been conducting hostilities for many years, South Sudan got involved in the Middle East conflicts. It is from the Middle East that all tectonic shifts in politics are coming. The situation is in all respects a crisis, and this crisis is rapidly expanding, chaos is growing, waves of refugees have swept Europe, creating a security threat and huge problems there. The year ended, and he did not bring any decisions. If the last stronghold of the fight against terrorists - "dictator" Bashar al-Assad lays down his arms, the "tectonic shifts" of 2016 will overwhelm the whole world.
Warfare
DAISH continues to build up its military potential, and, despite the beginning of the liberation of the territories, the walk around the suburbs of Mosul did not turn out to be easy for the Iraqi army, supported by the United States and the coalition. The threat of terrorism has not only not been eliminated, it is growing, and therefore very special, truly serious efforts are required on a global scale by the forces united in this struggle for the complete victory of this evil. The level of US influence on the Middle East situation has decreased, and it has decreased quite significantly. The current administration is leaving, as if deliberately weakening the potential and capabilities of its own country in this region, it is no longer possible to recognize that the United States is a leading player in the Middle East. And the change of power there is taking place in such an environment that itself is capable of starting tectonic shifts in America (and this is not about geological faults).
But Russia in the Middle East in 2016distinguished itself by significantly expanding the circle of partners, including Egypt, Israel and Bahrain, created progress in cooperation with Qatar, agreed with OPEC to limit the level of oil produced (even managed to get along with Saudi Arabia), normalized relations with Turkey. A new team was formed to resolve the situation in Syria, pushing the United States out of the region. These are Iran, Turkey and Russia. The Russian Aerospace Forces are seriously helping the Syrian army to defeat the terrorists. Aleppo is liberated. All this is regarded by the world as purely Russian political victories. That is why Maria Zakharova spoke so brightly and colorfully about tectonic shifts. The loss of a partner like Bashar al-Assad will reduce these victories to zero. Moreover, until ISIS is completely drained of blood, our diplomats see the current situation as rather unsteady.
Crimea and the Middle East
To take a break from pressing political problems, let's return to the issue of geological faults and continental plates, as more and more information appears every day, and from time to time it looks like a curiosity, despite all the reliability. Scientists from different countries studying geological stratifications in the depths of the earth's crust have revealed a shift in tectonic plates, as a result of which tectonic activity is observed in the Middle East and neighboring regions.
Full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Ipatov announced the latest reliable research results (including applied astronomy). Sensation: PeninsulaCrimea is gradually moving closer to Russia. After all, the plate did not float to Turkey or Greece, the tectonic shift of the Crimea and is geologically directed home. The meeting of the peninsula with the mainland, however, will not happen so soon, several tens of millions of years will have to wait. But the republics met and have been together since 2014.
World politics and tectonic shifts in it
The results of the past year can be fully summed up only when the forthcoming policy of the new US administration - both in the Middle East and in general - in the world is revealed. However, the contradictions between the Islamic world and Western countries are unlikely to be eliminated soon, and the growth of xenophobia will most likely continue, which, of course, can poison the entire system of relations in both the Islamic and non-Islamic worlds. Throughout the year, we have seen huge changes in world politics, which were quite akin to tectonic shifts in their significance.
First of all, it is necessary to mention Brexit, which shook the world thoroughly when the UK decided to leave the European Union. Then followed the unexpectedly convincing victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election, which not only no one planned, but also did not allow the slightest thought of such a turn of events. If we add to this the significantly strengthened right-wing and conservative forces in European countries (primarily in France and Germany), then the progress seems to be irreversible, in 2017 they are unlikely to stop developing.
Center of gravity
The value spectrum of the entire Western part of the world has shifted dramatically, since right-wing conservatives,populist and nationalist waves have made the palette of moods of society much more diverse, adding completely unexpected new tones. Protest moods appear even where they have never been, in countries for which this is completely uncharacteristic. They write about the "color revolution" starting in the United States, about the abrupt change of regime in the countries of Western Europe. World politics is gradually becoming unpredictable, filled with new events and phenomena that have not yet happened that need to be comprehended.
The center of gravity of the entire world political system is clearly shifting. The Asian countries are gaining strength, and the share of China and India has risen exceptionally high. Therefore, the main intrigues of this tectonic shift in politics will most likely unfold in relations between China and the United States. The economic crisis that has engulfed the world is also hard on the leading countries. The people of the United States are gripped by a general disillusionment with the policies of the ruling party. That is why the Republicans won such a convincing victory over the Democrats, won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives and increased their representation in the Senate.
Internal and external politics
Trump's victory is important not so much for domestic politics as for foreign. Israel is already clearly excited, China is preoccupied, the rest of Asia is upset, and Russia is guessing. A much tougher position towards China is quite possible - the weakening of the yuan to the point of impossibility to hold its own currency. Support for the Afghan war is very possible. Republicans are also concerned about the country's missile defense deployment.
Congress received a significant increase in pro-Israeli forces: Senator from Illinois - Mark Kirk, leader of the majority of the lower house - Eric Kantor, now Tel Aviv can hope for a special political climate that allows the resumption of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, pro-Israeli forces are feeling strong pressure from forces that are still unknown (however, everyone can guess which ones): on January 19, 2017, there were reports of mining 28 Jewish centers in 17 US states, which, fortunately, was imaginary. But this is not the first warning. And at some point, mining may not be false.
How it ends
It seems to many that America's stable position in the world has been shaken, and its world domination is almost lost. Is it so? The President of Russia and the diplomatic corps are very cautious in their assessments. Indeed, consider 2010, when WikiLeaks opened and made public many tens of thousands of documentary letters from the American diplomatic pouch. It seemed - well, everything, the end of the state. But nothing happened to America. Allies, even substituted in every possible way, were not lost. Enemies also remained in place, new ones did not increase. One thing is surprising: it never occurred to anyone to blame Moscow for these revelations, as happened after Donald Trump's election victory.
Yes, Trump is different. He is significantly different from the previous president. But what awaits Russia in connection withthis choice, who knows? If you look from Moscow or some Skovorodin, the Republicans are seen as people more pragmatic and less dangerous for us than the defeated Democrats, who constantly did little and big dirty tricks to the Russians. How different is Trump's team from Hillary Clinton's team? After a thoughtful analysis, it becomes clear that the actions of both parties are unfolding on the same lithospheric platform. They are much more similar than seen from afar. Both the team and the other intimidate the people with an external threat and paint a picture of various foreign intrigues. Freedom and democracy are honored by some, prestige and economy by others, but both are threatened by external forces, in any case, the nation is in danger. Hillary disliked global populism and Russia, and Trump dislikes multinational corporations, Mexico, China, and developing countries. A tectonic shift in politics is inevitable. Perhaps that is why our diplomats are so cautious in their assessments and forecasts.
