Judging Freedom Alastair Crooke : Power Without Principle — The Trump Era
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Jan 12, 2026 
Alastair Crooke, a former British diplomat and political analyst with deep insights into geopolitics, critiques Trump's foreign policy, particularly his actions in Venezuela, suggesting they lack moral principles and reflect mercantilist values. He discusses the real challenges of seizing Venezuelan oil and how America’s loss of moral narrative leads to reliance on brute force. Crooke also reveals the role of intelligence agencies in orchestrating unrest in Iran and explains why past regime-change efforts fell short, illustrating the complexities of global power dynamics.
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Power Projecting Over Principle
- Alastair Crooke argues Trump's actions stem from mercantile selfishness rather than moral principle.
- He says Trump seeks projection of strength to mask domestic economic failures.
Venezuela Oil Isn't A Quick Fix
- Crooke explains Venezuelan crude is heavy, sour, and costly to extract and refine.
- He warns the oil bonanza Trump imagined was impractical and economically misleading.
Moral Narrative Or Brutal Force
- Crooke warns losing a society's moral narrative leaves brute force as the default.
- He predicts global actors will adjust to a world governed increasingly by coercion and authority.
