Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The new items published under this topic are as follows.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Pakistan Geopolitics: The Implications of Musharraf's Resignation / Politics / Pakistan
By: STRATFOR
Kamran Bokhari writes: Pervez Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan for nearly nine years, was forced to resign Monday in the face of moves by the South Asian country's recently elected coalition government to impeach him. Musharraf's resignation has been a long time coming, with stops along the way over the last nine months during which he was forced to give up control over the military and then the government.Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Real New World Order / Politics / New World Order
By: STRATFOR
On Sept. 11, 1990, U.S. President George H. W. Bush addressed Congress. He spoke in the wake of the end of Communism in Eastern Europe, the weakening of the Soviet Union, and the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein. He argued that a New World Order was emerging: “A hundred generations have searched for this elusive path to peace, while a thousand wars raged across the span of human endeavor, and today that new world is struggling to be born. A world quite different from the one we've known. A world where the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle. A world in which nations recognize the shared responsibility for freedom and justice. A world where the strong respect the rights of the weak.” Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
How Foreign Policy Affects Gas Prices / Politics / Gas - Petrol
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
We've heard how the value of the dollar affects gas prices - and indeed the price of everything. I was pleased that my request for a hearing on such was granted by the Financial Services committee and we were able to hear some very informative testimony. Certainly domestic policies, regarding off-shore oil drilling bans, ethanol mandates, refining capacity, and CAFE standards are interventionist and harmful enough in the energy market.Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Russia Georgia Conflict- Sequence of Events and Analysis / Politics / New Cold War
By: Nadeem_Walayat
The Russia-Georgia conflict that exploded on the scene on Friday of last week, following the Russian invasion of initially South Ossetia and later Abkhazia and Georgia proper. Now a week on the sequence of events are becoming much clearer as to what actually transpired, and presents a picture of a resurgent Russia, finally emerging from the collapse of the Soviet Union which at one point threatened the disintegration of the Russian Federation itself.Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, August 15, 2008
Russia Georgia War: Putin Walks Into Quagmire Trap / Politics / New Cold War
By: Mike_Whitney
The American-armed and trained Georgian army swarmed into South Ossetia last Thursday, killing an estimated 2,000 civilians, sending 40,000 South Ossetians fleeing over the Russian border, and destroying much of the capital, Tskhinvali. The attack was unprovoked and took place a full 24 hours before even ONE Russian soldier set foot in South Ossetia.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of Americans still believe that the Russian army invaded Georgian territory first. The BBC, AP, NPR, the New York Times and the rest of the establishment media has consistently and deliberately misled its readers into believing that the violence in South Ossetia was initiated by the Kremlin. Let's be clear, it wasn't. In truth, there is NO dispute about the facts except among the people who rely the western press for their information. Despite its steady loss of credibility, the corporate media continues to operate as the propaganda-arm of the Pentagon.
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Friday, August 15, 2008
Bush's Dirty Little Medicare Secret / Politics / US Debt
By: Mike_Stathis
We already know about the lies orchestrated by the White House to justify the invasion of Iraq . But there is a bigger secret that has not yet hit the mainstream media. And it probably never will until it's too late. Those of you who read my book already know about it because I discuss it at length. For those of you who haven't had a chance to read America's Financial Apocalypse , I'm going to expose this secret now. Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
American Heroes Don't Last / Politics / US Politics
By: Mike_Stathis
Politicians use several means to hide the real problems from voters. One of their biggest partners in this deception is the media, which helps deliver messages they want the public to hear. When critical issues are discovered within the administration, this often leads to replacement of politicians who simply tried to serve the best interests of voters. For these politicians, a forced resignation is the price of loyalty to voters.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Social Security Is Morally Bankrupt / Politics / US Economy
By: Alex_Epstein
August 14 marks Social Security's 73rd birthday--placing it eight years past standard retirement age. But, despite the program's $10-trillion-plus dollar shortfall, no politician dares to suggest that this disastrous program be phased out and retired; all agree on one absolute: Social Security must be saved. While the program may have financial problems, virtually everyone believes that some form of mandatory government-run retirement program is morally necessary.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Russia Georgian War and the Balance of Power / Politics / New Cold War
By: STRATFOR
The Russian invasion of Georgia has not changed the balance of power in Eurasia. It simply announced that the balance of power had already shifted. The United States has been absorbed in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as potential conflict with Iran and a destabilizing situation in Pakistan. It has no strategic ground forces in reserve and is in no position to intervene on the Russian periphery. This, as we have argued, has opened a window of opportunity for the Russians to reassert their influence in the former Soviet sphere . Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Barack Obama's Poor Decisions a Threat to His Success / Politics / US Politics
By: Mike_Stathis
Let me clear about a few things. First, regardless who wins the upcoming presidential election, there will be no real change in America . In order to really understand why you have to know what is going on in this country. The problems extend much deeper than the current economic problems. Both parties are essentially the same and neither will address the real problems that are destroying America – free trade, the free market system and health care – because there is too much money to be made by the powerful forces that continue to exploit consumers, namely corporate America and their wealthy shareholders.Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, August 11, 2008
Russia Georgia War - Washington Risks Nuclear War by Miscalculation / Politics / GeoPolitics
By: F_William_Engdahl
The dramatic military attack by the military of the Republic of Georgia on South Ossetia in the last days has brought the world one major step closer to the ultimate horror of the Cold War era—a thermonuclear war between Russia and the United States—by miscalculation. What is playing out in the Caucasus is being reported in US media in an alarmingly misleading light, making Moscow appear the lone aggressor. The question is whether George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are encouraging the unstable Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili in order to force the next US President to back the NATO military agenda of the Bush Doctrine. This time Washington may have badly misjudged the possibilities, as it did in Iraq , but this time with possible nuclear consequences. Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, August 11, 2008
George Bush ‘Medaling' With Free Speech at the Olympics / Politics / US Politics
By: Walter_Brasch
President Bush sounded just like a liberal.Yes, you read that right. Bush. Liberal. Same sentence.
At the new U.S. embassy in Beijing on the opening day of the Olympics, he said, “All people should have the freedom to say what they think.” Without even blinking, he also told the world, while directing his comments at the Chinese, “We strongly believe societies which allow the free expression of ideas tend to be the most prosperous and the most peaceful.”
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Sunday, August 10, 2008
How the U.S. Government Has Mismanaged the Country / Politics / US Stock Markets
By: Mike_Shedlock
The U.S. Government has brutally mismanaged the country. Sadly neither candidate is willing to take a stand on fiscal prudence. I asked Senator to Obama to take a stand, and to pick someone fiscally prudent as his Vice President in in my Open Letter To Obama .I did receive a response, but only to inform me that he could not use the Senate Email system for such purposes. Instead, he asked me to re-send the Email to his campaign address.
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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Israel Telegraphing of Attack on Iran Just Psychological Warfare / Politics / Israel
By: John_Mauldin
Kudos to my friend George Friedman and his crew at Stratfor. If you didn't see the article in this week's Barron's about Stratfor's analysis of the geopolitical risk premium built into oil prices, you missed a really good piece of work. You've probably heard Napoleon's quote that "Amateurs discuss strategy, and professionals discuss logistics." If you want a perfect example of how that quote plays out for the markets, take a look at Stratfor's article below. It's precisely the kind of sober, fundamental research that makes Stratfor my invaluable source for geopolitical intelligence. Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, August 07, 2008
NHS Gives Death Sentence to Kidney Cancer Patients / Politics / NHS
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Patients that have spent there whole lives working and contributing towards NHS budgets so that others can benefit from free healthcare are now being hit in their late life illness with a not so NICE death sentence as the NHS focuses resources towards those with self inflicted illness such as alcohol, tobacco and drugs abuse.Read full article... Read full article...