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Fourth Quarter of 2008 October 2008 ... November 2008 ... December 2008
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10/04/08 The global reach of rumor mongering and accusatory
remarks, Israel
charges North Korea with arming opposition nations in the
Muddle East. (100408d) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel -
Jordan - Lebanon - Palestine - Syria Lebanon: A
car bomb raises tensions in this country, but
the bigger picture remains a mystery, are they on a slippery
slope? (092908f) Syria: A
military build up by Syria on the border with Lebanon?
Do we need ANOTHER hot spot?
(100108h) Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: Looks
like the effort in this nation has "fallen to shit" as they
used to say in the horse business. Then the denials
come (100108b) Iraq: Hints
of a renewal of sectarian violence as US created "Sons of
Iraq" are targeted by the Iranian backed Baghdad
govt. (100308a) For
examples we have some attacks (100308b) It seems the "Sons Of Iraq" the Sunni movement
backed by the US fears becoming part of the Shia led
military. They
think they'll be killed as a matter of fact
(093008g) Part two, it
seems there is a lack of trust (093008h)
Part three: still
they are real handy when finding the neighborhood
baddies (093008i) Bombings
in Baghdad back in the news. (092908c) Pakistan: What portends?
But a long unraveling of the ties between the Taleban and
Islamabad, yes? We shall see (092908d) Open
warfare has come to Pakistan on three fronts. The
violence affects hundreds of thousands and seems determined,
on both sides. (100308d) Asia: A
new cooperation with India. Friendship between it and the US
is that forlorn nation's last grab and holding onto global
geopolitical influence. The benefits will go both
ways, for a variety of reasons. There is the other side of
the coin however. Talk about a genie in a bottle!
(100208a) The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Korea: A "boomlet"in building in Pyongyang? The question
is, if they are facing a renewal of sanctions and another
famine, where
is the money coming from? (100208i) Venezuela: Russia,
Venezuela and nukes, is this a recipe that the US can
stomach? Do we have ANY say? Is this just one more
piece of evidence showing how badly Bush the dumber bungled
his presidency such that a whole continent has become
alienated from the US and that a "competitor" has moved in
with skill? (092808i) It seems the
economic collapse or "deconstruction" of the US economy is
ushering in a new era of economic multipolarity, but
is this a good or a bad thing? If I might hazard a guess,
I'd say it will be much more "dynamic" and that cuts both
ways, thanks Bush, you royal dimbulb. (092808i) Along
with economic multipolarity comes geopolitical or power
multipolarity, the US has gone the way of previous empires
by failing, essentially, in similar fashion. Bush
the Dumbest has been the fiddler, but unlike Nero, DC is not
burning it is running out of cash, steam, power and falling
into debt. (092808l) Recent polling reports have McPain loosing ground
in Iowa, New Hampshire and Ohio among a dozen or so others.
Here are the
tales of two persons who switched.
(100408a) Tent
cities, another story indicates they are a "growth based
phenomenon" (093008e) The
battle for voting rights continues as forces within states
fight for rights. (100108a) Says
here that millions of voters are being purged from the voter
rolls across the nation. This is done in widely
different fashions with suspect agenda and in secret often
enough so one might find out one has been purged until one
shows up to vote. (100208g) And
according to this Federal Law is being ignored when it comes
to the timing of the purges themselves. Who is
watching this mess, anyone with the power to stop it?
(100208h) Yet another
Repuglican attack on voters' rights; this time the targets
are those voters who have lost their homes in the
foreclosure mess. (093008b) The Anthrax Attack! Economics 101: A
number of states are being crunched themselves by the credit
crunch, it is not clear, at this point, how the
bailout is going to cure that ill. (100408d) What
happened to cause the "no" on the Bailout and
then some on how it went to the "yes". (100408d) And if
you are asking, "Is there a plan B?" The answer is no, there
is not. A single figure in a single paragraph indicates the state
of affairs when it comes to a
spreading and deepening financial crisis.
(100308f) Home
Moaner help? Well-named, but without any effect
(100208c) The
underlying problem of bad debt is one that the bailout
barely addresses. (100208d) Another perspective, the
core problem is not resolved and the way the "public debate"
is framed, massaged, managed whatever shapes the choices the
public thinks it has, more smoke and mirrors
(100208e) A
brief explanation of how Wall Street's problems become Main
Street's problems (100108i) The
ripple effect: the sales of cars drops by double digits
across the board. (100108f) Another ripple: people
who cannot borrow on their house now hit up their
plastic and the limit to this is, well, more limited
and so … (100108g) The
US senate bails and Asian markets take a hit … is that
a clue for the clueless? (100108e) McCain't
keeps on talking about the economic crisis as if he has some
idea of what he's talking about, while he makes the
same mistake that nearly ended his career back in the 80's
with the savings and loan problem and a Mr. Keating.
(100108b) And in a related aspect of this story we have those
in power, who let the housing bubble "go on" are still in
power and still don't understand its dynamics and how it is
intimate with the crashing sounds they are hearing from Wall
St. You'd think they'd "get it" and make a rational
decision (100108d) So how serious is it? Well,
it is global, people are putting their money where it will
survive and it the problems we are seeing now are
only the harbingers of a greater disaster.
(093008i) After
a steep one-day decline some come back comes back. Not quite
all the way, but troubles persist, one way or the
other (093008a) A
trillion dollar budget gets the go ahead, not the 700
billion bailout. Well, that is the way things fell
out. (092908e) Well,
color me purple, if the house put down the bailout.
Markets plunged they say and many who voted no cited
"blowback" from constituents who were not at all happy with
the bailout, even as a concept. (092908a) The
Street takes a "big hit" nearly 7% and that's not
a solution. So what will Tuesday bring? (092908b) They say that they have a plan. Some of the elements
described in the article seem reasonable. The
issue is this: the plan, after several others touted as
"final" failed has one wonder. (092808a) In terms of
being skeptical, here is the word on that
(092808b) And if you want a stronger dose of skepticism, here
are some staggering figures that give one pause to
wonder (092808k) And
here for starters is how the banks feel about being "treated
fairly" (092808c) And
we're told that the problem was in part, caused by a lack of
oversight, Related to that story is
McStain's relationship to a man named Keating and the
saving's and loan that went belly up and McStain's
efforts to cover up the deed, his part in it and more
(092808f) Meanwhile
money needed by and for the people goes wanting, waaaay
wanting, billions are wanting as a matter of fact
(092808g) Then
too, you'd think that the "center piece problem"
foreclosures would figure into the rescue, but no,
not on your life… (092808h) Candidates: Down the drain with John McStain: Obama
has a surge of his own, and McPain gets dumped
on. (100208f) The sagging
mess that is John McStain had a terrible, awful, very bad,
no good week. (092808d) Justice: The
US attorney's being fired is still a story, the fact that
wrong doing has been established is the news,
what SHOULD come next are criminal charges, hahahahahahahah
(093008d)
Israelis
want Russia to reconsider selling Iran advanced anti
aircraft missile systems. They have not closed the
deal and some gives denials. (100508b) Europe: England
and Iceland have "words" regarding the failure of Iceland's
banks and the losses being experienced by the
many brits who've invested up there (101008g) Another
casualty, Ireland, has its own financial crunch going
on
even though the government is fighting tooth and
nail against the rising tide of debt and bad financial
(101108i) With the bank and finance contagion coming to light
'"over there" the
Euro's do their own 700 billion dollar dance.
(100508a) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel -
Jordan - Lebanon - Palestine - Syria Lebanon: Well
a build up continues, says this article and Israel
goes on a higher level of alert, as if they EVER sleep.
(100908l) Syria: Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: The
drug trade seems to go "right to the top" in this
narco-state. The leaders brother seems to be
dirty, many feel. (100508c) The
UN agrees with that nasty Brit who said the Afghan
war, as it is being fought now, is not
winnable. (100708e) Iraq: Iraq's
violence has, perhaps, found a new target, Christian Iraqi's
get the boot and the persons doing the
booting wear security badges, nice? (101108e) Says
here that there is a surge in violence in Iraq.
Shia's attacking US and Iraqi soldiers. Sound like calm
to you? (101008j) Unraveling Iraq? The
NIE has it that there is a clear potential for things
getting very hot again. Much of that ground
has been covered in other stories; what is useful about this
story is that it is an official pronouncement verifying the
tone of prior evaluations of the situation.
(100808b) Meanwhile the SOFA hangs up on one hell of a
hangnail:
can US troops be prosecuted in Iraqi courts?
I guess they want some accountability? (100808f) Pakistan: This is a war without many face-to-face battles, rather
US missile attacks and car bombs are the mainstay as far as
casualty "production" is concerned. The
US attacks made for bad press and popular anger gets
directed at the government, and, as in this case,
occasionally toward the Taleban. (101108f) Asia: This
deal is done, India and the US are getting their nukes
together. This would appear to be the US
trying to regain some global influence when it is loosing
ground in many, many places (100508e) The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia India: A
rash of violence has Hindu's attacking
Christians, killing some, burning churches
and causing many to flee. (100908a) Korea: A
big time Bush flip flop, though no one will say
that. Korea is off the "baddies" list and
promises to do "the right thing". We shall see what we
shall see. (101108d) They also plan a set of new aircraft
carriers. The Bush legacy lingers on. Russia: Russians
report a successful test of a submarine launched ballistic
missile. (101108b) Russia
sees UN and NATO moves as secretive and thus
suspicious. Not helping to ease tensions
anyway. (100908e) Regulations regarding vaccines and terrorism that not
only do not make sense but are inconsistently enforced
lead
experts to wonder WTF is going on with the US, no an
uncommon comment these days. (101108c) So,
what DOES deforestation cost the earth, well some
figures ARE available and they are huge.
(101008i) We are not yet seeing the worst of the economic
crisis, but
consider the "worst of the global warming scenarios" these
are nightmarish and far more alarming than say a "great
depression" which, at its worst would lift
someday and be over with, global warming might well be
"forever". (101008h) With a
quarter of the world's big mammals being threatened
one would think that the world would wake up a bit
and get its act together - not. (100608b) This just in and just for laughs.
I mean Cheney speaking to a conference on North American
Wildlife Policy? Ya gotta love their "style"
(100608i) Soup
kitchens and homelessness are up. Take this
example from NYC. (101008e) All we are saying is give chaos a chance.
Colorado
has lots of potential problems all of which were foreseen
and could have been fixed long ago, but no.
(100908d) The right to vote is being fought for around the nation
as the election draws near and much, very very much is at
stake. Will
this election be stolen by computers that fail to mark votes
correctly, others that run up false tally's or states that
use centralized voting lists to "check" the ID of voters for
matching, no match with the list, no vote!
(100608c) Current efforts to purge
voter rolls continue and the record is "truly mountainous"
as huge numbers of voters are being "knocked off"
(100708b) Another take shows
a big advantage for the democratic party when one looks at
the registration of new voters. The election could be a blow
out for the Dems. Still I think that they will have
to have an edge of some 10 million to "undo the cheating
factor" of the Repuglican Schemers and thieves.
(100608j) Economics 101: How
the previous downturns were managed show that what was done
back in those instances has been done this time around and
then some. The upshot: we need time for the
"strategies to take hold" That may be true, again and again,
time will tell. (101108h) Clearly
stated the risk is for a global meltdown in credit,
borrowing and loan making. Even giant
companies, such as GM, are feeling the pinch.
(101108g) Something
of a portrait of the dastardly dumbbells that brought it
all crashing down (101008f) The overall view of the "decline", no
one seems to be using the word "crash", has
the Dow recording its worst ever week. (101008d The overview as it is now. The
nut is that no one knows how much debt is out there, so they
say, or how the US government's plan is going to
work, that is to say how will we, the tax
payers, know what we're getting and when will we get our
money back? (101008c) Another down
day around the world, though today someone made
something of a fight out of it as the markets in NYC
(101008b) Prognosticating
bears fruit or it doesn't. History teaches
us that much, here are some historical examples
(100908i) A harbinger of things to come? Cook
County sheriff, Mr. Dart, says he won't evict people without
knowing they've been given proper warning that the house
they are renting is in foreclosure.
(100908h) Now
the US may take ownership stake in banks, now
remind me again, don't we have a conservative government and
don't conservatives "hate" activist governments that
interfere with business and meddle? (100908g) Following up on a recent story concerning car
sales,
this one talks about the companies and their woes being
linked to the credit crunch and the falling global demand
for cars (100908f) Stocks
plunge again, who wants to invest now? Dow below
8,600! (100908b) From SLATE
dated 100808 we've a range of headline blurbs;
it is enough to get a "big picture" (100808g) Global
markets take a dump and tens of billions of pounds in
England have not made the markets merry
(100808e) US
markets do the same, by the end of the day,
anyway. People are still playing the game
however, it was a bumpy day. (100808c) An interesting tid bit showing that the lowering of
interest
rates have not brought down the cost of borrowing short term
business to business rates. (100808d) So
retirement plans have been getting the shaft for some time
now, and this will, of course, have its own effects down the
line. Another ripple of the housing, dollar,
corruption, Bush, jackass, mess (100808a) Hey,
it's ANOTHER plan, both radical and new and
this time we're going to be buying up commercial paper WOW!
This aught to do the trick, once and for all.
(100708j) And a
concise treatment of the glowering gloom from the
SLATE, dated 10/07/08 (100708k) Global
financial crises come hard and fast now. The
perception is that it is "every actor for themselves" from
what I can see. Here are some "data points"
(100708g) A case in point, those
who can are leaving the stock market, the process will only
accelerate with time and the losses of Monday and
Tuesday may continue for some time. (100708h) So, meet
the 35 year old who is in charge of 700 billion and more
dollars. I can't say I have confidence, can
you? (100708d) So
Tuesday follows Monday with another decline and
we have an overview of the dire stats. (100708f) Nomi
Klein, in a nutshell, defines the "shock doctrine"
which is to say "catastrophic capitalism"
(100608h) Here is
a story concerning Iceland, a small country with a problem
that mirrors that of the rest of the world
&endash; are they "small enough" to go belly
up? (100608e) Pakistan is
running short of cash and says a hundred billion
would be a good loan to float them through the crisis
(100708a) The
rest of EuroWorld is affected as well
(100608f) The
ripple effect of the economic deflationary cycle is seen now
in large sets of statistics: upshot state budgets
are going to be squeezed more and more as the economic
problem worsens and spreads. (100608c) As has been noted before the
solution currently being pursued by the US has the one flaw
of not addressing the cause of the problem, declining
housing values. And the derivatives of debt
based on their being bundled. There is a solution, but it is
not being considered, of course. (100608g) So
the bailout is barely a day old and the stock market takes a
dump. Then the story continues on mentioning
further hundreds of billons of dollars that are going to be
made available … WTF? (100608a) Big
job losses means that the economic malaise is "coming on
home". The losses that Bush oversaw have not
been recovered as of yet, despite some good hiring news
during portions of last year. So … troubles spread and
deepen. (100408f) Some of the
inside scoop on how Fannie Mae went bad.
Seems like everyone wanted it to "go for broke" and it
succeeded in nearly taking down the economy in doing so.
(100508d) Candidates: Down the drain with John McStain: As Palpitatin' Plain puts questions to Obamas past
associates with radicals, a blown up poofy
perception,
McStain has his own fascist connections to contend
with. (100708c) Never mind Palin's pals who
want to pull Alaska out of the union and keep it all
white.???? Flip
flopper McPain in action, believe me it is a goodie
(100708i) Justice: The
DoJ has detonated a bombshell that would be headline news,
except for all the other headline stories
that have one thing in common, Bush manufactures disasters
and so there is a lot of camouflage for his bumbling corrupt
and impeachable ways. (101008a) It
seems, again, that Bush's words aren't worth the toilet
paper they're wiped with. (100908k) Something's from the past: Right wing
dumbbells will always be with us, so it seems
as the Goldwater movement continues pushing the McCain
candidacy. (100908c) So
the headline should read: Man Threatens Voter Official to
"keep the nigger out of office" (100908j)
An
attack on Iran seems to be off the table. The
"Russian factor" is in part responsible because now that
they've demonstrated a willingness to commit forces in their
near abroad and have been interested in and supportive of
Iran, well … the calculus has changed. Not that the
crazies in Tel Aviv and DC aren't still pining for "one last
hurrah" (101808g) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel -
Jordan - Lebanon - Palestine - Syria This page from Arabic News, dated 09/30/08 has headlines
and blurbs regarding the region. A quick snapshot of what is
what (101308c) Syria: Syria
is angered at the Saudis who are angered at them and now
bombers and spies are in the mix.
(101108n) Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: Part one; Tales
of the Afghan Surge leave one bereft of civilized criticism
(101108l) Iraq: There
are street protests against the "pact" regarding the
deadline for the US leaving Iraq. (101808c)
But the interesting portion of the article is at the end:
"The administration says it does not need congressional
approval for the pact, but has nonetheless sought political
support" Gee, I thought congress was supposed to approve
treaties with foreign nations? It's that constitution thing.
There
may be a "deadline" for US troops to leave Iraq, by
2011. (101508d) Little mention of the irony of
Bush going for a deadline, a time table a "date" when he was
so dead set against it before, hail to the filp flopper in
chief. Was it a war for oil? You
might wonder what the Iraqi man on the street will think
when this sort of "sell off" is making headlines.
(101308h) What is
victory? What does the word mean? More importantly what the
hell does McCain's mean by it? (101208c) The
kicker is at the end of the article, which compares what
John McCain't says and what he supports in Iraq. Amazing
jackass that he is. Pakistan: China
is willing to invest in Pakistan, build a couple of reactors
and do more. Although the country is still "hooked
into" the US, these moves are perhaps harbingers of more
deals which would allow Pakistan to wean itself away from
the US and "go its own way". (101808a) Part one, The
Taleban makes moves and threats while a more intense war is
looming. (101108m) Report
has it that things are getting more dicey with our ally of
choice in the GWOT. (101508b)m Another factor
is the financial status of the country, though this
story has it that the Paks only need, maybe 10 billion to
eek on through. (101708h) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Korea: Bush the dumber has had a success. We
are now definitely just where we were with the North Koreans
almost exactly 6 years ago. Horray!
(101508e) Russia: An
attack on Russian troops in the Caucasus, has me
wonder if the Georgia conflict is morphing into something
else or if Chechnya is warming up a bit.
(101808b) More
muscle flexing on the part of the Russians. We're
certainly in a multi polar world now. The war that will
confirm that much has not yet come about. Perhaps that step
will be avoided … then again, perhaps not.
(101208f) Part one, how
the US influence in another region, the Caspian has also
waned, the "Georgia" lesson is not lost on countries
in the region. (101108j) Part two,
more bewildering details of deals and quotes from players,
but the kicker is Iceland's being bailed out by Russia.
Geopolitically this is the proverbial camel's nose
in the western hemisphere (101108k) Warmest
year on record for the Arctic was 2007 where it
reached a stunning 9 degrees above its seasonal norm.
(101708d) Torture from the top, that is the word, it seems.
The US
is marred by the scandal and it is a ticking time bomb that
will pay "dividends" for some time to come,
by that I mean generations. (101808f) So
now the US "gives up" is control over who is the World
Bank's president. Change is good.
(101308i) Decline
of US power, both soft and hard? Compares with
England's loss after WW2. (101708e) Centralized voting systems have problems.
As many as 20% of those on the lists are rejected for some
reason or other no matter how valid the persons information
may be. The kicker is that the central lists are
plagued with errors that then do not match the accurate data
of the voter or the local lists &endash; at that point the
voter is dropped from the rolls. In one case 4 out of 6
judges looking into the system were found to be rejected.
(101808h) Part two,
some particulars and exceptional incidents show how flawed
the centralized system is and, new though it is, 31
states will be using it, despite widespread errors and
flaws. (101808c) While the "fair and balanced" press harp on Obama's
very slight association with a one time terrorist, a Mr.
Ayers. It ignores Palin's "paling around with a
secessionist, namely her husband. Both have long
ties to the Alaska Independence Party, whose founder was
killed in an attempt to buy bomb making material.
(101208e) This page has
a good number of headline and summaries giving a portrait of
the race at this moment … Obama nearly has a
lead big enough to counter most of the voting fraud that
we've been hearing about (101408f) 200k
votes being challenged in Ohio (101708b)
However, the
unlikely source of resource is the Supreme Court, deciding
against the G.O.P. (101708g) Lame "Jackass" Bush I guess we can have this as a section title now.
This
story deals with the Bush Admin supporting water boarding in
a memo. (101508a) Economics 101: The
fallout from the housing mess and the Wall St. sleigh ride
has many of the ordinary millions facing homelessness
(101808d) Meanwhile the
bums at the banks get 70 billion "pay packages" for what,
dropping the economic bomb and being so corrupt?
(101808e) So that's about 10% of the total bailout package,
no? The
yo &endash; yo ride continues on Wall St. this time its up a
bit. Yowsa! (101608a) And Friday is no exception. The
market is being played and those that are running the game
are running out of moves (101708a) A
ranging commentary on our culture and how bubbles fail to
burst or how truth, especially painful truth,
is hidden until it erupts. We, in the US, don't like reality
all that much and always hope for the quick fix or kill.
(101508h) "We
may well have passed the point where the federal
government's total financial hole exceeds the net worth of
all Americans." Some nice quote eh? (101508g)
Asian
markets take a beating too. (101508f) Another
day of market bashing, what rabbit will be taken out of the
hat now? One wonders. A few more days of this
kind of activity and we'll have to "do something". I mean
besides throw money at the problem and hope that it will go
away. (101508d) I guess I'm a bit tired today, the
SLATE main page dated for 10/14/08 has a nutshell
of the economic status of the bank bail out.
(101408c) Here
is another overview of the economic package,
but read the letters there are a couple of excellent
ones. (101408e) A look at what the US is doing. It
seems, as has been said before, the cures are not really
applying their effects to the cause of the problem, the
housing dilemma, the toxic debt totaling in the tens or even
hundreds of trillions, the non transparency
of the financial systems operations and regulation that
makes sense. (101408e) Banks
are up and stocks took a downtick after yesterday's
gorging. It just goes to show what 3.2
trillion dollars can do. (101408) New
York City loosing tens of thousands of jobs, high fallutin'
jobs at that. (101408b) Well below you can read the good news. Updates
would reveal that US and Asian markets both boomed today.
However, Buffets "weapon of mass destruction" is still just
sitting there, a time bomb ticking away. This is
the half quadrillion or so dollars in the derivatives market
that many, many people hold but that no one knows the actual
worth of. One wonders, therefore, if this is the next wave.
Time will tell. (101308f) I guess I cannot be everywhere. The
fact that last Friday's gold price was 930 an ounce was a
surprise. The last time it was that high was
back in 1979 when the Russian invaded Afghanistan. It has
fallen to 830 an ounce but the article says that buying
bullion is actually a few hundred dollars more per ounce
than the "spot price". (101308d) For brevity's sake,
here is the SLATE page dated 1013/08. It covers a broad
spectrum of stories, albeit in nutshells, about the economic
crisis and touches on the faltering campaign of John
McStain. (101308b) Well, it's not a "blue Monday" is it? Markets
bounce back and hundreds of billions, even, dast I say it,
more than a trillion dollars are directed at
banks. Maybe we're out of the woods? Maybe
time will tell. Keep an eye out. (101308a) From Canada a
look at what "blowback" they are suffering because of their
role in Afghanistan. Once money is allocated
to the military it is unavailable for anything, everything
else, it is the US model. (101208) As some previous, some months ago, stories reported,
states
warned the Federal government about the housing mess years
ago. (101208h) Part two, more
names, dates and details from Georgia (101208i)
Part three, Ohio
and Iowa get their cummupances and so the housing market
"flourished" (101208j) Take a break from the housing, banking, dollar,
bailout, market and corruption mess. Take
a peek into the contractors who make a lot of money by doing
almost nothing, some get caught as did these, but
many others, oh well … (101208d) Some handy information here,
it says that we are getting close to a deteriorating cycle
in which trust, between creditors of all kinds breaks down,
which slows economic activity, which then creates a credit
crunch, which reduces trust, which slows economic
activity … you get the picture.
(101208g) Now
that we have the "bailout billions" set to go the plan is
being changed. So soon? You might wonder.
Yes, so soon. One wonders if a bad history writer from the
future is having fun with us. (101208b) Mentioned before here is
an overview of the financial crisis as it appears on the
state level. States cannot seem to borrow as is
usual, nor can cities or other local
governments. What this means is governmental problems for
gathering income to pay public servants.
(101108o) Candidates: Lies
aside the Dems are better for the investors and the ordinary
working person, that is what research would show,
but conservative "researchers" find ways to twist the
figures and come up with "new facts". (101208) Down the drain with John McStain: The moment
John McCain't lost. When he was booed by his own
(101308e) How
the press covered the bailout story was, essentially,
irrational yet it was what drove the debate. Perhaps
even forced the decision to go ahead with something that
failed in the short term, because it was a long term,
meaning, in this case, longer than a few weeks, fix.
(101308g) In
2006 public money was spent on partisan, Repuglican,
politics. (101708c)
Europe: The
US reassures the Baltic states that its commitment to them
is solid (102208g) A
once cooling hotspot warms up again? Bosnia
folks, that's what I'm talking about (102108f) Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia The idea that the
US-India nuke deal has spawned a twin, that of
China-Pakistan is crossing people's minds. The root
of a new "competition"? (102408e) Afghanistan: The case
against the continuing escalation in this
country. Oh well (102408d) Iraq: A
collection of groups make a bold declaration that they'll
soon be attacking the Iraqi government.
Rhetoric? It may be, but then again it may not be. In
either event it is not a good bit of news.
(101908d) Apparently
the SOFA is still having a hard go in the Iraqi government.
Some demands are being called for and
resistance is apparent (102008g) The
end of US presence in Iraq due to the Iranian veto?
(102408c) The
veto is being exercised? We'll see.
(102508b) Pakistan: A
,multiplicity of problems compound in this
nation and the perception is that the end of them is no
where in sight. (102408a) Pakistan
trying out the "Anbar Awakening" strategy?
That's what the word is. Well, time will tell.
(102308c) If the
involvement of the Pakistani government with the US is a
"hot button" issue with the "man on the street"
then the developments described in this article will
heighten the tensions all the more. (101908e) Pakistan's
financial woes, linked to those of the world has it ask for
help from the IMF. (102208h) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Russia: Seems that
tension is running a bit warm along the Georgia South
Ossetia border region, both sides claiming that the
other is shooting at them (101908a) Russian
economic strength weakens with the price of oil and
in the aftermath of the "Georgian Adventure"
(102008f) An update to that
report says that global warming is occurring faster,
stronger and sooner than previous expectations. That
kind of statement has been made before, a few times
actually. (102008k) A laundry
list of the problems our voting system has.
(102508a) This is the
SLATE page dated 102208. It has a nice overview in a
nutshell of the election and the economics. But it
fails in that it emphasizes Obama's "change of mind" on
public financing. Obama's commitment to that was not "set in
stone" he said he wanted to run his campaign that way. And
spoke in favor of it. He never did accept the public
financing. McStain, on the other hand formally petitioned
for and accepted public financing only to change his mind
and break the law in doing so. Quite a different set of
circumstances. But it passes unmentioned.
(102208d) Don't be surprised if the Repuglicans win, not
because they really won but because
they are good at stealing the vote (102008a)
Part two, millions
of votes thrown out (102008b) Partt three,
How HAVA
wreaks havoc and purges the typical Democratic
person. (102008c) Patt four n fact it
is 10
million voters purged from rolls, Colorado leads the
pack iwht a 1/6 ration between purged and "allowed"
(102008d) Partt five, he upshot is that
in
order for Obama to win his lead will have to exceed the
number of votes Repuglicans trash, deny or cage.
(102008e) Economics 101: Criticism of the bailout is not hard to
find, this
article gives an overview of its weaknesses despite what the
press gives us. (102508c) Another
"down" day for the markets world wide. There
must be a floor somewhere but the rescues, bail outs,
interest rate changes, reforming of market management and
regulations have not sparked a genuine "lifting of mood"
that would drive a real "cure" for the problem.
(102408f) A
leftist take on the current crisis and its source.
(102408b.) Wall
Street Yo-yo ride continues to go on and on and on.
(102308b) Job
losses make the headlines, but still, STILL, no use of the
word "recession" to speak of, much less the
dreaded "d" word. (102308a) Another
country bites hard on the Credit Default Swap
mess, or is bitten by it, Russia, nearby, may
well gloat. (102208f) Well this is interesting the
Credit Default Swap mess is looked at briefly in light of
the bail outs, and Lehman Brothers and so
forth (102208e) The
markets take a hit, globally. Other places put the US Dow
down 540 points for the day. (102208b) Housing
crunches and crashes hurting all over, but more is to come
(102108e) In essence
the "bailout billions" are already finding their way into
the pockets of those responsible for the
mess. I THOUGHT we were going to WATCH this?
(102108a) What
is the death count from the Mortgage meltdown?
No one knows but these stories show that it is a real
and dire phenomenon, why aren't the bankers, who are in dire
straits, doing the same? (102008l) A
quick look at the world's nations and their financial
status. It would seem the crisis has receded
for the time being, that is until something else prompts
another crunch. (102008i) A
bit of good news sends the markets up. But recession
is being bandied about when describing the US economy, or
that of the world, in general. But the market's have a good
day. (102008h) The SLATE
page dated 10/19/08 has a raft of data points regarding the
economy, touches on the political and so
forth, but it by itself is a read enough for chronicling
this day in the general story of "our time"
(101908c) Candidates: Down the drain with John McStain: John
McJackass is linked to voting fraud. You
know his wife always does it with him on top because John
ALWAYS F - - - s Up (102108d) Colin Powel,
a Republican, endorsing Obama for several reasons
(102108b) This edition of Daily Howler, dated 10/20/08
talks about
McCain's relationship with robocalls, which take us back to
the South Carolina primary of February 2000,
where McCain was ripped up by them. Now the person
who did that hatchet job has been hired by McCain to do the
same. And John promised he'd "never" do such a thing.
(102008m) Who
you are and where you live affects how you vote? Well take a
look at the factors (102208c) Says
here that enriched uranium was rescued and returned to
Russia. Apparently there are many places
that have uranium which don't have real quality security.
(102208a) Going
back to 9/11, the hijackers with box cutters and flight 77,
well there are problems with the story. The man
who told it created the problems and then compounded them by
contradicting not only himself but "assuming technology"
that would not function as he described. (102008n) In
California money is green and green grows the
economy (102108c)
10/11/08
10/18/08
10/25/08
11/01/08 In
his waning days Bush makes a push for more ability to do
what he does best, grab for more
(102908a) The US
strike in to Syria is symptomatic of the new asymmetrical
warfare being waged &endash; these are conflicts where the
spin is as important, if not more so, than the actual facts
on the ground. In a war over hearts and minds, it
takes more than bombs and bullets to win.
(102808e) The article is not specific enough, but talks
about
the global thefts of radioactive material. While the
main threat is a "dirty bomb", the whole idea that
radioactive material is being stolen is disturbing.
(102808b) The
economic impact of the credit, dollar, housing, investment,
banking and borrowing crisis have spanned the globe.
Repercussions may be many, ugly and large.
(102708h) What is the cost of slumber? This article talks
about how other nations have become killing machines
then, after the wars that destroyed them, it is seen how
many among the defeated people knew what was being done
&endash; though they became practiced at denial. Now
the US is in that same position; we know what we do, yet we
do not stop it, cannot seem to and "life goes
on"(102708c) Europe: The financial mess has reached Hungary also.
The
nation gets some billions on loan to keep a lid on things,
but if it is true that there is over 500 trillion dollars
worth of bad loans globally, it would be impossible to "pay
it all up" as they say, since that is more
money than currently exists globally, and by a few hundred
percent at that. (102608e) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel - Jordan
- Lebanon - Palestine - Syria The
financial melt down has reached the "Gulf region" and they
seem to handle things the way GW Jackass does. For
some time officials in the region have been saying that
there is no problem, now, all of a sudden, there is a
problem, a big one. ooopsie daisy (102608c) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza &endash;
Israel &endash; Lebanon - Palestine Lebanon: A
further build up of Syrian troops along the Lebanese
border. This follows a previous story of the
same topic. Smuggling is the reason given
(103008g) Syria: A
US attack mounted inside Syria? Civilians killed? That is
what made the headlines. What the true story
is will come out, eventually. (102608b) The Syrian's reportedly are outraged.
It does not seem, at this time, that there were "targets" in
the attack zone. (102608i) Update:
apparently, one arms smuggler was in the mix and was killed.
Update on the update, maybe that was not so after all the US
is being cagy about whether or not anyone was taken away
dead or alive. A touch more on the raid: if eight were killed and four
were children and one was the guard of the building that
leaves three other dead. Would that be the workers putting
the building up?
Well what WAS the target? Soldiers landed on the
ground, just as they recently did in Pakistan.
(102608k) The Syrian's
promise to take defensive action if "it happens again"
opening the possibility of confrontation or a
clash, which would be to Al Qaida's
advantage, I would think. (102708a) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Iraq: The
raid into Syria has made something of a furor in the
politics of Iraq, shifting and realignment is underway and
the likelihood of getting a SOFA signed has been
reduced. If Bush wanted to make another
LARGE error at little cost, he would have been hard pressed
to do better than this. (103108k) "Give
us what we want or we'll make it hard on you." We've got
ways of making the Iraqi's give us the legitimacy that we
want, a whole line of threats to choose from.
(102708d). It seems to be that we are in a lose-lose.
If
they don't give us what we want and we act on the
threats,(102708e) chaos ensues and Iraq
collapses. If we do get what we want the best we'll get is
what we have now, which is to say not much at all. and AQ
benefits either way. Well
now it's the Iraqi's turn, they make a proposal that we can
reject. Maybe they'll come to an accord and
then again, maybe not regarding how long US troops can stay
in the country (102908b) Pakistan: Another
drone attack in Pakistan kills a couple, few dozen
and one wonders where, if or when Pakistan will
"draw its line" in the sand (103108b) As
reported last week, there is financial meltdown trouble in
Pakistan, as well as wars as well as divisive
demands by the US. Trouble looms. (103008j) The major general says that they've "turned the
corner" by capturing a village used by the resistance.
It is strategic to their efforts and so a victory can be
claimed,
as to turning the corner, however …
(102508d) Well
here is more on that and a bit of the surrounding situation.
(102608f) Now
it seems that Pakistan is getting serious about having the
US halt cross border missile raids
(102908e) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Congo: I was waiting for an "explanation "for the current
crisis in this country, apparently
it is the global market for a mineral used in electronic
devices, rare as it is and valuable as it is.
(110108b) Apparently the fighting has other origins as well, but
the over arching
term might be "chaos" is loose and mostly anything goes, it
seems. (110108c) Libya: Back
in the news this country is making deals and "getting its
act together. Oh yes, Russia is making moves here
too. (102908g) Somalia: Mogadishu, bombings take their tolls and so it seems
we have
another "war on terror" gone bad getting news coverage and
one that will go on and on and on.
(102908c) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Georgia: Seems
like not all is a quiet on the western front.
Shootings occur between Georgia and Abkhazia with each
blaming the other in an area where even local people cannot
tell you where the border is. (110108a) India: Koreas: Russia: Seems
like the economic bear is mauling The Bear. Seems
everyone is throwing money at "this thing" and not much is
doing (102608j) Columbia: Apparently the war on drugs or is it terror in
this
country has an "inflated" body count going on.
(103008b) Both
the Arctic and Antarctic show signs of human caused
warming. (103008h).story Water
shortages loom in California the dreamiest of dream
states. (103008g) The
economic crisis may well affect the price of food
globally. It could make matters worse for the
poor who are already suffering. (102808a) Well
the economy is tanking, people are cutting back on
everything, jobs are being lost but those persons selling
guns and ammunition are doing very well, thank
you. Sales are up 8 to 10 percent over last
year (102708f) Widespread
and troubling problems with the electoral process has
sparked lawsuits already (103108e) For
example in Ohio, we have a good deal of potential for
trouble (103108f) A new study
shows that e-voting machines are hackable and seriously
so. Even so the maker argues against the facts and
the machines will be used, how nice is that.
(103108a) 30K voters
in Colorado may not be able to vote because of
"problems" (103008a) An update has it that these
voters will be able to vote, even if provisionally or so
I've heard Down the drain with John McCain: What would McPain do if elected? Well
PNAC would continue, as would the kinds of things Bush
itself talked about at the Citadel in 1999.
(103108d) Lame Jackass Bush: The great dimbulb is truly a lame duck, starting on
the 4th, but
he is still pushing and unpopular, wrong headed, and
ultimately dangerous agenda of deregulation.
(103108j) Economics 101: And
the bounce back in the stock market is described as
"stabilizing", well call me a skeptic, but
I'll wait a few weeks or months to see if we are truly
stabilized. Banks may be lending money more freely and that
is also hailed as a good sign. (103108h) I say this
becasue that
700 or 850 billion dollar bailout see the Treasury's
decision-making is reminiscent of playing 'whack a
mole. (103108g) The fiscal
and monetary mess that we're in is given a nutshell outline,
nice (103108b) Retirement
funds are declining in value. What's this another
tsunami? (103008k) Consumers
buying less, well, that makes sense.
However, the impact is the final portion of the cycle.
Now, as consumers retreat, businesses do more poorly, these
in turn buy fewer goods or services, providers of such then
have downturns and there is a lessening need for loans and
banking services and economic activity slows and as more
people hit the streets they buy less and less.
(103008i) So, over in
Germany they are doing the "bailout thing" but with a severe
difference &endash; so why can't we do what they
do and make it stick, yeah, stick it to the man, baby!
(103008e) So, wasn't the bail out to help banks loosen up credit
and make loans so that the "engine of capitalism" can get a
roaring restart? Well,
so why does so much of the money, some 20% seem slated for
payouts as dividends? (103008c) The markets respond to the recent efforts, interest cuts
and other measures have effect but
the battle to restore confidence, prosperity and growth is
in doubt. (102908h) Joblessness
makes Rhode Island a record breaker leading even Michigan.
(102908f) The shifting "meaning of the bailout" by that I mean
what it is, what it will be used for, who gets it and how;
all these
vital parameters shift from time to time and it makes one
wonder if they are just playing it by ear.
(102908d) Are
the "Big Three" to big to fail? Do they get help? Who else
is to big to fail? (102808g) The
yo-yo ride continues with an up day based primarily on
rumors that interest rates will be coming down and soon.
Well, we'll see. (102808g) Mentioned
some time recently, the next bubble is the "credit card"
bubble. People are in over their heads.
Because this is an "everyman" type of problem, it can be far
more devastating as credit card companies deal with bad
debt, cut off credit and individuals suffer. They may not go
bankrupt but if their life line, the plastic, is cut off
… well? (102808d)\ Housing
continues to decline, August having the sharpest decline in
a long time. (102808c) The
word "trillion" has entered the vocabulary in a rude way.
Nearly 3tn in losses since this down turn according to this
article, (102708i) but I believe that understates
the true damages. That figure is for the losses in financial
institutions. It does not include the losses of housing
value that, globally, would double that figure. Then there
is the 1.5tn of losses in retirement accounts. Billions into the banks and the markets are mangled.
It
may be that we need time, but do we have it?
(102708b) A
cycle of lay offs spreads over the nation as the economic
crisis unfolds its latest stage. What a mess,
thank you GW Jackass. (102608d) Bankers just don't get it, bonuses
keep on going on despite the fact that bailout billions,
taxpayer money, is "saving them:
(102508g) A
bit of an explanation of the "politics" which had India
"give away" Tibet oh so long ago.
(102508h)
The Bane of
Bush, Hersh: a bit of background and information,
nice (110508b) For the past several years the notion of a US attack on
Iran has been bandied about and nothing has happened,
thankfully. Is
this last hurrah for The Great Dumbbell? Will see him "go
ballistic"\? This article speculates that it is now or
never, after the election. It ends concluding with
the following "no brainer": " … we can come to a very
simple conclusion: America will either attack Iran in the
next two and a half months, or it never
will."(110208g) Israel
is also in the same boat, a narrowing window of opportunity
in which to act or let history take its course, whatever
that means; even it is a nuclear Iran. (110308a)
The equations have not changed much save for references
in the above article. "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza &endash;
Israel &endash; Lebanon - Palestine Gaza: The situation as bad as it is, is only getting worse.
I
know there is little attention being paid to this horrific
tragedy, but no one is pressing for relief.
Therefore, the sorrowful wailing will continue, is there
more than just a hope for hope? (110208i) Palestine: Some
in Palestine support a Palestinian state within the confines
of the 1967 borders, which would be a wonderful start if
Israel would be amenable to such but it is
not, at least currently. (110908d) Syria: China
makes moves in this country and in various ways.
(110508e) Part two: more
on that? (110508f) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia This story involves the head of the Gulf Cooperation
Council visiting Iran. The article indicates that the
nations are not accepting the
narrative the US has attempted to write, concerning the
danger of a nuclear Iran, is fact it is not "read well" by
these states and so they seem to be supportive of
Iran's nuclear program. (110308j) Afghanistan: A call from
Karzai to Obama sets the groundwork for what "has to be
done" "over there" (110508c) Iraq: Iran: The
story is brief, but allows mulling. Is this another flash
point? Probably not, but still (110508a) Pakistan: Another
missile attack by the US. (110708b) While it
is thought, by some in other articles, that though these are
publicly condemned they are also privately condoned by
Pakistan's government as it plays a balancing act. The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Congo: By the way, fighting continues, deepens and more
refugees are on the run or being slaughtered. No specific
story on this, but I mention it as a matter of
record. Libya: Following up on a previous story, the
Libyan leader traveled to see Putin and there will be
nuclear power plants in Libya if all goes according to plan,
as well as conventional arms sales. Does this bode well for
US "influence" in the region? Yet, another
one of Bush the dumber's long term consequences
(110208c) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Bangladesh: China: Evidence
that the world's economic problems have reached the doorstep
of the Chinese business world was seen at an industrial fair
when the usual crowds were absent as were the buyers
from around the world who usually show and spend, spend
spend! (110108d) Russia: Some
debate about how the Russo-Georgian war started, all is not
as it seemed, it seems. (110708c) Military
moves in Euroland and Russia make for rumblings and
tensions. A lasting legacy of the Bush Error
or can something be done now that we some one with a brain
in the WH? (110608b) Venezuela: Increased
ties with Russia are on the agenda now a days. The status of
the whole continent is in flux and change and, essentially,
alienated from the US because of the Jackass Bush.
This may be a lasting legacy too. (110608c) Following up on a previous story that reported a surge
in gun buying,
this one adds that the surge continues and sales are
booming. The story seems to indicate that buyers
are NOT Obama fans and fear that they will loose some of
their toys. (110808b) Slate's home page for 11/06/08 has a nice nutshell
overview of what is happening today. Economics,
the president elect's new cabinet, Bush speaks and sounds,
well, human, and Kenya declares this day a national
holiday (110608g) The giant news is Obama's victory as well as that of
the Democratic party. While the Dems may not get the 60
senate seats that would prevent the Repuglican's filibuster,
they may get very close. Here
is the skinny on the fact two days later
(110608f) I do not make much more of it here because the
focus of this whole project is his predecessor and his gross
errors. Yes, I was cheered however. More on the
end of a 40 year era of economic conservatism that really
was not conservative, considering all the waste and loss
that have come to bear fruit (110608a)
The
markets liked the news, to say the least.
(110408a) So here it is, with less than 24 hours to go a tale that
will, if things go wrong, prove hindsight is 20-20.
The
means by which McStain might win is that the voting system
has been corrupted and biased against those populations who
are traditionally Democratic &endash; the Repuglicans are
doing their damnedest to steal this election &endash; and
they have a real shot at doing it.
(110308b) Here is more
on that subject exposing yet another tactic that can be
used. Hacking the simple email that is used to send
voting results to central databases. (110308c) This
is the word from Florida, controversy over the voting there
too (110308f) Down the drain with John McCain: John McCain
and Ethics = turd floating in the gravy boat.
(110208a) Lame Jackass Bush: A
nice article that describes in terse terms the sum of the
Bush legacy, if it can be called that with any justice to
the term legacy. It is a good hearty read however
and is highly recommended (110308e) Economics 101: Bernie
Sanders proposes a "rescue package" that involves "New Deal"
like infa-structure projects and some 300 billion dollars.
(110808a) Problem with this idea is that this
is what Japan tried some ten years ago and it did not work
all that well. Second problem is that this down turn is
global, more severe and has, as its basis, mountains of
debt. Those conditions are not what cost Japan its economic
well-being in its down turn &endash; at least according to
other stories I've read but not archived. The
"big boys" line up for a trip to the treasury
trough, hoping for a fill up, meanwhile they
run on fumes in Motown (110708e) A
couple more bank failures make the news.
(110708c) This is an example, what
needs to be done is known, whether or not
Bush begins this work or Obama starts fresh, the fact is we
should know what to do and begin, on day one, getting it
done. (110608e) The whipsaw effect continues bits of good news,
Obama's election for example, caused a rise, yesterday and
today we had losses. This
pattern is extreme, that is to say record seeing gains and
losses alternating indicate that the financial system is
unstable, the stress must be gargantuan and
planning or looking forward must be near impossible.
(110608d) And it is, of course, not
only the US that
suffers, but the world as well. Seems like "… a times
they are a changin'" (110608h) Recession
is global that is the word from the round about tables
anyway. (110408b) The
auto industry is hurting, maybe at the worker and
plant level, maybe at the sales level or mid managerial
level, so that now, when sales drop the owners are taking
notice. (110308g) However, it's
not called global gloom for nothing, a recession is
on. With inflation not an apparent threat low
interest will be the order of the day, but debt, the driver
of the mess, will not be "inflated away"
(110308h) The
Euro-zone is scheduled for its own recession.
Things look about as bad as they do in the US. Slow train
comin'? You betcha! (110308k) A quick guide to what is happening financially in
nations around the world,
everywhere are signs of trouble (110308l) Tales
from around the world indicate that the financial mess is
getting attention. The IMF has some 200 billion
dollars on hand and is loaning it to nations in trouble.
Problem is and will be the size of the debt, globally as
previous articles suggest that it is something near 500tn
dollars, if that is even 20% true then there will be more
contractions to come. The US has some 50tn in debt or some
such figure so one wonders (110208f) Other reports have
the global debt at some 682tn, in which case the term
Quadrillion becomes functional. The bailout is a giveaway or a steal? You
decide after reading how W. Buffet got a much, much better
deal when he "bought into" Goldman Sachs than the US Govt.
did. Why is that? Inquiring minds want to know
why about 50% of the money is going … where?
(110208e) A view of the housing, financial, banking, bailout,
default credit swap, monetary mess from Australia.
The
salient points: the article says that 20 less than trillion
in losses or have already accrued in this mess, which means
we are not even half way through the 50 or 55tn of debt that
other articles have quoted as being embedded in the US
alone. Then there is the outline of how
bi-partisan efforts helped make the mess so messy - plenty
of blame to go around. (110208c) How Iceland goes green. With
most of its energy needs met with domestic sources of hydro
and geothermic sources the nation is about 80% independent
and so may be a guide as to the benefits of taking on such a
large task. (110408b) However, this country did
still suffer from the financial meltdown allowing disproof
to those few comenators who have irrationally and causally
linked the meltdown to the energy crisis.
The "Great War" Some not so heard about chapters and characters in the
cold war's final chapter, that of the Russian invasion of
Afghanistan. Brzezinski replied: "Regret
what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had
the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and
you want me to regret it? ... What is most important to the
history of the world? … Some stirred-up Muslims
or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the Cold
War?" Great quote, especially since those "hopped up"
Muslims "did 9/11 a few years later. (111208d) The hints of a changing face to the post Bush world?
Some of what
Obama has said and some advisements as to what should be
done. (111108a) Europe: Russia and
the EU make nice talk about a "pan European security pact"
Does this not cut the US out? Can we not
give G.W. Jackass the credit for this "development"
(111408i)? Latvia Another
"big bank rescue" in another nation
(110908a) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza &endash;
Israel &endash; Lebanon - Palestine Israel: Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Iraq: Word
is the agreement, SOFA, such as it is or may yet be, has
drawn not only criticism but also now an alliance of
resistance groups have decided to fight. If
the up tick in violence is significant, if the chaos
increases and spreads it will be a whole new ball game, all
campaign rhetoric aside. (111108h) Suicide
attacks are coming back into the news; these are the latest
ones (111008g) The
history of the Iraq occupation as seen through the "real
post war plan". The article describes the
post combat plan for Iraq, the problem was not that there
was no plan; the problem was the plan did not work.
(111108b) In addition, here is a bit on the
"Shock Doctrine" Amy Goodman interviews Naomi
Klein. (111108c) Pakistan: Money
problems plague the country as crackdowns net 'evil
doers" (111208k) Problems continue,
it is a war against insurgents and the nation's financial
condition is problematic. (111408b) Militarily,
the problems could be described as challenging,
with a long winter ahead. (111408f) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Somalia: The
fighting continues with the resistance taking a town close
to Mogadishu. The situation is not really
stabilized and the US backed Ethiopian force seems to be
pulling back. (111308e) More on that story, the
US backed effort to prop up a pro-western government seems
to be failing at this time. (111408e) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Burma: The
latest on Suu Kyi, the imprisoned leader of the freedom
movement in this country is that she is quieter and
quieter. This has caused some to question her
commitment. (111008f) China: China
does its "bailout thing" too. To the tune of 586 billion
dollars worth. (110908b)I keep asking but if
the debt is measured in the hundreds of trillions, aren't
all these cash infusions just delaying the inevitable? I
mean money will run out soon at this rate and then what? The issues arising from a delayed phone call are a
signal fire that exposes a raft of issues that Obama and his
comments have brought up &endash; is change afoot?
Wherefore art the relations between India and the Obama
administration? (111108g) Koreas: The
news is that things are sticky and messy. The word
is that something could happen, but it may be very bad.
(111408g) Russia: Foreign cash reserves though quite large, some half
trillion dollars, or thereabouts, is being drawn down for a
variety of reasons, the
debt crisis being one of them, the strengthening of the
dollar another along with a weakening of the
ruble. (110908g) They are called "brown clouds" a regional phenomenon
in many parts of Asia spreading pollution
and effecting the weather, rainfall and health of various
populations. Oh, it is a man make
phenomenon. (111408c) The
level of the global warming gas, carbon dioxide, is still
peaking despite the current efforts. No
mention is made of methane, which should be peaking as well;
this story has other information as well,
(110908d) Says
here that three times as many people die from prescription
drugs than die from illegal drugs. Do we need
ANOTHER kind of war on drugs? (111208e) The Slate dated 11/12/08 has a lot in it, the
nuggets, as it were are interesting how
the Repuglicans may be blamed if GM goes under because it
does not get a slice of the Bailout Pie, Obama and
lobbyists and so forth (111208i)
11/08/08
11/14/08