Invisible Hand Crushing €uro House of Cards

A specter is haunting the European Union.

Whether practiced in the former Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, or the European Union, statism does not work.

Failed EU Economic System

At the end of the day, the much-maligned ''invisible hand'' of the market exacts its toll and cannot be defied without excessive costs. Just look at the collapsing euro house of cards.

Spain is learning a difficult lesson by the ''invisible hand'' as the bond market moves mercilessly against the Iberian giant spurring a huge leap in its risk premium this week, the highest since the euro's debut. 

Effete socialist President Zapatero in Madrid, with declining popular support, still strenuously resists talk of a bailout, but so did Ireland at first. 

The European social welfare experiment is nearing its end - in disaster.

The iron hand of dirigisme marked by parsimonious economic growth, unfunded promises by elite politicians to provide cradle-to-grave livelihood, entrenched unions, and above all - the disincentive for entrepreneurship and economic freedom to excel beyond one's social station at birth - mires an ageing, energy-strapped, and  near defenseless (save Nato) EU adrift in a sea of pain. High tide is now upon the euro-zone.

The EU crisis is social, economic, and political. There is no president of the EU to bring discipline to decision making. Too much shared history, atavism, and a gulf between the ''rich core'' and ''poor periphery'' cannot be reconciled. Divisions are also geographic:  east-west and north-south. A divided house will not stand.

Finally, bureaucrats and politicians are not smarter than the business class in economic production, job creation, and bolstering economic freedom. The lack of economic freedom smothers the euro zone.

Wither the EU?

The European Union began without the consent of the people yet now the hoi polloi (taxpayers) are being asked to save the elite dream began with the Treaty of Rome in March 1957. 

Greece. Ireland. Probably Portugal. Maybe Spain. Then Italy. Like dominoes, the periphery EU countries are collapsing and pressuring the core (Germany and France)  to stop the economic hemorrhaging.

Ironically, Ireland reluctantly joined the EU scheme. The United Kingdom smartly kept the pound sterling. 

GSM looked into its crystal ball in December 2009 and asked in its Six Strategic Questions for 2010: What is next for the European Union?

As far back as May, the respected business journal Bloomberg raised the prospect of a disintegrating EU. 

Six months later, the EU is unraveling daily. Slovakia exempted itself from any aid in the Irish bailout. So much for the ''one for all and all for one'' happy EU.

Germany, the EU's ATM, now sees its own credit-worthiness stressed. 

Fundamental Failure

While the current crisis focuses on sovereign debt and bank lending, the fundamental failure is the attempt to fight market forces with excessive taxes, generous social welfare policies, and the ''omnipotent State'' growing into a Leviathan in every citizen's life. 

Frankly, the mature EU economies are not producing what the world wants to buy. Where is the EU's Apple or Toshiba?

Moreover, the economies cannot grow or compete in the global economy with the impediments of overregulation and nanny-state interference from the national capitals and the colder blanket from Brussels' bureaucrats.

While the EU continues to voluntarily kill its economies, its global competitors move forward. 

The market wins at the end of the day as demonstrated by world history, a lesson unfolding before the world today. 

The faux European Union is dissolving along with its faux currency. 

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If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

The North Korean Menace - Time for the stick?

The deadly artillery bombardment of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island is yet more evidence that the cartload of carrots thrown at the North Korea nuclear impasse over the years has only emboldened the dictatorship in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong-Un to rescue

Spoiled Child in Pyongyang
The North Korean case is a perfect example of sparing the rod, spoils the child.

The impish regime in Pyongyang like most autocracies consumed the inducements, used negotiations to advance its nuclear program to fruition, and correctly interpreted the constant request for negotiations as a sign of weakness.

Today, North Korea stands at the brink in the death throes of a desperate transition to the Kim Jong-Un, Kim Jong-Il's youngest son. He is yet another corpulent member of the ruling family in a country that has suffered repeated episodes of famine, but obviously the ruling class was not affected. The twenty-something neophyte is supposed to save the dying regime?

China, who is the mother to the childish regime, is the key to resolving the North Korean imbroglio. For fear of disrupting any access to the lucrative Chinese consumer market and offending its banker, the United States is loathe to bluntly tell Beijing to solve the problem or have it solved.

American impotence to defend an ally from a regional bully is noted not just by China but its enemies around the world.

The North Korean menace ranges beyond the spooky corner of Northeast Asia. Pyongyanh is also heavily involved with Iran and also ships arms to terrorist groups like Hizbullah.

Higher Cost to End the Crisis
Now a declining yet nuclear-tipped Pyongyang threatens war with South Korea as Seoul prepares for naval exercises with the US.

World history is replete with examples that those who live by force like the thugs in Pyongyang only respect force. Why this is such a hard concept for many to grasp in the world capitals of democracies is baffling. Regime behavior can only be moderated by the stick since carrots only fatten resolve.

The cost of solving the North Korea case is higher now because past opportunities were squandered at the negotiation table as if (same for Iran) a rogue regime has any interest in volunteering ceding its chip at the table of international diplomacy.

A unified Korea, yes bordering China, under democratic control from Seoul, should be the goal and the appropriate measures should be undertaken to achieve it.
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If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Nica-Tico Border Dispute Update -1

The Nicaragua-Costa Rica tiff over disputed territory along the San Juan River in northeastern Costa Rica is receiving scant attention in the English-language press.

GSM is following the developments closely. Here are the latest headlines translated from the Spanish-language press:

Rechaza México las aseveraciones del Presidente de Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega
Mexico categorically rejects the unfounded allegations made moments ago by the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, in his speech on the dispute with Costa Rica...

Costa Rica denuncia amenaza de Ortega sobre navegación en río Colorado

Costa Rica denounces Ortega's threat about navigation on Colorado River
... Announcing yesterday that it will ask the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, free navigation on the Colorado River. (The Colorado River runs near the Calero Island, at the heart of the dispute).

Ortega irá a la CIJ y dice saldrá de la OEA

Ortega to go to International Court of Justice (ICJ), says leaving OAS
Nicaragua will go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ''denounce Costa Rica for occupying Nicaraguan territory," and reiterated it would not withdraw troops guarding the border.

Ortega arremete de nuevo contra Colombia en disputa con Costa Rica

Ortega lashes out against Colombia in dispute with Costa Rica
The Nicaraguan president accused the country of spearheading an international conspiracy against Managua ... "promoting an expansionist policy in the Caribbean Sea."
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It is obvious Nicaragua is not going to back down anytime soon. The dispute between Managua and San José has nothing to do with an error on Google maps. Ortega relishes the bad boy role for ALBA (the Chavista gang in Latin America) in bullying the unarmed nation of Costa Rica. Now, he lashes out at Colombia and prattles about conspiracies.

It is time for the remaining democratic countries in the region to speak up and pressure Ortega to relent.

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If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Más alla Nica-Tico Tiff - A Nicaragua Canal?

 GSM figured correctly there was an ulterior motive for Nicaragua's sudden interest in the mouth of the San Juan River running into the Caribbean Sea in the extreme southeast border region with Costa Rica.

Never ever trust ALBA and its members. 

While Comadante Ortega no doubt wants to gin up nationalist sentiment ahead of his unconstitutional third bid in presidential elections next year, one cannot forget Nicaragua's dream of its own canal traversing the border with Costa Rica from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean (the so-called Canal Interoceánico de Nicaragua).

Recall the first plan for the later Panama Canal was to traverse Nicaragua.

Sinister Sandinista Scenario

A confluence of interests apparently converged in the rash Nicaraguan invasion of Costa Rica territory.

Haartez curiously reports today that Iran and Venezuela have designs for a Nicaragua Canal noting that dredging is already under way. Costa Rica frets the attendant environmental damage.

Río San Juan

Compañero Chavez desperately seeks to get his oil to energy-starved China and a pipeline through Colombia seems improbably given the rocky relations between the two brotherly neighbors.

China actively plots to limit Washington's influence in the region.

Russia and even the United Arab Emirates have expressed interest in a Nicaragua Canal.

While there is no denying economic benefits for Latin America's second poorest country (after Haiti), ALBA's interest come first: spreading its tyranny at the expense of freedom-lovers in the region.

Given Nicaragua is a noted transshipment point in the narcotics trade and Venezuela is a haven for both drugs and Hizbullah terrorists, it is not difficult to see a coming calamity of a Nicaragua Canal under Sandinista-ALBA direction.

Enough mischief is possible to warrant grave concern among freedom-lovers in the region. 

Will Nicaraguan Bullies Withdraw from Isla Calero?
Just look at the cast of international characters potentially involved in the canal project.

Managua flatly rejected the OAS' demand to withdraw its troops from Tico territory today.

ALBA bullying must not be allowed to prosper. 

This hardening resolve with unalloyed ALBA support and the cast of characters potentially involved in any canal deal require an immediate resolution to thwart the nefarious plans at the expense of peace-loving Costa Rica and freedom-lovers throughout the hemisphere.

Given Costa Rica only has a mere national police force in face of a trained Sandinista Army, San José needs diplomatic reinforcement to stare down Managua's strong arm tactics.

Is Washington watching? Is the Obama Administration able to decipher the freedom-lover and the tyrant in this spat?

It is high time the Castro-Chavez Axis in Latin America is confronted resolutely - the sooner the better.

***If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Which Way Syria?

An old expression among Middle East hands goes - No war without Egypt; no peace without Syria.

The Westernized leader of Syria, President Bashar Assad, can play a positive role in the region.

An excellent analysis, Above the Fray: Syria’s dilemma, appeared in the Jerusalem Post this week.


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If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Google in Border Spat

Invasion
Four days ago Nicaragua invaded a remote mosquito-infested part of extreme northeastern Costa Rica in a power play before Commadante Daniel Ortega's unconstitutional bid to remain leader in Managua.

La Nacion in San José reports an increasing Nicaraguan presence in the border area.

The correct Nicaragua-Costa Rica border shown on Bing Maps and, inset, the incorrect version shown on Google Maps. Nicaragua cited the Google map as a basis for its operation prompting Google to admit its ''inaccuracy.''

credit: laprensa.ni

The murky San Juan River divides the two countries in the disputed area and Nicaraguan units are now dredging it supposedly to make room for cruise lines.

Or is there a military mission in mind?

Bullying ALBA Tyranny
While border disputes are a common flareup among neighbors in the international system, the bullying Nicaraguans have rushed army units into the area while Costa Rica can only muster a spartan police force to defend its sovereign territory (Costa Rica, a pleasant democracy does not have an army).

The spat is another muscular show of the ALBA, the leftist political front headed up by Venezuela to end democracy across the region.

While San José called out to the flaccid OAS for support, that could be more harmful as its record of standing against the march of tyranny in the region is poor.

Costa Rica is a bulwark of democracy living peacefully in its lush tropical paradise. Other democracies in the region need to speak up to pressure Managua to come to its senses, withdraw its forces, and stop the provocative show on its border.

The tyranny of ALBA must be thwarted again by freedom-loving countries like during the Honduran crisis last year.
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If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Bienvenue Hu Jintao, Au revoir des Manifs

Sarkozy, Hu Jintao à L'Élysée Palace

Welcome Hu Jintao, Good-bye Protests
Yesterday French Presidente Nicolas Sarkozy rolled out the red carpet for the state visit of the world's most powerful man according to Forbes magazine, Chinese President Hu Jintao.

When the world's banker comes calling to talk finance, it is a champagne and caviar occasion - protesters be damned.

Freedom Exchanged for Money
The cost of the Sino-Franco $16 billion for Airbus planes and reactors - sweeping away any hint of demonstrators for Liu Xiaobo's freeedom.

Recall the Chinese dissident was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his ''long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." Will Beijing release him from imprisonment to accept his prize in person?

Monsieur Sarkozy had a perfect forum to press for his freedom.

Is the freedom to protest in France now interdit? Pas de liberté?

Notice in this video how the police cracked down on a group of peaceful protesters from Reporters Without Frontiers (RSF in French), resulting in six arrests and others enroute were detained in the subway. 

Is this how France treats protesters for human freedom? Were the latter RSF members under police surveillance to prevent a peaceful protest?

This aggressive action is reprehensible.

Observers note a softening in Sarkozy's tone toward China after a tiff over Tibet two years ago. The French president had threatened to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics over China's tough Tibet policy.

When France learned to ''behave,'' the Chinese president showed up for a state visit. 

Just like during the Cold War, such ''impoliteness'' toward communist dictatorships could scuttle lucrative business deals to sustain their grubby grip on power.

What about human rights, Monsieur Sarkozy?
Thus, even inside democratic countries like La France, communist norms - protests are broken up - are enforced to carefully manage the dictator's visit in hopes of exchanging curbs on freedom for a favorable outcome of trade negotiations.

Human dignity is not for sale, however.

China's growing strength in socio-eco-politico matters on the global stage demands a greater exercise of  responsibility on its part and accountability by freedom-loving states to engage Beijing without compromising but defending principles like les droits de l'homme, Monsieur Sarkozy.

Sino-Ruso Gangup on Japan?

In late September, China and Japan clashed over the Diaoyutai Islands (Senkaku in Japanese).

Russia's Move
Yesterday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev drew Tokyo's ire when he visited Kunashir isle, one of the four disputed with Japan since the end of World War II.

The provocative step is consistent with stoking Russian nationalism on full display in the Victory Day last May in Moscow and comes ahead of a regional summit between the two countries.

Mr. Medvedev's visit was a milestone since he is the first Russian leader to visit the island group.

Japanese Foreign Minister Naoto Kan reasserted Japan's claim to its ''northern islands'' and called the visit ''regrettable.''
 
Japan recalled its ambassador to Moscow in response to the latest territorial tiff. 

Russo-Sino policy in tandem
Is there another reason to up the pressure on Japan?

Some Japanese observers see a joint Russo-Sino gang up on territorial disputes with Japan.

Evidence grows of  a stronger ''strategic partnership'' between Beijing and Moscow especially in the Pacific region.

The fight over the four Kuril Islands stems from the vagaries of the post-World War II conferences in Postsdam and Yalta and the fact that the Soviet Union did not sign the Treaty of San Francisco.

The United States thus never supported the Soviet claim over the isles and still sides with Japan today.

***If you need research from open sources in Spanish, French, or Portuguese and presented in a stylish English language report or a translation of documents in said languages to English, please contact Professor Winn at by sending an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.