Newly-elected former KGB Colonel Vladimir Putin is once again in total control of Russia and his global adversaries had better wake up.
A snarling Russia is back after a short hibernation under former puppet president Dmitry Medvedev.
From the brutal crackdown of the opposition at home to shielding Iran and Syria from international outrage abroad, Putin aims to use Moscow's limited influence where it can do the most damage to international peace.
The US Administration of President Obama now must see clearly what Russia has always been - a worthy adversary to stir up trouble on the global chessboard.
The last thing the Syrian Crisis needed was a Russian shipment of attack helicopters to help the Asad Regime in Damascus to cut down the opposition coalition.
Future of Global Security
The Syrian Conflict has always been more than an internal squabble between a disaffected opposition and an illegtimate authortitarian in another Mid East sandbox.
It is clearly Russia, China, and Iran vs. the US and its Western allies about the future of global security.
Russia of course needs to demonstrate fealty to its client states and deliver goods - it's good business for Moscow. Putin has brazenly laid down his marker.
Conclusion
The US-Russia-China squareoff over Syria is a window into the current state of international relations.
As from the beginning, the current US Administration is overmatched to defend freedom and its interests abroad.
The decline of the US, presided happily over by the current Administration, could not come at a worse time.
***
Peace through strength.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
#Chavez officially stands for president again
Yesterday Mr. Chavez, the current "president" of #Venezuela, rode in a caravan of vehicles from Miraflores Palace to the National Election Council to officially register as a candidate for the October elections.
The ailing leader expects another electoral victory despite a spirited campaign by opposition candidate, Henrique Capriles.
It has always been surprising that Mr. Chavez plays electoral politics when bretheren Castro of Cuba, Correa of Ecuador, and Morales of Bolivia have effectively neutered any opposition.
That is not to say Mr. Chavez has not moved to limit freedom; he assuredly has.
The Fix is In
However, he knows the score at the end of the day. There is no way he will ever lose an election.
The presidential election campaign in Venezuela is a show. Capriles or any opposition candidate will not be allowed to win.
In the end, in sham-democracies like Venezuela, he who has the guns and has stacked the bureaucracy with party hacks always seems to win.
*** Peace through strength.
The ailing leader expects another electoral victory despite a spirited campaign by opposition candidate, Henrique Capriles.
It has always been surprising that Mr. Chavez plays electoral politics when bretheren Castro of Cuba, Correa of Ecuador, and Morales of Bolivia have effectively neutered any opposition.
That is not to say Mr. Chavez has not moved to limit freedom; he assuredly has.
The Fix is In
However, he knows the score at the end of the day. There is no way he will ever lose an election.
The presidential election campaign in Venezuela is a show. Capriles or any opposition candidate will not be allowed to win.
In the end, in sham-democracies like Venezuela, he who has the guns and has stacked the bureaucracy with party hacks always seems to win.
*** Peace through strength.
#EU Dream Turns to Nightmare
The #eurozone house of cards is quaking - again.
The $125 billion non-rescue rescue of Spanish banks is just another chapter in the eurozone thriller as worry now shifts to Italy.
Three headlines wrap up the current eurozone crisis:
EU Floats Worst-Case Plans for Greek Euro
Worry for Italy Quickly Replaces Relief for Spain
Esta vez, Europa está de verdad al borde del precipicio
(This time Europe is truly on the precipice)
Does Germany have enough faux currency - euros - to save the faux union, EU?
Doubtful.
*** Peace through strength.
The $125 billion non-rescue rescue of Spanish banks is just another chapter in the eurozone thriller as worry now shifts to Italy.
Three headlines wrap up the current eurozone crisis:
EU Floats Worst-Case Plans for Greek Euro
Worry for Italy Quickly Replaces Relief for Spain
Esta vez, Europa está de verdad al borde del precipicio
(This time Europe is truly on the precipice)
Does Germany have enough faux currency - euros - to save the faux union, EU?
Doubtful.
*** Peace through strength.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
#France, au contraire
#Socialist Party top functionary-turned-President of France, François Hollande, expects sweeping gains in parliamentary elections tomorrow (Sunday) while Europe braces for the consequences.
The French Left is feeling its oats after more than a decade in the wildnerness.
Its ascendency to power could not come at a worse time for L'Hexagone and the house of cards known as the European Union (EU).
Undercutting NATO
On top of the four French soldiers killed this weekend, Hollande vows to cut-and-run from Afghanistan in July. The speedy retreat is set for the end of the year.
NATO's credibility will be in tatters by the time its operations wrap up in the SW Asian country.
Undercutting Germany-led EU
The "Mer-kozy" relationship between Paris and Berlin is ruptured.
The twin engines of the pan-European vision from the beginning at the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, France and Germany cannot be farther apart than now.
Hollande wants to outspend Sarkozy against the tide of imposed austerity on EU states as the entire project is called into question because of its rocky economic foundation - socialism. It has never worked wherever tried.
The split between France and Germany on the future of the EU dooms the already teetering house of cards.
Undercutting France
A political hack without any policy experience, Hollande continues to steer France to the fiscal cliff.
As southern neighbor Spain nears yet another bank bailout for the eurozone, Hollande intrepidly pushes ahead with risky economic schemes.
He has already fulfilled a campaign commitment to rollback the retirement age to 60 from 62, nixing a moderate Sarkozy policy switch. This, when the socialist states of the EU cannot afford their welfare states now.
Madame "35 Hours Work Week" Martine Aubry, a party rival and new Socialist leader, and with estimable credentials in capitalist economics, urges higher taxes because the French do not pay enough now.
The classic Socialist economic elixir comes to France (welcomed by the voters no doubt) as capital flight speeds up before the brewing storm wrecks the country.
Conclusion
Elections have consequences.
The French grew tired of the Right and its antics.
While the Socialists were a minority for over a decade for good reason - voilá - they are back. There is no change from the confiscatory slow-growth policies from the past.
President Hollande is ill-equipped to lead L'Hexagone and those around him even less.
National politics still dictate the course of the EU despite the hopes of its founders of a pan-European project of "one for all and all for one."
Now finally reality bites the quixotic EU plan. "Everyone for himself" is now the slogan as long as German taxpayers do not tire of subsidizing their neighbors.
France's swing to the Left will only hasten the EU's demise.
*** Peace through strength.
The French Left is feeling its oats after more than a decade in the wildnerness.
Its ascendency to power could not come at a worse time for L'Hexagone and the house of cards known as the European Union (EU).
Undercutting NATO
On top of the four French soldiers killed this weekend, Hollande vows to cut-and-run from Afghanistan in July. The speedy retreat is set for the end of the year.
NATO's credibility will be in tatters by the time its operations wrap up in the SW Asian country.
Undercutting Germany-led EU
The "Mer-kozy" relationship between Paris and Berlin is ruptured.
The twin engines of the pan-European vision from the beginning at the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, France and Germany cannot be farther apart than now.
Hollande wants to outspend Sarkozy against the tide of imposed austerity on EU states as the entire project is called into question because of its rocky economic foundation - socialism. It has never worked wherever tried.
The split between France and Germany on the future of the EU dooms the already teetering house of cards.
Undercutting France
A political hack without any policy experience, Hollande continues to steer France to the fiscal cliff.
As southern neighbor Spain nears yet another bank bailout for the eurozone, Hollande intrepidly pushes ahead with risky economic schemes.
He has already fulfilled a campaign commitment to rollback the retirement age to 60 from 62, nixing a moderate Sarkozy policy switch. This, when the socialist states of the EU cannot afford their welfare states now.
Madame "35 Hours Work Week" Martine Aubry, a party rival and new Socialist leader, and with estimable credentials in capitalist economics, urges higher taxes because the French do not pay enough now.
The classic Socialist economic elixir comes to France (welcomed by the voters no doubt) as capital flight speeds up before the brewing storm wrecks the country.
Conclusion
Elections have consequences.
The French grew tired of the Right and its antics.
While the Socialists were a minority for over a decade for good reason - voilá - they are back. There is no change from the confiscatory slow-growth policies from the past.
President Hollande is ill-equipped to lead L'Hexagone and those around him even less.
National politics still dictate the course of the EU despite the hopes of its founders of a pan-European project of "one for all and all for one."
Now finally reality bites the quixotic EU plan. "Everyone for himself" is now the slogan as long as German taxpayers do not tire of subsidizing their neighbors.
France's swing to the Left will only hasten the EU's demise.
*** Peace through strength.
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