Russians Vote Vladimir Putin Back into Presidency
Vladimir Putin Presidential Press Office via WIkipedia
The 'skewed' grade to Putin's election is promoted by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) But an analysis by Reuters has a different conclusion. (Analysis: Price of victory may be too high for Putin. Reuters, March 4, 2012) The (OSCE) is the European organization commissioned to protect the interest of the U.S. and its European allies in Europe. And the OSCE is still chaffing from its failure to convince Putin to pull back the Russian forces he sent to South South Ossetia and Abkhazia to kick out the invading forces of Georgian president Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The OSCE tried to negotiate their withdrawal, but Russia stood firm, and both South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence with Russian backing and military protection. The OSCE evaluation is probably the sweet revenge of the West against Putin now.
There were cameras rolling in all polling stations across Russia, and I hope the OSCE has some "non-skewed video" to support its allegations? Surely, there was opposition to Putin in Moscow due to the foreign NGO activities, and Russians who don't like Putin and his recycling gimmicks to stay in power. But across the vast land of 11 times zones of Russia, the opposition was non-existed.
Then, there is something else that is too strange and highly suspicious today -as of this writing: All the headlines under "Putin" on Google's News homepage -except the Russian RT - are from Western media sources ONLY! All Indian, Chinese, Arabic and other foreign English "Online" media sources are "filtered out by the Google company," except Thailand's "Bangkok Post" that predict "protests" against Putin! This is the first time in the last decade that I noticed such a complete "blackout" of other than Western media sources online. That seems to me to be an orchestrated Western effort to give the OSCE anti-Putin charade maximum coverage by convincing Google to filter out all other news that might be objective about Putin's victory.
I have written many anti-Putin comments in the past, but monopolizing headlines, and filtering out all other news not in synch withe the West's views is certainly offensive to the intelligence of the readers. The West's Cold War with Russia is over, but the West has now replaced it with a "Media Cold War." Nikos Retsos, retired professor
Read the article GUARDIAN/Russian election 'skewed' in Vladimir Putin's favour, observers say
<>
The lack of a coherent opposition isn't entirely Putin's fault either. If the only other choices to a Putin government are extreme Nationalists or backward Communists it's no wonder people would vote for Putin.
Look at our own countries elections. Labour is currently unlikely to win at the next election because they are simply not a viable option, even against a generally disliked Tory government. This doesn't mean that the Tories are rigging the election, it just means that the opposition have failed to get their asses in gear.
If the Russian opposition parties are so disorganised that they can't even strike a blow against Putin when he is facing such low opinion polls then what chance is there for them to ever topple him?
Read the article GUARDIAN/Russian election 'skewed' in Vladimir Putin's favour, observers say
<>
I am no fan of Putin as what kind of president KGB agent can be (there is no such thing as ex-KGB), but ordinary russians like him as they never had it so good. There was no alternative, second in line was communist leader and if he would get to power, there would be no further democratic elections in Russia.
Elections were skewed (airtime on TV, coverage in press) towards Putin, but you cannot rig 15% of the vote. He won and I think these were the cleanest Russian elections.
Btw, if ballot stuffing and "carousel voting" are (rightly so) examples of electoral fraud, shouldn't outright lying about after-elections actions (Lib Dems Student Fees) or pushing for policies that were not in manifesto (Torries NHS) also be type of electoral fraud? Because anyone can promise streets pawed with gold and after election claim that there is no money for that gold, so we will now be selling off the asphalt and dustroads will have to do..
Read the article GUARDIAN/Russian election 'skewed' in Vladimir Putin's favour, observers say
<>
There's no issue with his campaign - self-reliance and independence is great for Russia. However if bad decisions are made like with Syria then its all down hill....from here.To be a world power includes much more responsibility than just economics. In this world the superpowers must balance humanitarian efforts #1 priority before anything. People should not be left for slaughter or starvation. Then after that it a matter of balancing world resources for the benefit of all the worlds people.
Read the Article TIME/In Russia, an Election Victory for Putin, and Then a 'Paid Flash Mob'
<>
I can't understand how a small number of senior KGB officers and political
bigwigs from the old Soviet Empire could become multi billionnaires in such a
short time without something a bit strange happening.
I feel sorry for the
ordinary Russian people. They suffered under the Tzars, suffered under Communism
& nothing has improved as the wealth of their country is plundered by the
current regime
Read the Article .BBC/Russia election: Monitors say vote skewed for Putin
<>
The West don't like Putin because he is a strong man who thinks for Russia
first. I don't contest that the election were rigged but the West played a great
hand in supporting the opposition. They need a weak Russia to exploit and i would
love someone else in power but there is no one else for the moment than Putin to
lead Russia. Other candidates are puppets sadly
Read the Article .BBC/Russia election: Monitors say vote skewed for Putin
<>
I live in Russia. I was in Moscow on March 4 in the elections as an observer.
Elections were fair. Putin is the only good option the leader of our country.
Why do it? Quite simply, the other candidates simply do not deserve trust.
Read the Article .BBC/Russia election: Monitors say vote skewed for Putin
<>
Our media coverage and analysis is amazingly inept. Why can you people not accept (or understand) that although there is a significant opposition to Putin in Russia, the majority of the population still prefers him to any alternative?
He is the one who over the years created some measure of stability following the crazy years of Yeltsin. And he is the one who provided a strong government. That is what people want, not the chaos that we in the West call "Democracy".
Corruption? They always had it and always will have it. Just like here in the glorious US of A.
Read the Article NEW YORK TIMES/
Observers Detail Flaws in Russian Election
<>
Some of the comments here are interesting as far as deference to Putin. He is
indeed a Russian ethnically and nationalistically. He is also a de facto
dictator and btw, rather anti-semitic with no love for Israel. But the US does
get to play cold war with him and the agencies get to stay in the game.
I
lived in Russia when "perestrioka" was occuring under Gorbachev. Unfortunately,
Russia got alot of bad advice from "experts" like academician Jeffrey Sachs who
championed, along with western banks and consultants, for the mass and rapid
privatization of enormous state enterprise, well before Russia had any time to
make the necessary changes to law, institutions and market systems.
The
country and its citizens are still paying for the ineptness.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/Putin Wins Disputed Victory
<>
Putin is a vastly better manager of resources than any American president in our
lifetimes except perhaps for Clinton. He has ruined the lives of a few insanely
greedy oligarchs who were paying virtually no taxes but the lives of 99.9% of
the Russian people clearly are better since he took over.
Plus he is
trying to help a country where the weather is horrible, the Muslim people hate
his guts and Communism ruined the growth of a decent infrastructure for most of
the 20th century.
Sure longtime autocratic rule is bad but Russia under
any other man would have been a disaster. And in the end he is doing the best he
can to make the lives of the Russian middle class better.
Plus it is hard
to believe that he is not a secret very close friend of the US Military. Why
would they have taken down our missiles in Poland and Czech Republic pointed at
Moscow. All this American rhetoric against him is probably a sham.
Shame
on the WSJ reporter who wrote this story. You have missed ALL the key points.
Hard to bat zero but you have.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/Putin Wins Disputed Victory
<>
To put it simply -- Russia NEEDS Putin for stability. He may have his flaws, but
he certainly knows how to run this huge country (tried and tested).
Under
the Putin administration the economy made real gains of an average 7% per year
(2000: 10%, 2001: 5.1%, 2002: 4.7%, 2003: 7.3%, 2004: 7.2%, 2005: 6.4%, 2006:
8.2%, 2007: 8.5%), making it the 7th largest economy in the world in purchasing
power. (Source: Wikipedia)
Since we are way past the cold war era, a
strong and stable Russia is good news for both America and Europe.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/Putin Wins Disputed Victory
Putin uses a tranquiliser gun to sedate an Amur Tiger in the Ussuri Nature Reserve in Primorsky Krai, 31 August 2008. Photo: Premier.gov.ru via Wikipedia
North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Moratorium
Kim Jong Un, inspects
Korean People’s Army unit in February 2012 Image: Naenara, NK.
Seems like particularly good news since there were many predictions of Kim Jong-un taking a hard line to establish his credibility as a military leader. While we have been down this road before, this turn around so soon after his taking power has to be a hopeful sign. Perhaps this time will be different (but I wouldn't bet the farm on it). Of course, the catastrophically bad shape of the N. Korean economy undoubtedly has something to do with it, but this suggests at least a slight shift in priorities from making war to feeding people.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
North Korea Agrees to Curb Nuclear Work; U.S. Offers Aid
<>
Either one of two things is happening here. 1. Another head-fake by the regime to get food aid, then restart the nuclear program (as other commenters have said, we've seen this movie before.) or 2. The late Kim Jong Il may have been mostly responsible for DPRK's intransigence on the nuclear issue, and his death has created an opening for others to take a different path.
But if you think you know which it is, you're delusional. That's like saying you know what's happening on the far side of the moon. Clinton had no luck with a policy of engagement and negotiation, and Bush had no luck with a policy of antagonising and disengagement. Whoever is in the White House, trying to handle DPRK is like trying to pick up Jello with mittens on.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
North Korea Agrees to Curb Nuclear Work; U.S. Offers Aid
<>
I'm sorry to say this, especially as a dreaded 'liberal', but have we not yet figured out that totalitarian dictators are merely conning us? Do we really think that Kim/army generals are suddenly becoming kinder, gentler people who will live up to their smiling (to America) promises?
American naivete is a standing joke to most nations. Here is proof of it once again. We did not give food aid to East Germany - the Wall fell when East Germans finally stepped up and tore it down themselves.
North Korean nuclear development will go on, just as Iran's program does, only it will be done where we can't see it. It will not stop them, it will not slow them down, and it further delays the populist urge (yes, it exists in North Korea) to unite their country once again.
Hillary, I love you, but you got snookered.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
North Korea Agrees to Curb Nuclear Work; U.S. Offers Aid
<>
This is in exchange for food aid. If the past is any guide, the North Korean leadership, down to the party apparatchiks on the local level, will horde this food and sell it on the black market.
The US and UN will insist on safeguards against this, which will hopefully maximize the amount of food reaching the populace, but only a fraction of the total ever will. I remember reading a memoir of someone who fled North Korea as a teenager and he recounted one such inspection: he lived in the countryside, in the North and they were starving. Local officials had warehouses full of donated foodstuff. I believe it was the EU which became suspicious and demanded an inspection. The local party brought all the children into the lunch room of the school and fed them as the EU inspection team came through. As soon as they left, they removed the half eaten plates of food from the starving children and kicked them out. If you complained you were beaten.
Obviously, I don't know whether this actually happened, but given the mentality of the NK leadership, it sounds plausible. I hope this Kim will be different than his father. Maybe he really does want to feed the NK people. Read thre article NPR/N. Korea Agrees To Halt Nuclear Activities, U.S. Says
Taliban Provoke Deadly Protests Over Koran Burning
Al-Jazeera Live Blog
They cannot think of ways to progress. Their minds are stuck in the 7th century. They do not even see their own squalor and starvation nor suffering. All they see is mass produced paper korans that were discarded. I wonder where the women are in these protests? Do they not have any interest in protecting these paper korans? Do they realize that Korans are mass printed on web presses, and replacements can be bought for pennies? There's no embargo on Korans. These are not hand calligraphy on parchment.
A book burning in cultural context is an attempt to censor a work of literature. These books that found their way into the trash can were left in rooms that were occupied by prisoners. They were never intended to be found in the trash, nor was there any attempt to censor their holy book. There was no intent on desecration. Books are discarded on a daily basis when they are old and damaged. I recently threw away my copy of Kurt Vennegut's 'Cat's Cradle' due to water damage. I can buy another one to replace it. There is no magic in pulp and ink.
When they worship a book and hold it in such high esteem above all others, then it will become the only book they offer the rest of the world. Does the Taliban ever ask themselves, what do they offer the rest of humanity? We've all read the Koran and the satallite hadith.They are interesting books for the 7th to the 10th centuries. It's time to move on and grow up and move on, there is world that's moved beyond. It's best to build a better life in the world we know than to dedicate all effort for the imaginary one we don't.
Read the article MSNBC/Taliban to Afghans: Kill foreigners over Quran burnings
<>
A lot of the comments miss the point. They compare the incident to a flag burning. A flag burning has the full intent of provocation and disrespect. Flag burnings in have been going on in Pakistani protests for decades, and still you don't see masses of chaotic violent young men attacking Pakistani immigrants. There are millions of Pakistani and Afghani Americans that could be potential targets. They aren't.
The discarded Korans were not intended as a public desecration. They were discarded in cleaning, and found incidentally.
And when it comes to "respect", why does the Taliban dress in civilian cloths and continue to attack Americans? Is it because they disrespect the disbelieving infidel? Clearly they don't want mutual respect. They look for any excuse to return their version of Sharia to authority in Afghanistan.
It becomes clearer to me every day that the responsibility of maintaining Afghanistan should belong to Pakistan. Any terrorism that emerges will be the responsibility of Pakistan. After all, it is in the Pakistanicenturies od madrassa tradition that the Taliban received their education. Pakistan knows their miinds best, let them govern Afghanistan.
Read the article MSNBC/Taliban to Afghans: Kill foreigners over Quran burnings
<>
I'm appalled at attitudes expressed in many comments toward Afghans and Islam. I would like to thank the president for apologizing for this egregiously offensive error. The notion that our president should never have to apologize for anything, no matter how wrong headed, done by Americans abroad is absurd. Some comments have sneered that Afghans are living in the 13th century and of course they are so backward that they don't "get" the fact that these are "just books."
Afghans live in a brutal world. Human life is very cheap. Babies die often. People don't expect to live to an old age as we do here. Poverty is endemic. In such a situation, one's faith is what must endure, not the individual. Death is all around you. It matters little if you die from being in the wrong place at the wrong time: that's a common occurrence which may or may not be connected to a terrorist act or a NATO drone. As for terrorists themselves, if you have very little, the most precious thing you can sacrifice to further your cause and to express your dedication to your beliefs is your life. If we too lived on the bleeding edge on a day to day basis, we too might be less concerned about deaths of individuals versus overt threats to our treasured beliefs. We can't help the Afghans until they want to help themselves; once they are free of the hated distraction we provide, perhaps they will be able to see themselves more clearly. We need to withdraw troops now.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Koran Protests Resume in Afghanistan Despite U.S. Apology
<>
Where were these protesters when the Taliban were destroying the ancient Bamiyan Buddhas. As far as I am concerned, the US can't leave Afghanistan early enough.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Koran Protests Resume in Afghanistan Despite U.S. Apology
<>
Many of these comments express astonishment that this could happen; and they're right: someone in charge of a simple house-keeping process was too ignorant of the potential for mischief inherent in any action affecting religious texts in an Islamist country. That person shouldn't have that responsibility. Two American soldiers (whose names have not even been released, yet) lost their lives over ignorance.
But other comments express surprise that the reaction was so visceral, and this I find astonishing. Afghanistan is about as close to a failed society as a country can get without actually being that yet; and it's caught in the grip of a religious intolerance so pervasive and so primitive by the standards of the west (and most other places) that their reaction was to be expected, not marveled over. Moreover, their chaotic and murderous response to the slightest perceived provocation, regardless of apologies, is no more than natural to a society so defensive because they are so essentially powerless.
This is why we have no business with boots on the ground in places where we share nothing with the indigenous peoples other than our basic humanity. Joseph Biden was right: bring our troops home, put a cordon sanitaire around Afghanistan and Pakistan, and bomb anything inside it that gives serious evidence of being dangerous to anything or anyone outside it.
We do not have an obligation to save the self-condemned from themselves, at the cost of our blood and fortune.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Koran Protests Resume in Afghanistan Despite U.S. Apology
<>
Here is the proper way to dispose of a Koran as described by Muslims for Muslims, by Imam Jihad Turk, Director of Religious Affairs, at the Islamic Center of Southern California, September 16, 2011 on PBS. Keep in mind those Korans that were burned in Afghanistan were desecrated by the prisoners who wrote extremist messages in them as they were passed to each other:
"When Muslims want to respectfully dispose of a text of the Koran that is no longer usable, we will burn it. So if someone, for example, in their own private collection or library had a text of the Koran that was damaged or that was in disrepair, so the binding was ruined, etc., or it got torn, they might bring it by to the Islamic Center and ask that someone here dispose of it properly if they were unsure how to do that. And what I’ll do is I’ll take it to my fireplace at home and burn it there in the fireplace. So I sort of take the pages out and then burn it to make sure that it gets thoroughly charred and is no longer recognizable as script.
In the Islamic tradition, it’s the Arabic that is really considered the authentic, original scripture. The very early scripture of the Qur’an—when it was first collated and put into a binding there were a lot of loose papers around, and this was about 1,400 years ago. The first companions of Muhammad, led under the leadership of the third caliph, Uthman, actually instructed the followers to take all of those pages and burn them, and so that kind of set the precedent as to what should be done. If you burn it, it destroys the word, the ink on the paper. It’s no longer perceptible, and so therefore it is no longer scripture. It’s just ashes at that point.
ABERNETHY: For Muslims, according to Jihad Turk, when done with the proper intent the burning of a damaged or worn out Qur,an is in no way disrespectful. The specific paper and ink may be gone, he says, but the sacred word of God endures. " http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes...
Yes burning the Korans is the proper way to dispose of them
Read the article DAILY BEAST/12 Killed in Quran Protests
<>
Newt Gingrich is right and Amb. Bolton is wrong this time. We should be getting
out of Afghanistan. Bolton's argument that we need to be there to keep the
Taliban in check because it's in American interests is silly. We're not keeping
the Taliban in check and we can't stay there forever. Not one more drop of
American blood should be shed. We have come as close to accomplishing the
original mission as we can. Al Quaida has options for bases all over the world
and our occupying Afghanistan is a distraction.
The religious zealots of
Islam don't want an apology. They want revenge. It's like accidently stepping in
a red ant bed...never mind it was inadvertent...they will attack you and
continue to do so as long as you stand there. Who believes it's possible to
appease a people who react with the mentality of insects?
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/U.S. Troops Killed in Quran Backlash
<>
These killings are senseless crimes. People in the Middle East are allowed to
burn down churches, suicide bombers to bomb another sect's mosque, throw acid in
girls' faces for attending school, etc. The list of atrocities continues. The US
needs to stop apologizing to the Middle East, get out of their countries, stop
giving ALL aid, and conduct targeted drone strikes only to protect our country.
We give billions of dollars each year to countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan
and end up sponsoring more terrorism. Enough is enough!
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/U.S. Troops Killed in Quran Backlash
<>
While the entire incident is most unfortunate, especially in the context of the
intended desecration of the Koran in Florida last year, a particularly
disturbing aspect is the rush to judgement by the current administration in
Washington to " ... take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to
include holding accountable those responsible." The political left is
embarrassed by the mere fact of our military and some will use every opportunity
to denigrate the institution. In just a few years we are on our way from being
the only "super power" to an also-ran on the world stage, fostered in part by
the politics of apology.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/U.S. Troops Killed in Quran Backlash
Athens Burns with Rage Against Austerity Bill
Athens Riots February 2012 - Photo: RealDemocracyGreece
Do you really think that 10 million Greek people are lazy, and paid without working? This is very humiliating for all of us who live and work in this country… Many of us have studied VERY hard, we have earned recognition in Universities all over the world including UK and USA, and we are law-abiding, tax-paying citizens just like our fathers who have built this country after the German occupation robbed it off everything it had…the gold, the livelihoods but mainly the millions of dead it left behind…
I would like to kindly offer some information regarding the “huge” salaries some of you mention. I don’t know if this “cleaning lady who receives 4000 Euros X16” as someone in this forum has written actually exists… but if true this is most certainly an exception…
Now here is something that is true: I am a medical doctor (with Masters and PhD) working in a public hospital with a one year contract. My salary is 1300 Euros/month, for 8 hours/day X 12 months)(down from 1700 Euros in 2009). I am also paid 98 Euros for 16 hours overtime when I am on call on a weekday (working in the hospital, one doctor for a whole department). If I work on a Saturday this is 135 Euros for 24 hours. These numbers are expected to go further down by approximately 20%. The documents to support these are available to anyone not convinced…and by the way… no “under the table payments” are an option for the vast majority of my colleagues who feverishly have fought against the few violators of the Hippocratic Oath.
Want more truths? Most pensioners, have worked for more than 30 years, sometimes in harsh jobs, in the industry, in shops, in the public sector elsewhere and their pension is not more than 700-800 Euros…now this is down to 400-500 Euros…people cannot possibly survive…sure there are exceptions…but they are not the RULE!
HOWEVER….all Greeks are not equally to blame…politicians and their “clientele” CERTAINLY ARE… the majority of them have indeed consumed a lot of money that was not theirs…AND it is towards them that the anger of the Greek people is turned…even just two years ago they kept “feeding” the Greek people with lies…
One the other hand there are millions of hard working, decent, honest people, who have struggled to survive numerous disasters like the destruction of Minor Asia (where my grandparents arrived from poor orphans), WWII, a civil war, a dictatorship…
European politicians but mostly European citizens should STOP humiliating a country and its people (referring to it as cancer!!!)…not because they are going to be revenged…BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT INJUSTICE…
Read the article REUTERS/Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns
<>
We should all be learning from what is currently taking place in Europe. Rather than denigrating the Greeks we should be focused on what can be done to mitigate the unfortunate fate that awaits nearly all of what we affectionately call the “developed” world. Greece is just a preview of the coming disaster. We all have mountains of debt and aging populations with the associated impossible levels of unfunded liabilities.
The worldwide deleveraging that must occur is going to be painful no matter what course of action is pursued. Some choices are more prudent than others but those are also the ones most likely to be avoided by the self absorbed, intellectually challenged, ethically bankrupt hoard that is the political class. Keep your eye on Greece. They are the window to our future.
Read the article REUTERS/Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns
<>
Can people that are so insulting against Greek people take a minute and THINK? Do they really believe that ALL Greeks are equally to blame? Do they believe that the over one million out of work are having fun? Do you really believe that salary earners and pensioners in Greece that end up loosing 50-60% of their purchasing power within 18 months with worst to come are dancing in the beaches drinking ouzo?
Do they believe that the 50% unemployed youth up to the age of 24 are responsible for their situation and they deserve sarcasm and ridicule? And finally do they believe that the alarmingly growing number of primary school children that faint in the school because they are starving deserve their indifference and contempt? Greek people have made mistakes (we ALL do) but the real crimes have been committed by the politicians and their cronies AND, in certain cases, by Europeans that were doing ‘business’ with them.
But,do you REALLY believe that whatever mistakes of the ordinary Greeks (basically electing the wrong politicians) are more grave than, for example, what our friends Germans did during WW2? They were not punished, we all helped them (total war reparations never paid from Germany to Greece are equal to the second bail-out loan to Greece), they worked hard and efficiently, they succeeded. We are all members of the European UNION. What about a little solidarity with and respect for the suffering Greek people? Keep your sarcasm and attacks for our incompetent and rotten political system. Right now, they are our main enemy too.
Read the article REUTERS/Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns
<>
It was a "crucial step" towards qualifying for the second "programme", but not the final step
Only to be expected I suppose. This is what blackmailers always do. Move the goalposts when you give them what they want.
The Greek government were expected to sign off on a deal that enslaves a whole generation in less than 24 hours to the accompaniment of wails of exasparation from the Troika of lenders they were dragging their feet in 'typical Greek fashion' (when will Europe ever break away from this lethal stereotyping?). But now that they are doing the same, they are 'just being careful'
As a Greek citizen who is now too traumatised by the whole thing to even turn the television on, I agree with the previous poster. Come on Euro. Hurry up and die and just give us a break. We can't take any more
Read the article GUARDIAN/Greece's hopes for quick bailout agreement dashed
Debt Riots in Athens - Watch on Al Jazeera
Time for Greece to do an Iceland methinks...
They were completely bankrupt 5 years ago but refused to play ball and seem to have re-invented their economy. Doesn't matter how many bailouts Greece gets, a whole generation is being thrown on the scrap heap and there is no guarantee whatsoever that the medicine is going to work.
Read the article GUARDIAN/Greece's hopes for quick bailout agreement dashed
<>
First off, by comparing Greece to Iceland, you are comparing apples to oranges.
The Greek population stands at 11.3 million (2011), while the population of
Iceland is merely 318,000 (2011).
The Icelandic crisis was perpetrated
by the difficulties faced by the 3 major commercial banks in refinancing their
short-term debt (in excess of €50 billion) in the UK. However, the Iceland govt.
was swift to act by taking over the domestic operations of the three banks,
utilizing the financial aid from IMF and by applying for EU membership, thus
reassuring the world of the credibility of the country.
Picture Greece
now. The Greek government was the clear culprit right from the start. In
addition to not meeting its debt obligations, the Greek government also
misreported the country's economic condition repeatedly. Successive Greek
governments customarily run large deficits to finance public sector jobs,
pensions, and other social benefits. Not just that, the citizens were evading
taxes that cost the govt. $20B per year. To compound the matters further for
Greece, the country is a member of eurozone, hence it cannot unilaterally
stimulate its economy with strong monetary policies (unlike
Iceland).
While Iceland and its citizens took immediate measure to
resolve the crisis, the Greeks (govt. and citizens) took the exact opposite
approach.
Greece is socialist, Iceland is not. Socialism is the real
"economy killer".
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/Greece Passes Sweeping Cuts
<>
I like how the Europeans always act as if someone has victimized them. The cause
of their unsustainable debt is always the EU, America, or evil bankers who
tricked them into assuming debt.
Th hear a European tell it, debt has
never been caused by their liberal socialism, unions or irresponsible
over-spending
Cry all they like, the world will enjoy watching Greece
enter its latest round of hyperinflation, followed by Italy, Spain and Portugal.
And if Obama sees a second term the US will join them.
Only the Germans
seem to know what's coming - but that's because 80 years ago they were burning
1,000,000,000,000 mark notes to stay warm.
Yes, the people bear the ultimate responsibility but they are no more than
willing dupes. Most folks don’t even know there are being gamed. They believe
all of the propaganda that’s thrown at them in government schools and reinforced
by media. It’s easy see why they are upset when all of the promises made by the
ruling class turn out to be lies. I’ll still save my ultimate scorn for the
politicians and their cronies who created the system. They do know better and
willingly participate in fraud for their own gain.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/Greece Passes Sweeping Cuts
<>
Ah, more bad political theater. They need to pass this "austerity budget" to get
funding, so they will pass it. But they will never enact it; at best 10% of the
cuts will be made, and likely far less than that.
The entire Greek
economy is now founded on govt spending. There is very little private sector
left, and much of what there is is still dependent on the govt (e.g.,
infrastructure spending). If they start slashing govt spending, they will simply
destroy what little wealth they have left and the few entrepreneurs left will
leave. Not to mention that the govt will be quickly overthrown.
The
challenge for Greece, as it has been for many years, as it is also for many
other European nations, is to revitalize the private sector. They need to
encourage entrepreneurship, and unshackle those willing to take risks. It is
anathema to their current models, where govt is in complete control.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/Greece Passes Sweeping Cuts
<>
The Greeks have known for 5 years that a "margin call" was on the way. The problem is the Greek way of doing business that essentially freezes out any type of foreign or for that matter domestic investment. Add to that many of the generous social safety net programs that exist there that have never been sustainable for a country like Greece and you have what is happening now. From a business point of view, the Germans should go for a haircut on the debt because the Greeks cannot repay what is owed even at 100% taxation. Essentially what is happening right now is that Greece has lost any real sovereignty. I don't care if you are a conservative or liberal, if your government cedes your effective sovreignty and independence you are going to riot.
Read the article DAILY BEAST/Riots Rock Athens
<>
Greek democracy, the cradle of democracy...but if you do not vote the party line, you get ousted...I love it.
Read the article DAILY BEAST/Riots Rock Athens
<>
The money or debt does not really exist, other than in promissory notes or bonds. There is nothing of any value behind these financial instruments. However, it is important for the banking system to keep any debts alive and on their respective books, not because they want the money repaid, but because on the strength of the debt on their books they can generate 10 times that value of new money or debt. The money simply does not exist and never has existed and this house of cards will tumble sooner or later. So if the Greeks or any country or individual formally refuses to repay or acknowledge a debt, then the lending bank not only has to lose the debt from that specific loan, but also has to repay the original debt plus 10 times the original debt back to the central bank or from whoever the bank borrowed the original money in the first place.
So if the Greek default on 1 billion, then the lenders have to find 10 billion in order to clear their books. It’s called fractional banking and is at the heart of the debt epidemic in the world, not just Greece or Europe in general.
Read the article DAILY BEAST/Riots Rock Athens
<>
Oh please. I love how cockroaches all come out when bad things happen around the world. This will not happen to America so stop trying to scare everyone. As for Greece, they need to realize that without a bailout they will lose even more. Loss of Euro membership will make borrowing near impossible. If they dont cut costs then they will need to print their own currency to pay bills. Inflation will ensue. Value of goods will plummet. Property values will plummet. Foreign investors will simply waltz in and buy out everything. The Greeks will own nothing. Power will go back to the investors as they take over government and security. Greece is back to square one. Weve seen this scenario play out dozens of times in “cut off” countries in the middle east and in africa. It never ends well. With the bailout they will at least remain a part of the developed world and they can keep leeching off of the germany as they have in the past.
Read the article REUTERS/Greece still to convince Europe over rescue deal
<>
Greece has two principal problems to solve. Paying off the mountain of debt it has already accumulated and living within its means going forward. For all the austerity measures adopted thus far, they still are not living within their means, so instead of being able to chip away at their accumulated debt, they have succeeded only at decreasing the rate of debt accumulation.
Now, everyone must pay the price for this foolishness. The Greek people must now accept the fact that the lifestyle they have become used to has been financed with money they did not have and cannot repay. Those who lent the money must now accept the fact that they will not be repaid. All of us must accept the fact that we created this situation, either by believing the fantasy that one plus one equalled five, electing politicians who believed it, or both. As a result, the economic pie we all depend upon has become smaller.
Read the article REUTERS/Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns
Syntagma Square Demonstration - Wikipedia
Syria: Hammer Falls on Homs as Diplomacy Falters
Amateur video screen capture purports to show people outside a hospital in Homs, Syria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. via SNN/Shaam News Network/Facebook
I find myself in an uneasy position that leaves me few options but to take sides. I am not sure that after Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and other places the US Secretary of State has the moral right to criticize what other states do. The situation in Syria is abysmal. No matter what the UN would do, violence would still reign supreme there and the civil war that is already raging would erupt with new force, driven either by the militants who would have been emboldened by a UN resolution and a promise of support by the West, or by the government who is using the veto situation now to its own advantage.
I have seen photographs portraying little children with flags in places of conflict. Did they chose to stand there with flags to get themselves killed? I doubt it. Do we want to create another Libya where violence continues unabated? Why do we promote regime changes in places like Syria, but not in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain? One get a strong impression that these changes are driven by politics, not humanitarianism. I also think that the world is a mess and the US is not making it any better, only worse.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
U.S. Embassy in Syria Halts Operations as Violence Flares
<>
Read the article AL-ARABIYA/Obama asks Assad to ‘step aside,’ condemns mass murder in Homs
<>
When there is widespread criminality and corruption in a society,and when
freedom and democracy can lead to more discrimination and persecution it isn`t
always the best result.
Russia and China may have valid concerns that Assads
fall may lead to widespread anarchy.By vetoing Russia and China may be going for
the oil but they do have different experiences and a different perspective to
the west.
Read the article BBC/Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN
<>
When NATO and the Libyan Rebels were bombarding Sirte a large town in Libya,
there was no discussion of civilian deaths, although Sirte was reduced to
rubble. Russia and China both said they wouldn't allow NATO to repeat this
elsewhere under the pretense of UN sanctions to protect "civilians".
Read the article BBC/Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN
<>
Britain had its civil war. America had its civil war. Nobody
interfered.
Leave Syria to sort itself out.
If there's anything the
Arab spring has showed us is that non-interference is best. Painful
yes.
Syria is a sovereign country and entitled to sort out its mess. The
West nor the Arab League has any right to say who rules and who doesn't. The
majority in Syria support the present regime.
Read the article BBC/Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN
<>
Read the article AL-ARABIYA/Obama asks Assad to ‘step aside,’ condemns mass murder in Homs
Assad with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev whilst on a visit to Sochi in August 2008./Wikipedia
Today's veto may turn out to be a tragedy for Syria. But, before condemning
Russia and China, we must remember that these countries were misled in '02 over
Iraq, whilst the West greatly exceeded it's Libya mandate in 2011.
Theres an old saying, 'Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if
you fool me twice'.
Maybe the UK and French govs should see if the blame
lies closer to home.
Read the article BBC/Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN
<>
To the Anti-US posters here:
You can call the US hypocritical.
You can say we could only make the situation worse.
You can say the US has ulterior motives.
Point taken! The US is impure. I know.
But anywhere from 4,000 to 7,000(!) innocent civilians who dream of democracy have being shot through the head and back by the Assad regime in one year. Any person with a soul should be physically ill by the thought of what is happening in Syria. We should be asking ourselves, "What can we do, as a nation, to stop this violence?" I don't know the answer, but let me tell you one thing. Covering our eyes and ears is not a good answer.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
U.S. Embassy in Syria Halts Operations as Violence Flares
<>
NATO, with other Arab nations was able to keep wholesale slaughter from happening in Libya. History will tell whether we were right to join in and help, but the Libyans must decide what their future holds, just as in Egypt and Tunisia. We have learned at least that much from Iraq. It will be nasty and messy. Our own history tells us that. We went on to annihilated indigenous populations while the world watched, after we threw off our masters. What has happened in these countries must be viewed through an historical lens. One that few here understand or are interested enough to learn about.
The US may have been operating covertly, but so has Russia and others. The plight of Syrians and others in the neighborhood is more about an old culture facing a new paradigm aided by intellectual freedoms that have been much influenced by the internet and social media. Our meddling is but one small factor in a changing Middle East. The Arab world is breaking out of a mold the West has tried for decades to keep contained for its advantage. We may influence, but most certainly cannot control the outcome.
The same folks, who are screaming about our currant policy, cheered the foreign policy disasters of Bush. Real change takes time. In our 24 hour sound bite news cycle, we expect overnight change that in reality takes years or decades.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
U.S. Embassy in Syria Halts Operations as Violence Flares
Syria - Derivative map via WIkipedia
