Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Greenspan Blames Bush for Subprime Credit Crunch / Politics / Credit Crunch
Alan Greenspan's appearance on 60 Minutes was preceded with all the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding. The public relations blitz dragged out for a whole week.
What profound truisms would the elusive former-fed master divulge to the News Magazine's withered-coquette, Leslie Stahl? Would he produce his crystal ball and forecast America's blurry economic future in mangled Fed-speak? Or would he focus on the startling gyrations in the stock market and the “frothy” conditions in the slumping housing market? The suspense was nearly unbearable.
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Monday, September 17, 2007
Who is Putin Rooting for to be the Next Russian President? / Politics / Russia
The recent sacking of the Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov, was perhaps less of a surprise than President Putin's choice to replace him. Fradkov was also an unusual selection when he was appointed to the position, and his profile has been so low he was almost invisible.Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, September 17, 2007
Middle East Madness - Occupation of Iraq and Plans to Attack Iran / Politics / Middle East
Administration rhetoric is heated and the dominant media keep trumpeting it. It signals war with Iran of the "shock and awe" kind - intensive, massive and maybe with nuclear weapons. Plans are one thing, action another, and how things play out, in fact, won't be known until the fullness of time that may not be long in coming. For now, waiting and guessing games continue, and one surmise is as good as another. The more threatening they are, the less likely they'll happen, or at least it can be hoped that's so.Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Greenspan : Iraq War Was for Oil - The Age of Turbulence / Politics / US Politics
Former Fed Chairman, Alan Greenspan states that the Iraq War was for primarily for Oil.
You may ask why is Greenspan now some 4 years after the invasion of Iraq making such statements ?
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Saturday, September 15, 2007
Harakiri - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Resignation / Politics / Japan Economy
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe finally resigned, apparently unable to withstand the pressure from the anti-reform factions of his party. It looks like he walked into the trap after promoting a lot of anti-reform party members to key positions in the cabinet in the last government reshuffling.Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, September 14, 2007
USAF Stand Down on September 14 and a “Broken Arrow” Missing Nuclear Warhead? / Politics / Iran
Although there is very little news available from the mainstream media concerning the stand down by the USAF this Friday, some areas of the internet are positively buzzing about the decision and the possibility of a “Broken Arrow”
For those of you who saw the 1996 film (or are not familiar with the term already), a “Broken Arrow” refers to a missing nuclear device.
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Friday, September 14, 2007
War on Terror, Iraq, Psychology and Time / Politics / Iraq War
This week in a Special Outside the Box, George Friedman of Stratfor reflects upon September 11th, a monumental date in our country's history. George strives to discern the current and future ramifications of US military presence in the Orient, posits what - if any - reasoning stands to support and drive Osama Bin Laden's underlying motives and actions, and the impact the tragic event and our response have upon the American psyche.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Iraq Troop Surge and US-Iran Policy Dynamics / Politics / Iran
In crude and brutal societies, the Party Line is publicly proclaimed, and it must be obeyed, or else. What you believe is your own business, of lesser concern. In societies where the state has lost the capacity to control by force, the Party Line is not proclaimed. Rather, it is presupposed, and then vigorous debate is encouraged within the limits imposed by unstated doctrinal orthodoxy.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
New Osama bin Laden Video – Is this a joke? / Politics / Middle East
It has been claimed that this is the first appearance of Osama bin Laden (in a new video) since 2004, although his voice has apparently been heard on a tape more recently. As most will clearly see at a glance, his beard shows no sign of grey hairs anymore (the result of dye we are told), and seems to be more curly/bushy than before. There are of course other facial differences, like the position of his ears, mouth and eyebrows, and if I am not mistaken, his nose looks like it belongs to a boxer who has been on the receiving end of far too many punches! Talking of boxers, can anyone else see a resemblance to Rocky Balboa?Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sept 11th Video Address - Bin Laden's Final Call To Islam / Politics / Middle East
The anniversary address of Osama bin Laden to mark the attacks of September 11th should be raising alarm bells; however, the Department of Homeland Security is not issuing any new warnings, and instead seems focused on ramping up security for airliners as if to prevent the attack of six years ago.Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Macro Musings: The Dogs of War / Politics / Russia
Invisible transfers and long distance calls Hollow laughter in marble halls Steps have been taken, a silent uproar Has unleashed the dogs of war... -- Pink Floyd, Dogs of WarRead full article... Read full article...
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Painful 9/11 Truth / Politics / US Politics
Many technical analyses cast doubt on the official explanation of the collapse of three World Trade Center buildings, including those presented by an impressive new group: Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth. More difficult than discovering the truth, however, is convincing most of the public to accept the bitter truth.Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, September 03, 2007
CIA Faked Photos Helped Lead US to Invade Iraq / Politics / Iraq War
Add faked photos to the list of lies told by the Bush–Cheney Administration before its invasion of Iraq.
In a town hall meeting in Bloomsburg, Pa., this week, Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a 12-term congressman, said that shortly before Congress was scheduled to vote on authorizing military force against Iraq, top officials of the CIA showed select members of Congress three photographs it alleged were Iraqi Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones. Kanjorski said he was told that the drones were capable of carrying nuclear, biological, or chemical agents, and could strike 1,000 miles inland of east coast or west coast cities.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
US Iraq War Policy "Intellectually Bankrupt" / Politics / Iraq War
In a scathing attack on Donald Rumsfeld and the US failed policy of invasion and occupation of Iraq by the former head of the British Army in Iraq, General Sir Mike Jackson stated :Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, August 31, 2007
Labor Day Hypocrisy / Politics / Social Issues
Labor Day is commemorated on the first Monday in September each year since the first one was celebrated in New York in 1882. Around the world outside the US, socialist and labor movements are observed on May 1 to recognize organized labor's social and economic achievements and the workers in them. This day gets scant attention in the US, but where it's prominent it's commonly to remember the Haymarket Riot of May 4, 1886 in Chicago. It followed the city's May 1 general strike for an eight hour day that led to violence breaking out on the 4th.Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Case Against Nuclear Fission / Politics / Energy Resources
“… Iran 's active pursuit of technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust. Iran 's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere."Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The War on Working Americans - Part I / Politics / US Politics
As Labor Day approaches, what better time to assess the state of working America. It's under assault and weakened by decades of eroding rights in the richest country in the world once regarded as a model democratic state. It's pure nonsense in a nation always dedicated to wealth and power, but don't try finding that discussed in the mainstream. Today, it's truer than ever making the struggle for equity and justice all the harder. That's what ordinary working people now face making beating those odds formidable at the least.Read full article... Read full article...
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Open Letter to Congressman Ron Paul / Politics / US Politics
Sir,
Arising from a recent interview which I enjoyed with Pat Gorman of Wake Up America at Free Mark et News Network, your name has been brought to my attention many times in the past couple of weeks.
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
VOTE NOW - Rate Your NHS GP Doctor Surgery Service / Politics / NHS
Every other week, results of independent studies reveal that Britain's NHS right from the GP surgeries straight to hospital wards delivers extremely poor value for money.Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Aging US Infrastructure / Politics / US Politics
The recent and tragic bridge collapse in Minnesota raises many questions in Americans' minds about our aging infrastructure, and what is being done to maintain it. Questions such as: "Was I-35 an isolated accident or are we approaching days when crumbling bridges and bursting pipes will be regular features on the evening news?"Read full article... Read full article...