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11:28:01 05/25/12
Shields v. Rockets: a New 21st Century Arms Race is On!
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 11:28:01 05/25/12
I’m making the call: a brand new 21st century arms race is on! The US and Russia are returning to their old Cold War mentalities by escalating competing defensive and offensive capabilities. Announced earlier this week, the US/NATO missile defense shield is now operable in Europe, which pisses off the Ruskies, who in turn tested a new type of faster sleeker missile to be able to penetrate the shield. Team West is planning massive increases in their missile shield development, and Russia promises massive increases in their offensive capabilities to render the shield useless. Yay! Massive arms spending between powers that have virtually no chance of actually ever attacking each other! A total win for defense industries everywhere! Sorry taxpayers, you will have to flip the bill for the fun!
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Keywords: US, Russia, Europe, NATO, missile defense shield, SM-3, rocket, radar, satellites, X-band, Turkey, AEGIS, warship, Patriot missile, ICBM, Kura, Kamchatka, Iskander, Belarus, Kaliningrad, Black Sea
2 Views
17:15:45 05/20/12
Frenchie President to Foil Status Quo
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 17:15:45 05/20/12
France elected a new President a few weeks ago, and its not just a change of faces but a full change of attitude, policies, and direction for the Fifth Republic. Left-of-center, socialist President François Hollande took office on May 15th, and has been on a flurry of global functions ever since, including now hanging out in the US for the G-8 Summit followed by a NATO Summit. The Professor discussed some of the big policy changes that are already occurring due to this political shift from right to left in France, including economic policy favoring spending, Eurobonds, and the pulling out of French troops from Afghanistan, and perhaps NATO leadership too!
Keywords: G-8, NATO, fiscal stimulus, Euro-bonds, economic crisis, Afghanistan, French troops
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23:19:24 05/14/12
Russia Tilts East by Double-Dissing the West!
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 23:19:24 05/14/12
Vladimir Putin is back in the saddle of the Russian presidency, and one of his first moves involved a double-diss throw down on the US! He refused to attend the big G-8 Summit being hosted in the US! What is up with that? Plenty my friends, and it’s not all about the US either. Putin’s moves reflect a tilt way from the Team West dominated G-8 and NATO groups, and towards grander relationships with Asia and specifically China. Learn all the details of the double-diss here and the deeper meaning behind them.
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Vladimir Putin skips G8 summit, sends Medvedev
Putin flexes muscle in shunning US-hosted G8 talks
US nuke upgrade to trigger new arms race with Russia?
Keywords: Russia, US, Putin, Medvedev, Obama, G-8, NATO, missile defense shield, SCO, Eurasian Union, China, geopolitical, Chicago, diss
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16:06:35 04/27/12
Sayonara to Okinawa!
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 16:06:35 04/27/12
9000 US Marines are about to say “so long!” to Okinawa, Japan…from a much-contested US military base that has been a source of friction between these two allies for decades. In this podcast, the Professor sets the Okinawa stage of background for this saga, and more importantly discusses where these 9000 US Marines are likely to be going to—which is signaling a significant shift in priorities for the US military here in the 21st century. So, goodbye Japan, and hello US allies in the South China Sea!
Keywords: Okinawa, Japan, US, military, Marines, Futenma, airbase, Pacific, Asia, Guam, Hawaii, South Korea, South China Sea, Australia, Philippines, WW2, China, Indonesia, Vietnam
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16:20:51 04/21/12
Tsunami of Change Hitting Burma!
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 16:20:51 04/21/12
Sometimes the news can be good news! The historic April 1st election in Burma that saw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy win 43/45 parliamentary seats is being hailed as the first free and fair elections for 50 years! And it has caused a flurry of international activity from the US, the UK, the EU, Japan, and the world. Check out all the awesome details of the whirlwind of change in just the last 20 days! Viva democracy! Viva Aung San Suu Kyi!
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Japan to write off Myanmar debt in thumbs-up for reform
Myanmar president to visit Friday with resumption of aid in the offing
Burma activists say go slow on easing sanctions
David Cameron lauds Aung San Suu Kyi as he arrives in Burma
Keywords: Burma, NLD, National League for Democracy, US, UK, EU, sanctions, Japan, debt forgiveness, Jim Webb, Virginia, democracy
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21:17:58 04/15/12
US Screws Self at Summit of Americas
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 21:17:58 04/15/12
The 6th Summit of the Americas just wrapped up in Cartagena, Colombia…and it could not have been more of a debacle for the United States! President Obama went to this grand meeting of the leaders of all the countries of the Americas (minus Cuba!) in order to rebuild bridges and ties after decades of US apathy towards Latin America. He failed. The status of Cuba, the miserable Drug War in the Americas, and even a US Secret Service scandal involving hookers has perhaps widened the gap between the US and the rest of the hemisphere. No bueno!!!
Keywords: Summit of Americas, US, Latin America, OAS, Organization of American States, Drug War, Cuba, legalization, decriminalization, embargo, Secret Service, Colombia
2 Views
21:35:13 04/01/12
The GCC: the Arab Power Place to Be!
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 21:35:13 04/01/12
Big news unfolding on the Arabian Peninsula concerning what is shaping up to be a major power player in Middle Eastern action for the 21st century: the GCC! That’s right, the little known Gulf Cooperation Council just had an official joint meeting with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to discuss how this small band of 6 Arab states will likely become a major arm of power in the region, as the US is selling them butt-loads of arms and even promised a missile defense shield to the group! A much more potent player than the larger and unruly Arab League, this GCC group is the one to watch for possible moves against Iran, or even one of their own in Syria! Find out more about it here!
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Clinton pledges 'rock-solid' commitment to GCC
Keywords: GCC, Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Abdullah, US, Clinton, missile defense shield, arms, Turkey, Syria, Iran, common military
2 Views
20:27:10 03/27/12
Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul!
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 20:27:10 03/27/12
Knock out the nukes! Well, at least the nuke weapons and random nuke materials floating around the planet! That is the new mission of the recently founded Nuclear Security Summit, which just convened it second meeting in Seoul, South Korea. Over 50 leaders of the world’s most powerful states got together to discuss how to make the world more secure from the threat of nuclear terrorism. Listen as the Professor rants about the structure of the NPT, the role of the IAEA, and what/why/how this Nuclear Security Summit will be playing into the future of nuclear nuances around the globe.
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Keywords: Nuclear Security Summit, NPT, Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency, US, George Schultz, Russia, P5, South Korea, North Korea, Iran, nuclear material, plutonium, uranium, medical isotopes, terrorism
2 Views
15:18:51 03/14/12
Mexico is Making the Major Leagues!
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 15:18:51 03/14/12
What do an Indian businessman, the world’s richest man, and Will Ferrell all have in common? MEXICO man! Forget that outdated stereotype in your brain about Mexico being a drug-infested, backwater underbelly of the US….this place has tremendous promise for the immediate future, and a whole variety of things are happening there right now that underscores its growing importance in the world. In this “in the filed” report from the SxSW conference in Austin, Texas, the Professor points out how business, technology, and even popular culture in Mexico are showing its potential as a powerhouse player in the Americas and the world, despite drug war problems and negative imagery ingrained in the average American’s mind about our neighbors to the south. Vamanos! Let’s learn!
Keywords: Mexico, Will Ferrell, Carlos Slim, business, culture, Spanish, US, cartel wars, economy
2 Views
09:03:14 03/06/12
Zie German Economic Juggernaut
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 09:03:14 03/06/12
Was ist das? Germany is bailing out Greece, and will likely have to bail out other failing EU countries too? Why Germany, and not France or the UK? Oh, that’s because Germany has the most dynamic, vibrant, growing, powerhouse, awesome economy of Europe and the 4th largest economy in the world! In this plaid rant, the Avenger points out a slew of reasons why the German economic machine rocks, including their manufacturing emphasis, their education model which promotes skilled labor, their fiscal and monetary savvy, and even the role of the Euro in their economic success story….a story that will go on into the foreseeable future, even as other European economies fall by the wayside. Ich bin ein Berliner! Ja, ja!
Keywords: Germany, economy, manufacturing, exports, industrial, industry, services, fiscal policy, Euro, Deutschmark, European Central Bank, education, skilled labor, family-owned businesses, steel, autos, solar and wind technologies
2 Views
13:01:19 03/05/12
Election Rejection!!!
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 13:01:19 03/05/12
2012 is a big election year…everywhere! The Professor takes a brief world tour to catch you up on the hot spots of political power transition happening right now across the planet.Russians are at the polls today to likely re-elect Vladimir Putin; a presidential run-off is in play in Senegal; Iran just wiped out political support for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; Nicolas Sarkozy of France is getting ready to be trounced; and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is a big question mark as a second round of cancer treatment calls into question his ability to stand again for office. Democratic change is afoot, Watson!
Keywords: Elections, democracy, Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, Russia, Iran, France, socialist, Venezuela
2 Views
21:46:03 02/29/12
Un-Kim Un-Nukes an Un-Fed North Korea?
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 21:46:03 02/29/12
In tune with the Leap Year calendar, the North Korean leadership has a moment of sanity about every four years, and today is the day for both these events to unfold! How so? Kim Jong-Un’s North Korea has just brokered a deal with the US to have a moratorium on their nuclear program and to allow in IAEA inspectors, in exchange for food. This deal may or may not amount to anything given the psychotic history of the Hermit Kingdom, but the Professor points out several things that are of interest nonetheless, including: a possible new strategy for the Un-Kim regime; the re-start of the 6-Party; and how this move puts pressure on Iran. Leap it up!
Keywords: North Korea, US, China, nuclear, moratorium, starvation, food aid, 6-Party Talks, China, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Iran
3 Views
15:27:31 02/20/12
Rappers Revolt for Reform in Senegal
[LESS INFO] 3 VIEWS | ADDED 15:27:31 02/20/12
All hell is breaking loose in the small west African state of Senegal, and the revolt is led by a revolutionary rebellious posse of rappers! What is the fuss about? Unfortunately, the public-dissent-turned-violent-street protests are over an all-too-common issue in Africa: political corruption. The current 90-year old Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has gone down the path of so many other African leaders before him: changing laws and diminishing democracy in a desperate bid to cling to power at all costs after his mediocre 12 years in office…now running for an unprecedented third term, in election being held this week. This story is fascinating in its implications for maturing democracies in Africa, as well as the true power that music and rap offer to oppressed peoples everywhere. Good stuff!
Keywords: Senegal, Dakar, Africa, Abdoulaye Wade, rappers, rap, Y'en a Marre, Enough is Enough, democracy, corruption
7 Views
20:04:28 02/17/12
Syrian Situation Squeezing Iran
[LESS INFO] 7 VIEWS | ADDED 20:04:28 02/17/12
As the situation continues to spiral into bloody chaos in Syria, the regime of Bashar al-Assad is not the only party that is going to lose big when the state fully collapses into civil war: believe it or not, it’s Iran that stands to be the Biggest Loser, and I ain’t talkin’ about shedding pounds on network TV my friends! In this plaid-cast, the Professor points out multiple ways that Iran is currently getting squeezed by the international community, and how the loss of Syria, its only major ally in the region, is going to be a devastating blow to their power, influence, and status in the Middle East and possibly the wider world.
Keywords: Syria, Iran, Homs, Arab, Persian, Hormuz, nuclear weapon, Hezbollah, embargo, civil war
1 Views
13:26:46 02/11/12
Big Chill Sets in on Putin’s Russia
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 13:26:46 02/11/12
Brrrrrr…it’s getting cold out there! And for Russians, I’m not just talking about the weather! While there has been a significant cold-snap-smack-down on western Russia and Eastern Europe, this Professor rant deals more with the political, economic, and social chill that has set in on Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The western news media portray the Russian public protest against the government and upcoming elections as a simplistic anti-Putin/pro-democracy thing…but there is much more going on behind the scenes in Russia that is causing this anti-establishment chill to set in. Included in this discussion are corruption, wealth disparity, a fleeing middle class, mafia, and an un-diversified economy that together are creating a sense of hopelessness and political despondency amongst some Russian peoples. And Putin is now paying attention to the change in the Russian political climate!
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Keywords: Russia, elections, United Russia, protests, emigration, Russian economy, mafia, corruption, Russian natural resources, oligarchs, wealth disparity, brain drain
7 Views
17:00:25 02/04/12
In Other News...Filipino Forces Fry Terrorists
[LESS INFO] 7 VIEWS | ADDED 17:00:25 02/04/12
Although not widely reported or known about, the awesome archipelago known as the Philippines has been battling Islamic extremists and terrorists on their southern flank for a decade, and has been covertly assisted in this mission by their staunch ally the US. This week, a strike against camps in the remote island of Jolo resulted in the deaths of some top dudes from Abu Sayyef and Jemaah Islamiyah, and possibly involved the use of drones. Dig the Professor rant about the dudes and drones and the Philippines right here!
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Keywords: Philippines, archipelago, Ring of Fire, earthquake, Jolo, US, drone, Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Sayyef, Islamic extremists, Bali, Indonesia, CIA
05/25/12