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Monthly Archives: February 2012
Europe continues to Fiddle — while Syrians die and Greece burns
The G20 sent Europe a message this weekend — you’re on your own. Europe was asked to provide for its own future by financing its own stability mechanism; the IMF is not going to use US or Chinese money to … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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A Little Pressure, A Lack of Leadership
France and Britain came out strongly today to press Syria for a cease-fire, following the deaths of journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik, and severe injuries to three other western journalists due to shelling in the city of Homs. European … Continue reading
Beware of Germans bearing Gifts
The Greek tragedy drags on, with subplots and anguish worthy of Euripides. Having taken extreme measures to reign in government spending and raise revenues, the Greek government expects to be rewarded with 130 billion Euros in aid. Yet now the … Continue reading
No Help For Syria
America’s chief military officer, head of the chiefs of staff, repeated a familiar refrain on Sunday. It is not yet time to arm the Syrian opposition, he said. That opposition is too divided, and can not yet be trusted to … Continue reading
Posted in The Middle East Revolts
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Can we allow Syrian genocide?
Hama. Srebrenica. Rwanda. Darfur. Homs? Will the world again watch and wring its hands while a dictator massacres innocent civilians? Bashar al-Assad seems determined to repeat his father’s actions and put down opposition with terrorizing levels of violence. Will he … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Global Warming (and Freezing)
Here in Europe (I’m in the Netherlands this weekend), it feels like the “Little Ice Age” — a period of sustained freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls in the 17th century — has returned. Large parts of Europe that don’t usually … Continue reading
Posted in The Global Economy, U.S. Politics
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Greece crashes, Syria burns
These are dispiriting days in Europe. I am in the Hague today, meeting with the foreign ministry. There is a sense of distress, and sadness. The latest economic figures from Greece show a massive decline in output, jobs, and tax … Continue reading
What is Russia Doing In Syria?
The vetoes by Russia and China at the U.N. Security Council, cast to forestall possible action against Bashar al-Assad in Syria, were a major disappointment. But is Russia simply going to prop up Assad? I do not think so. The … Continue reading
Romney’s big win?
Mitt Romney’s ‘big win’ in Florida tells us very little. It reinforces what everyone outside of South Carolina already knew – that Newt Gingrich is not electable in a national campaign. In a contest that showed off Gingrich’s inability to … Continue reading
