Monthly Archives: February 2012

Europe continues to Fiddle — while Syrians die and Greece burns

Posted on February 27, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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A Little Pressure, A Lack of Leadership

Posted on February 23, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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Beware of Germans bearing Gifts

Posted on February 20, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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No Help For Syria

Posted on February 20, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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Can we allow Syrian genocide?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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Global Warming (and Freezing)

Posted on February 11, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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Greece crashes, Syria burns

Posted on February 10, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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What is Russia Doing In Syria?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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Romney’s big win?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by jackgoldstone

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 →

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