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China's
military struts its stuff
The military took center stage on Thursday during celebrations to mark the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Significantly,
the massive parade in Beijing featured hitherto unseen advanced hardware
developed and made in China. The People's Liberation Army has been equally open
in outlining its ambitious modernization plans to make it the best fighting
force in the world. - Cristian Segura and Wu Zhong
(Oct 1, '09)
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The night Zhou was drunk under the table
While out-drinking Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, arguing over literature with Mao
Zedong's wife and sharing turkey with the Gang of Four, a young Westerner in
Beijing at the time of the Cultural Revolution was blissfully unaware of the
Moscow-style purges going on behind the scenes. - Ian Williams
(Oct 1, '09)
China maps an end to the Afghan war
A senior Chinese official has publicly put forward an unusually forthright and
timely view on the Afghanistan conflict, proposing concrete steps to be taken
towards unlocking the stalemate there. This, he argues, is an Afghan issue,
while al-Qaeda is not a big factor. Not the least important: US troops should
go home. - M K Bhadrakumar (Oct 1, '09)
A MANUFACTURED CRISIS, Part 3
The case for Iran
 Fiery
rhetoric aside, Iran's leaders are now being cautious, and their military
intentions are defensive. They know all too well how sanctions would cripple
the economy, and the Iranian people have no desire to replicate the horror of
the defensive war they waged against Iraq for most of the 1980s. - Jack A Smith
(Oct 1, '09)
This concludes a three-part report.
PART 1: The
facts of the matter
PART 2: It's
sanctions or bust
China warily watches US-Myanmar detente
Ongoing concern in Bejing over unrest near the China-Myanmar border, which led
to a mass influx of refugees into southern China, has been heightened by
diplomatic overtures by the junta to the United States. China's leaders are
suspicious of any US attempt to counter its influence in the region. - Larry
Jagan (Oct 1, '09)
Water disputes strain Turkey-Iraq
ties
Turkey sees the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which originate in its eastern
mountains, as the key to its energy needs and socio-economic development. But
its dam and irrigation projects have soured relations with drought-ridden,
downstream neighbor Iraq, which feels Turkey is strangling its precious water
supply. - Patrick Wrigley (Oct 1, '09)
Kurdish lessons leave Iraqi Arabs
cold
Iraq's Arabs and Kurds share the same country, but they know little of each
other's history and even less of each other's language. As their shared
struggle against colonial Britain drifts out of memory, internal tensions over
land and resources threaten to erupt into conflict. - Husam al-Saray
(Oct 1, '09)
THE ROVING EYE
It's bomb, bomb, bomb Iran time
Israel, sundry Sunni Arab puppet rulers and dictators, the American right and
the European right, these all fear Iran's regional clout and want to castigate
Tehran in Thursday's nuclear talks. Iran's nuclear dossier - and new
revelations about a second, not-so-secret enrichment plant - could not be a
more convenient cover story for regime change. - Pepe Escobar
(Sep 30, '09)
If Afghanistan is its test, NATO is
failing
As it celebrates its 60th birthday this year, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization is cracking, with its internal politics having become fractious to
the point of dysfunction. What was once billed as the most powerful military
alliance in history will surely outlive its failures in Afghanistan and its
adjustment to new global threats. But it may survive in name alone. - John
Feffer (Sep 30, '09)
 SINOGRAPH
A culture at ease with war
A common perception of China is that over the centuries there was a conflict
between culture and literature on the one side and military affairs on the
other. Similarly, a belief grew that China was unfit for war and an easy
pushover. An exhaustive new book tells another story, showing how the Chinese
are well prepared for opposing armies. - Francesco Sisci
(Sep 30, '09)
Damascus on a familiar road
Marking the first visit by a senior Syrian official since 2003, Deputy Foreign
Minister Faisal Miqdad was in Washington this week for high-level talks.
Damascus certainly wants an end to the sanctions imposed on it, but it has a
bigger goal in mind and one which it has steadfastly pursued - to get back the
Golan Heights. - Sami Moubayed (Sep 30, '09)
Domestic needs shape China's foreign
policy
In the past 60 years, the People's Republic of China has emerged as a serious
global economic and political contender and can now shape an international
status quo that better suits its goal of a multi-polar world. The Communist
Party's desire for a more stable world is aimed at boosting national
development efforts, as this will strengthen its own hold on power. - Tim
Summers (Sep 30, '09)
Islam as politics in Malaysia
 American
pop diva Beyonce will perform in Kuala Lumpur despite a raft of piety-tinged
controversies in recent weeks, including the sharia law sentencing of a woman
to caning for drinking alcohol in public. Issues of political Islam - somewhere
between "Western sexy" on the one hand, and jihadi terror on the other - now
weigh mightily on Malaysia's national discourse. - Simon Roughneen
(Sep 30, '09)
Off with their blinkered heads
The United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth has seen many crises in her 57 years on
the throne, adding some weight, rather than ignorance, to her question of why
nobody noticed the financial crisis coming. "Ideological blinkers" is one short
answer. Failure to heed the great economist of the 21st century is another. - Julian
Delasantellis (Sep 30, '09)
US orchestrates Pakistan-India talks
Officially, the high-level talks between Pakistan and India at the weekend did
not result in any agreement for the resumption of the stalled peace process
between the countries. Behind the scenes, though, with Washington pulling the
strings, the groundwork has already been laid for a process that could see
Islamabad and Delhi settling their differences, especially over Afghanistan. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Sep 29, '09)
Obama looks escalation in the eye
President Barack Obama faces a fateful choice over a Pentagon request for an
additional 40,000 American troops for the war in Afghanistan - an increase of
nearly 60%. Much like a turning point in the Vietnam War in 1965, the decision
will be shaped by fears in the military and the White House of being blamed for
defeat. - Gareth Porter (Sep 29, '09)
A new cold war in Kashmir
The Kashmir dispute ranks with Palestine as one of the oldest, most intractable
disputes in the world. That does not mean that it cannot be resolved. Only that
the solution will not be completely to the satisfaction of any one party, one
country, or one ideology. Negotiators will have to be prepared to deviate from
the "party line". - Arundhati Roy (Sep 29,
'09)
US takes a radical turn on
Myanmar
The announcement that the United States intends to engage with Myanmar's
generals is a stunning change of tack towards the "outpost of tyranny". Critics
question the sense of dialogue with a reportedly rights-abusing narco-state,
but the US State Department says it was the generals who sought the contact. - Brian
McCartan (Sep 29, '09)
Taiwan, China tread carefully
Although ties continue to warm, the 60-year stalemate between China and Taiwan
over the latter's sovereignty status shows no signs of breaking. For now,
Beijing and Taipei have shelved the "One Country, Two Systems" issue, focusing
instead on what they can agree on - strengthening economic ties, which are seen
as mutually beneficial. - Cindy Sui (Sep 29,
'09)
Then Marx came tumbling down ...
Officials in Moscow want a giant 
statue of Karl Marx removed from the city center, arguing he is a bad
ideological influence, and he never visited Moscow anyway. At the heart of the
issue is a deep-seated feeling of fragility, not so much of the social-economic
order, of the peculiar Russian brand of capitalism, but of the state itself. - Dmitry
Shlapentokh (Sep 29, '09)
Skewed up recovery
Surveys find that US consumers are feeling better about the economy, yet
unemployment, poverty and foreclosure facts tell a different story. The real
economic situation for the least affluent 80% of Americans continues to
decline, and real anger is building. - Max Fraad Wolff
(Sep 29, '09)
Medvedev jumps the gun on Iran
Amid the fuss over revelations of a "secret" Iranian nuclear enrichment
facility, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has veered sharply to the side of
those seeking tougher action against Tehran. He may well have been premature,
and Moscow will now have some dexterous backtracking to do. - M K Bhadrakumar
(Sep 28, '09)
Plenty to talk about on Iran
Iran, as if on cue, ahead of international talks this week on its nuclear
program, on Sunday and Monday test-fired both long-range and short-range
missiles. Coming hard on the heels of reports of a second Iranian plant to
enrich uranium, Tehran has some explaining to do. - Jim Lobe
(Sep 28, '09)
India plans all-out attack on
Maoists
New Delhi is putting the finishing touches on a huge offensive aimed at the
long-running Naxalite insurgency in India's east, with tens of thousands of
troops preparing for a coordinated assault with the air force and elite ground
units. The Naxalites, with their stranglehold on the country's critical coal
industry, are often described as India's gravest internal threat. - Siddharth
Srivastava (Sep 28, '09)
East fails to meet West for Palin
According to the United States media, former Republican vice presidential
candidate Sarah Palin's plan to re-emerge as a political force with a highly
publicized appearance at a Hong Kong conference of global investors went over
quite well. Media in the East tell a very different story. - Kent Ewing
(Sep 28, '09)
US bids to erase its Lao past
The United States has dropped charges against a 79-year-old Hmong leader and
former Central Intelligence Agency collaborator for allegedly purchasing
weapons in a plot to overthrow the government of Laos. Yet a new indictment for
the same crime has been filed against 11 other Hmong and a former US Special
Forces officer, raising questions about connections between insurgents in Laos
and their ethnic brethren in the US. - Brian McCartan
(Sep 28, '09)
 CHAN
AKYA
Running out of road
China, of all countries the best placed to mitigate an asset bubble, appears
the most concerned about the impact of government stimulus packages. Elsewhere,
the assumptions underlying hopes of better times ahead look all too flawed.
(Sep 28, '09)
Missile madness targets the money
President Barack Obama's decision to shelve plans for an anti-missile defense
system in the Czech Republic and Poland continues a decades-long, military and
political debate frequently set in terms little more sophisticated than "mine
is bigger than yours". None of it is real, except the money, which is very real
and very huge. - Julian Delasantellis (Sep
25, '09)
<IT WORLD>
India finds water on moon
India has confirmed the presence of water on the moon, which is great news for
Earth-bound people hoping to establish lunar colonies in some distant future,
but of little consolation for impoverished earth-bound farmers struggling to
stay alive in the drought-hit country. (Sep 25, '09)
Martin J Young surveys the week's developments in computing, science,
gaming and gizmos.
THE ROVING EYE
The president is in the trunk
The June 28 oligarch-directed military coup in Honduras has exposed the fallacy
of the Barack Obama administration's pledge to uphold democratic values around
the world. It unveils how helpless he is facing his subordinates at the
Pentagon and the State Department. If Obama can't even control his own
militarist backyard in Washington, not to mention Latin America, how will he
face up to Russia and China? - Pepe Escobar (Sep
24, '09)
THE MOGAMBO GURU
Sweet spots
Economic policymakers plan to leave emergency stimuluses in place as the global
economy pulls out of recession, creating a "sweet spot" for financial markets,
as if they weren't sweet enough already. That means the US Federal Reserve will
continue its unholy mission to wreck the value of the US dollar - which also
means an ever sweeter spot for gold!!! (Sep 23, '09)
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David P
Goldman
(Sep 30, '09)
The Red Bull high of government spending won't last long.
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Moscow
juggling South Stream pipe dreams
Russia is redoubling efforts to attract partners and customers for its South
Stream gas pipeline project, while the projected cost and required capacity
multiply. Yet so far, Moscow has been unable to identify any internal gas
reserves to supply the proposed system. - Vladimir Socor
SPEAKING FREELY
China's eye on
African agriculture
China is investing huge amounts in African agricultural resources, but is it
being self-interested and disadvantaging Africa or is it truly seeking to help
the continent to address its widespread hunger? The record thus far does not
support Western cries of Chinese neo-colonialism. But Africa must be on its
guard and protect its poor farmers. - Carl Rubinstein
IMF beats gold-auction drum
International Monetary Fund announcements that it well sell some of its gold
holdings will depress the price and fool some speculators and gold bugs.
Others, less emotional, will keep the metal and see it re-emerge in value, as
it must. - Antal E Fekete
FROM THE BLOG
Save, save, save
The problem is that Americans have not yet begun to save, yet the largest
retirement wave in the country's history is underway. The savings rate should
rise markedly, not least given the shock to wealth during the past year. And
for now, the increase must come out of spending. - David Goldman
CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
From bear to bear
No analyst wishes to be associated with the term "permabear". Yet with no sign
of monetary discipline, with economies awash with trillions of unsustainable
and unconstructive government credit, and the prospect of worse credit
dislocation ahead, the "bear" label must stay for some time yet.
(Sep 28, '09)
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
MARKET RAP
Shanghai losing sparkle
Shanghai stocks are losing some of their sparkle, with investors very aware of
sagging world commodity markets and the prospect of new share sales. Either may
pass, but darker clouds threaten here and around the region.
(Sep 25, '09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
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"[Iran's] universities are currently the centers of resistance somewhat akin to
the anti-Vietnam War protests of the late '60s and early '70s. Whatever the
plans of the government, the current level of protests is not affecting them
except maybe on the margin. Until we are talking about general strikes and the
like, the principally student-led protests will not topple the government nor
change its direction." - Bigbird
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ATol Specials
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By Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Jan '09) |
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VIDEO
Taliban's new breed of leader
(May '08) |
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The
Gates
Inheritance
By
Roger Morris
(June '07) |
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Syed Saleem Shahzad reports on
the Afghan war from the Taliban side
(Dec '06)
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How
Hezbollah defeated Israel
By
Mark Perry and
Alastair Crooke
(Oct '06)
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Mark
Perry and
Alastair Crooke
talk to the 'terrorists'
(Mar '06)
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China:
The
Impossible
Revolution
By
Francesco Sisci
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The Coming
Trade War
By Henry C K Liu
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A series
by Henry C K Liu
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Sinoroving
Pepe Escobar in China
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Money, Power
and
Modern Art
A series by Henry C K Liu
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Andre Gunder Frank on Uncle Sam and his
shrinking dollar
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By Pepe Escobar with
photographs by Kevin Nortz
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Nir Rosen goes inside the Iraqi
resistance
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Nir Rosen rides with the US 3rd
Armored Cavalry in western Iraq
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permission.
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(Holdings), Ltd.
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