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China intensifies war against splittism
The Hu Jintao administration has intensified its efforts to suppress
and contain "splittists" in Tibet and Xinjiang allegedly in cahoots
with "anti-China elements overseas" - and it is using nationalistic sentiments
to help achieve its goal. Significantly, Communist Party and state
authorities have called for a people's-war-style crusade to round up "conspirators" and
"traitors". - Willy Lam (Apr 29, '08)
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Iran
holds key to India's energy insecurity
In terms of its energy needs, India has woken to the simple fact that nearly
all roads lead to Tehran, both as a source of energy as well as an outlet for
other countries' energy exports to India. This could be the first step in a
whole gamut of economic, trade, cultural, political and even security
cooperation. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Apr 29,
'08)
The race is on for India's mega
fighter deal
Six contenders, from the United States, Russia, Sweden, France and a European
consortium, this week threw their bids into the ring for a US$11 billion deal
with India for 126 multi-role combat aircraft. The number of bidders makes
India's negotiating position strong, while well-oiled networks will count. - Siddharth
Srivastava (Apr 29, '08)
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North Korea stoic in the
face of famine
In North Korea, the food situation is deteriorating fast. And if the shortage
of South Korean fertilizer damages this year's harvest, a famine is inevitable.
Still, Pyongyang appears supremely confident, unwilling to appeal for food aid
or acknowledge the potential for starvation and death on a scale with the
"Great Famine" that killed as many as 1 million North Koreans between 1996 and
1999. - Andrei Lankov (Apr 29, '08)
US embroiled in
de-basing deal
The George W Bush administration is in crucial negotiations with the government
of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over the future relationship between Iraq and
the United States. The core issue relates to permanent military bases, but no
one is saying so, even as a year-end deadline looms. - Daniel Smith
(Apr 29, '08)
The cost of crime in East Timor
United Nations and local police raids have exposed embattled East Timor as a
hotbed for Asian organized crime syndicates engaged in narcotics and the sex
trade. Smugglers, realizing only two aging gunboats patrol an 870-kilometer
coastline, are also increasing operations, and new evidence suggests organized
crime played a role in the February assassination attempts against the
president and prime minister. - Loro Horta (Apr
29, '08)
 E Timor rebel leader surrenders
(AFP)
A media soap opera in Kabul
Controversy over the government's ban on five Indian soap operas has Afghan
viewers on the edge of their seats. The hugely popular serials are "way too
modern" for Afghanistan, say conservatives and religious leaders. It's a
nail-biter with tradition and parental concern pitted against the government's
use of the issue as a tool to gain greater control over the media. - Aunohita
Mojumdar (Apr 29, '08)
 CAMPAIGN
OUTSIDER
Doubting Obama
Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign keeps raising questions about rival
Senator Barack Obama. Rather than complain about Clinton's tactics or the tone
for the contest, it's time for the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential
nomination to rediscover his mojo. - Muhammad Cohen (Apr
28, '08)
Iran steps into enemy's territory
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's swing though Sri Lanka, Pakistan and
India this week takes him to capitals firmly in the United States camp. Tehran
needs a counter to the regime of sanctions and limitations imposed by the West.
The South Asian countries need Iran's business, so much so they will risk
backlashes in defying Washington's will on isolating Iran. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Apr 28, '08)
Brains, not brawn, in Afghanistan
The audacious attack in Kabul on Sunday on Afghan President Hamid Karzai and
other dignitaries is another salvo in the Taliban's new phase of targeted
missions, rather than direct confrontation with the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization's war machine. In return, NATO, as evidenced by two important
recent successes against the insurgency, is becoming smarter, rather than
relying on "smart" bombs. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Apr
28, '08)
Syria bristles at US
charges
Washington's accusations that Syria and North Korea cooperated on a nuclear
site that was allegedly destroyed by an Israeli air strike last September, are
being laughed off in Damascus as another "convenient inaccuracy". The charge
would be downright funny if it didn't come with the dangerous potential of
mushrooming into war, as happened when Iraq was accused of developing weapons
of mass destruction. - Sami Moubayed (Apr 28,
'08)
India, China hold
G8 options
European leaders such as British Premier Gordon Brown and President Nikolas
Sarkozy of France are pushing for India and China to sign up for full
membership of the rich nations' club known as the Group of Eight. But their
counterparts in New Delhi and Beijing have good reason to hold back. - Sreeram
Chaulia (Apr 28, '08)
A new political breeze in Cambodia
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People's Party may
get an unexpected challenge in July's general elections if the smaller, poorer
and perpetually divided opposition parties can unite. No one expects the Hun
Sen juggernaut to lose, but its iron-fisted grip on power could be loosened. - Brian
McCartan (Apr 28, '08)
DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA
Selling the president's general
Just as President George W Bush's favorite general, David Petraeus, was given
another promotion by being nominated as head of US Central Command, revelations
broke of the Pentagon's extensive propaganda operation to embed retired
military officers in the mainstream US media. The two events - and the "surge"
in Iraq - are inextricably linked. - Tom Engelhardt (Apr
28, '08)
THE MOGAMBO GURU
Big, bad, and the
bill is rising
The idea that the US is suffering from some sort of credit crunch is now so
familiar that it is almost banal. But banal it is not. The reduction in
short-term commercial loans outstanding indicates that nothing less has
happened than a rupture in the system. And the bill for fixing this is going to
be big. Very, very big. (Apr 28, '08)
Taliban bitten by a snake in the
grass
Over the past few months, attacks in Khyber Agency in Pakistan by the Taliban
and their al-Qaeda associates on supplies destined for the Western coalition in
Afghanistan have proved highly successful. Despite operating in unfamiliar and
unfriendly territory, the Taliban managed to obtain a foothold through a tribal
leader, seemingly outwitting US intelligence. Then things went horribly wrong,
and the Khyber operation is in tatters. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Apr 25, '08)
 CHAN
AKYA
Western excess is
the Earth killer
The problem with people trying to save the world, as intended by this
week's Earth Day, is that everyone has different living standards and
objectives. What will benefit the environment is a reduction in excessive
consumption by Europe and the US, not a reversal of Asian progress.
(Apr 25, '08)
 THE
ROVING EYE
Hillary, the war chick
It was
a silly question to begin with, but Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton jumped
in boots and all, saying if she were US president and Iran attacked Israel with
nuclear weapons, she would "obliterate" Iran. Clinton's positioning spells
Imperial Washington in all its glory - and hubris. - Pepe Escobar
(Apr 25, '08)
Petraeus' rise lets Cheney loose on
Iran
General David Petraeus' nomination as the new head of the US Central Command,
in place the "unpliable" Admiral William Fallon, adds a strident voice in
support of the George W Bush administration's policies toward Iran and Iraq. It
also gives Vice President Dick Cheney greater freedom of action to exploit the
option of an air attack against Iran during the administration's final months.- Gareth
Porter (Apr 24, '08)
The great silence of a Gilded
Age
We live in a Gilded Age, in which bankers and fund managers pocket billions of
dollars, echoing a similar period of growing wealth in the 19th century. Yet
few protest at income inequalities not seen in the US since before the Great
Depression. That may change, and the great silence of the second Gilded Age may
give way to the great noise of the first. - Steve Fraser
(Apr 24, '08)
Israel changes tune on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been unequivocal recently in his
assurances that Iran will not get the bomb. This is a sea-change for the
Israeli leader, who until now has been careful to keep "all options" on the
table, and reflects the conviction that diplomatic means will be central in
stopping Tehran from going nuclear. (Apr 23, '08)
India drawn deeper into Afghanistan
Neither the poor security situation in Afghanistan nor specific Taliban attacks
on Indian project personnel is likely to persuade Delhi to downsize its
commitment to the country. On the contrary, it could result in India taking up
an offer to train Afghan soldiers in counter-insurgency, which will bring it a
step closer to military engagement of the Taliban. - Sudha Ramachandran
(Apr 23, '08)
Taliban reap a peace dividend
Pakistan and Britain have hailed the peace agreement with pro-Taliban cleric
Sufi Muhammad under which Sufi was released after six years in prison in
return for his group renouncing violence in Pakistan's troubled tribal
areas. For the Taliban it's good news as they will take advantage of any lull
to put the finishing touches to their spring offensive in Afghanistan. By which
time far more radical al-Qaeda-linked leaders will have rendered Sufi's
agreement meaningless. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Apr
23, '08)
 SPENGLER
Rice, death and the
dollar
For developing countries whose currencies track the US dollar and whose
purchasing power declines along with the American unit, catastrophe looms. So
China, for example, is exchanging its depreciating reserves of the greenback
for things of value, notably rice, with frightening consequences for dependent
countries and deadly consequences for American foreign policy.
(Apr 21, '08)
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Legal
bills leave Tajikistan in the
cold
As poverty-stricken Tajikistan emerges from a bitter winter and its hospitals
look forward to more regular power supplies, its government is running up a
US$100 million bill to a London legal firm. The money may be keeping the
lawyers happy, but judges hearing their arguments are less than satisfied. - John
Helmer (Apr 29, '08)
India shows space
muscle
 with a 10-pack
India has demonstrated its increasing prowess in space by releasing into orbit
10 satellites from a single rocket. That should be enough to keep launch orders
and dollars flowing in from broadcasting and other interests. It will also add
to the growing amount of space flotsam. - Raja M (Apr
29, '08)
 SUN
WUKONG
Moving
markets and mountains
The new overseer of China's financial affairs was barely in
office before polishing his "Mr Fix It" reputation by turning around the
plummeting stock markets. Curbs on refinancing by listed companies are
expected to be Wang Qishan's next mountain-moving stroke. All very impressive -
but his is still a visible hand that would be better not seen. - Wu Zhong
(Apr 29, '08)
THE BEAR'S LAIR
Oil in 2012: $200 or $50?
The US broad money supply by one measure has increased at an annual rate above
30% for most of this year. Maintained, that could triple prices within four
years and oil would look moderate at US$200 a barrel, with gold hitting $2,000.
Good sense by the US Fed and politicians might save the day, or a full-scale
revolt by bond dealers. - Martin Hutchinson (Apr
29, '08)
 Fried
in the financial sun
Any thoughts that the decline in bank holdings of derivatives means all is now
well can be thrown out the window when you consider just who exactly bankers
are, and if you didn't already know who they are the latest interbank lending
claims will tell you. Yet you still want to hold stocks? At a price-to-earnings
ratio of 57 and climbing? Hahaha! Suckers.
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CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
The meaning of
stage II
The return of confidence and greed to the financial markets is persuading even
seasoned strategists that the worst of the financial crisis is behind us. Yet
distortions in the US and global economies remain and will continue as
authorities risk global financial and economic catastrophe to sustain the
unsustainable. The countdown to stage II of the crisis has started.
(Apr 28, '08)
Doug Noland reviews the previous week's events each Monday.
MARKET RAP
The calm before the storm?
China's reduction of a stock transaction tax energized a local market that was
edging closer to a decline as precipitous as the 50% slide seen over the past
six months. Survival of the optimism in Shanghai and elsewhere in Asia may
depend on the US Federal Reserve's thoughts, to be aired next week.
(Apr 25, '08)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets
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[As a Kenyan of Asian origin] I read Mr Bajpaee's piece
The Indian elephant returns to Africa [Apr 25] with interest ... Africa
has crossed its inflexion point. The problem was our people were not plugged
in. This is happening now. It is the equivalent of flicking on a switch. And
with the landing of various undersea cables, we are going to see Africa
undertake a one-off catch up compressed into a few short years. Carpe diem.
Aly-Khan Satchu
Kenya
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| Go
to Letters to the Editor |
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ATol Specials
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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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