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Posted on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 10:48 AM
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newnations.com
Monthly reports on finance, business, trade,
economics, & political analysis
NEWNATIONS BULLETIN: 01 JULY 2009
TURBULENT PRIESTS
Iran's Turbulent Priests
The story of modern IRAN has been often retold in the context of the
Islamic republic. Most recently the world watched and marvelled as they
held an election for the third level of government power, the
presidency, currently held by the man the west 'loves to hate,'
President Ahmadinijad. The outcome was that he remains in office but any
evidence of the vestigial democracy that sits below the theocratic
levels of power, has been blown away. A cartoonist observed, "You vote,
God decides."
Obama and the middle-east
We incline to think that the US president's emollient speech in the
middle-east struck the right notes and indicated that US policy to
that area was being radically revised. The first major test was the
Lebanese elections, which we describe in this issue.
Know your Kims
Were it not for this small and prickly nation having a
nuclear capacity, plus some rudimentary rockets, it would not it is
true get the news coverage (mostly bad) that it does. But it has at
least brought about a unity of purpose between the five other nation
members of the negotiating committee and when one considers that
this includes China and RUSSIA, lining up with
South Korea, the USA and Japan, that is no small achievement. As
usual we bring a update of news from the hermit republic including
an indication of the new ‘leader elect’, the youngest known son of
Kim Jong Il, Dear Leader and grandson of
the nation’s founder Kim il Sung Great Leader.
The Kim believed to be next in the line of inheritance, is Kim jong-un,
to be known as The Brilliant Comrade. We
also take a look at the world picture of nuclear proliferation.
Barack in RUSSIA
In July President Obama meets President Medvedev to see if a new
beginning is possible. Basically, they will be announcing the
results of the negotiations between their aides for a new revision
of nuclear weaponry - these two nations of course holding easily
the largest nuclear armouries in today’s world. From the outside
world’s perspective, what is really attention-worthy here is that
neither George W Bush nor Vladimir Putin are fronting for their
nations. These younger men may be able to change the longstanding,
barely disguised hostility, that marked earlier generations of
leaders. We consider their agenda.
Matters military
Although we could not have guessed it, the recent fracas between
Russian forces and those of GEORGIA, severely
tested the structures of the Russian military, which has given a
boost to that nations military reformers. We offer a story
outlining the changes that are taking place.
South Africa: Zuma Speaks fair
We are lost in admiration for the new president's
speechwriters. Both on his inaugural and State of the Nation
speeches they excelled themselves by dwelling on aspirations
shared with the other parties rather than hard facts, although
he did give some hostages to fortune. For example to promise
half a million new jobs in the next six months,
in this economic climate! We examine other points of his
speech - big promises which in today's world look somewhat
incredible, but we must remember that this man walks on water.
Pakistan coming to grips with its insurgents
The army is being serious about the Islamic warriors as we
describe. Many good men will die as a result, but a nation
state proclaiming the rule of law must have a monopoly of
violence within its frontiers. That has been the experience
of many of the world's nations. It is a fundamental reality
of democracy. We wish 'the forces of law and order' success.
Afghanistan, where war is a permanent feature
Here the line-up is Afghan government troops together with
NATO forces against a variety of domestic warriors, some
motivated by Islam , others by the outrage of foreign
troops on their turf. As usual we do our best to explain
where the political situation has got to, the key event
being the line-up for the presidential election.
Matters presidential
We also look at matters presidential in TURKEY.
UKRAINE and ALBANIA.
IRAQ: after the Americans - the deluge?
After the Americans - the deluge? As US
forces withdraw from IRAQ's cities
this is the question observers are asking themselves.
They haven’t left the country yet, withdrawing to
bases outside of the cities, but it seems clear that
they seek to finish having any further military
responsibility for events within IRAQ.
Horrendous anti-civilian bombs are being set off,
mainly we presume by Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia - still
hoping to set Shia in arms against the Sunni, in the
forthcoming absence of foreign military. We venture a
thought on what history will make of this hateful war.
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