h/t Instapundit
AFTER THE Soviet Union collapsed, Richard Nixon observed that the United States had won the Cold War, but had not yet won the peace. Since then, three American presidents--representing both political parties--have not yet accomplished that task. On the contrary, peace seems increasingly out of reach as threats to U.S. security and prosperity multiply both at the systemic level, where dissatisfied major powers are increasingly challenging the international order, and at the state and substate level, where dissatisfied ethnic, tribal, religious and other groups are destabilizing key countries and even entire regions. Not to mention that once Soviet Union collapsed, USA embarked on a path of social/ideological experimentation---based on that I'd like to call Social Lysenkoism (by analogy with Social Darwinism). An experimentation which bids fair to change it from "City on the Hill" into an international facilitator of thuggery & buggery.
Most dangerous are disagreements over the international system and the prerogatives of major powers in their immediate neighborhoods--disputes of the sort that have historically produced the greatest conflicts. And these are at the core of U.S. and Western tensions with Russia and, even more ominously, with China. At present, the most urgent challenge is the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. There, one can hear eerie echoes of the events a century ago that produced the catastrophe known as World War I. For the moment, the ambiguous, narrow and inconsistently interpreted Minsk II agreement is holding, and we can hope that it will lead to further agreements that prevent the return of a hot war. But the war that has already occurred and may continue reflected deep contradictions that America cannot resolve if it does not address them honestly and directly.
#1
But here's the problem: both countries are currently run by groups who base their identity on being the offended party.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/20/2015 7:29 Comments ||
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#2
Both Russia and China are presently run by criminal mafias who only think of filling their pockets...Putin just bragged of personally getty majority shares in oil exploration firms for next to nothing and Xi Jinping is systematically "suiciding" the communist old guard...falling off tall building, run over by traffic, falling off bridges, getting melanoma cancer...you name it, the oldies are DESERVEDLY getting it...It's the year of the long knives!
#4
the US will not go to war with Russia and Putin knows it. That's why he can fly his fighter jets all over EU airspace to Portugal even over the UK and back over the Nordic countries.
The end of the Cold War was great. Russia had a 10-year-window of opportunity to build a functioning democracy. They had no living experience of how to do this but they tried. It would have been difficult for the US to get involved without seeming like it was trying to take over but perhaps it could have helped by proxy through Germany or Sweden.
Sadly Russia had but one democratically elected president - Yeltsin - before the KGB strongman was installed.
Putin could have been stopped in 1999. Putin cannot be stopped now and even if he is deposed he has installed the worst of the old Soviet system in a spy state run by the KGB which has - even worse - incorporated the Orthodox Church into the running of the country.
Reinvigorating that close relationship that the pre-Stalin Czars used to have with the Patriarch.
So what you have is a macho, chauvinistic, theocratic, self-confident and internationally aggressive dictatorship.
and every time the US tries to intervene at the UN to get something done about Iran or North Korea or Sudan or Yemen or Syria or IS or any of the other problems there is Russia ready to back up China in blocking them.
SO the US has to come to terms with the idea that in foreign policy it doesn't have the ability to act as a hegemon when faced with a China-Russia coalition.
You can't fight them. They are militarily stronger. They are nuclear armed. Problem.
India is being ignored as an important ally, a multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy with a free market. An important bulwark against rising Sino-Russian power and a big stop against the Islamofascist enemies in Pakistan, where the ISI sponsored the Taliban.
America also has the internal analysis problem where it sees state-based opposition (china-russia) as more threatening than asymetric, global, ideological opposition (Islamofascism). In fact, Islamofascism is the bigger threat. And yet we don't act like it.
Pakistan: dangerous enemy, got nukes. Treated as a "regional ally"
Saudi Arabia: dangerous enemy. Treated as a "regional ally"
India: great potential friend, been fighting Islamofascism longer than us - ignored
China/Russia: annoying block at the UN - treated like a feared dangerous enemy
[Dawn] So much noise and yet so little knowledge. It's rather amusing to see so many Paks celebrating the Parliament's resolution to remain neutral in the Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic... conflict. They are cheering Pakistain's decision not to send its troops to fight on the side of the Saudis against the Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... rebels.
Continued on Page 49
#2
From the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, Paks learn the virtues of religious and racial tolerance
This made me laugh
Posted by: paul ||
04/20/2015 5:01 Comments ||
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#3
There are at the moment about 1.3 trillion Paks working in the Gulf States.
Either this is a BAD mis-interpretation or they have NYTimes Editors working the desk. Who knew there were even 1.3 Trillion (yes, with a T) Paks in the first place.
Posted by: BA ||
04/20/2015 10:35 Comments ||
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#4
I read the thing as high sarcasm.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Pakistan has a total population of 196,174,380 (July 2014 est.). About 36% of males are in the prime working years of 25-54, and it seems safe to assume that no more than half of them, and probably considerably less, have jobs in Saudi Arabia, et al.
#11
I have thought quite a bit on this subject. I'll be brief. Generations prior to WW2 had a homogenous culture/religion/value and at least a one generation tie to the East Coast and, therefore, a "common" cultural link without much outside influence.
After WW2 "pockets" of cultural diffusion developed through two means:
1) Physical seperation from East Coast "origin culture", children of ww2 and their kids
2) Population growth through immigration which does not want to assimilate
After WW2, these 2 factors combined with the cold war. What do all these diverse regions of the US have in common? During the cold war we could look at communists and self-identify an American as what the enemy was not, basically a democratic, free-thinking capitalist with religious freedom. This was a "binder" even though pockets of America were already drifting. With the fall of the wall we had to look into the mirror for the first time after 50ish years and ask "What is an American?" With a now diluted cultural heritage, about 3 generations removed which received it's affirmation from a variety of sources (read diversity and non assimilation)it became something different. Americans do not have a concrete cultural history to orbit when their culture is challeged and have not experienced homefront warfare at a scale that would homogenize for about 150 years. Americans self-identify by their ideas and values. Ideas and Values can be changed very quickly, in only a generation, and are subject to subversion wihtout some stronger binding, whatever that may be.
[Kanuk Free Press] There is something very disquieting occurring in American politics today. Most dramatically, the Democratic Party is offering a candidate who is a moral cesspool filled with lies and a history of behavior that would render anyone unthinkable for the highest office in the land. Something is very wrong when Hillary Clinton is, at this point, the only candidate for President the Democrats will be able to vote for and, worse, an estimated 47% of them will vote for her.
What we are witnessing is a Democratic Party that has been debauched by decades of socialism, an economic and political system that has failed everywhere it was implemented.
By contrast, what is being largely overlooked is the wealth of political talent--Rubio, Walker, Paul, et al---that the Republican Party has to offer as an alternative. Instead of obsessing over the different aspects of its candidates, we should be celebrating the fact that voters will be able to choose someone of real merit for whom to vote.
While the brain-dead media talks about the Republican candidates, seizing on every small element of the policies they are individually offering for consideration, the contrast with Hillary Clinton widens into a gap as large as the Grand Canyon. Her campaign thus far has been an exhibition of media manipulation. She talks of "income inequality" as if it has not existed from the dawn of time and is based on the socialist utopia of everyone being equally poverty-stricken. Who wants to live in a nation where you cannot become wealthy if you're willing to take the risks and work hard to achieve it?
#2
Dems have not looked closely at their candidate for decades. JFK was voted in for being young and attractive down to Obama voted in for being young, black, and attractive.
The so-called "Hebrew Israelite" group is far, far worse in the hate speech coming out of their foul mouths. These guys have to take the prize as more hateful than the Westboro idiots because, after all, the Westboro folks don't usually engage in screaming matches with people on the streets, nor do they hit people like these creeps do.
Take a look at these two videos shot in San Francisco...
#2
I see, Nation of Islam is good...Black Hebrew is bad?
These nazis see a jew under every bed...so the Black Hebrews only have to look in a mirror?
Any link with the Neturei Karta? Another bunch of Jewish lunatics financed by the Iranian terror network... They need to channel Ramtha more...
J.Z. Knight the blonde bombshell would set them right...once you go black...
[The Right Scoop] Hidden in a New York Times about welfare is a story of success in Maine having to do with a Republican policy, surprise surprise:
As the economy improves, should states continue waivers that were enacted during the recession to allow healthy adults who are not working to get food stamps longer than the law's time limit? Maine is one of the states that say no.
Last year, the administration of Gov. Paul R. LePage, a Republican, decided to reimpose a three-month limit (out of every three-year period) on food stamps for a group often known as Abawds -- able-bodied adults without minor dependents -- unless they work 20 hours per week, take state job-training courses or volunteer for about six hours per week. Maine, like other states, makes some exceptions. I can think of a similar term... ending in 'WDS'. "You've got to incentivize employment, create goals and create time limits on these welfare programs," said Mary Mayhew, the commissioner of health and human services in Maine. She said the measure was in line with Mr. LePage's efforts to reform welfare.
The number of Abawds receiving food stamps in Maine has dropped nearly 80 percent since the rule kicked in, to 2,530 from about 12,000. This time limit is an old one, written into the 1996 federal welfare law. But, during the recession, most states took advantage of a provision that allows them to waive it when unemployment is persistently high, which meant poor adults could stay on the program regardless of their work status. 80%? Pikers! Georgia [which I believe leads the nation in food stamp distro] could handily best that by 5-10%.
No doubt some of the "ABAWDs" are facing tougher times without those benefits, but I think most Americans would expect people under those conditions to seek employment if they can. The Democrats keep telling us that Obama has vastly improved the economy (he hasn't), but if they think that, then shouldn't we be paying fewer people to be on welfare?
Read the requirements: if you are single, no children, and able-bodied, you can find a job, or you can keep food stamps by signing up for job training (20 hours a week) by volunteering 6 hours a week. Which, if you don't have a job and need food stamps, you have the time to volunteer.
This is of course seen as a horrific imposition on the saintly poor by our progressives brethren and sistern.
#2
Also - if you are single, no children, able-bodied and drive up to my house in a two year old BMW 535i looking to live in the apartment downstairs, you should not ask me if I take Section 8 vouchers and not expect me to laugh in your god damned face.
#9
Best slum lord rental story I've ever heard was a colleague who owned a condo near Dam Neck, VA. He instructed the property manager that he wanted USN renters only, ie, people assigned to the Naval and Marine Intelligence School at Dam Neck. Making sure your renters are obliged to keep their TS/SCI clearance in a high-state of repair does wonders for monthly rent collection.
[Breitbart] Prostitutes from Dennis Hof's Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Mound, Nevada have officially endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. With a new campaign called "Hookers for Hillary," Hof says his girls will do anything they can to support Hillary.
"I'm reaching out to the Democrats in northern Nevada and saying 'what can we do to help?'" Hof told The Daily Caller. "Air Force Amy has announced that she's going to give another half-hour to any donor who donates to Hillary. An extra half-hour of time in the bedroom. That's her way of supporting. All the girls are coming up with different things they can do." Air Force Amy was in for an engine change. Army Annie, Maxie Marine, and Navy Nan were in the rack indisposed.
"Hookers vote too," he added.
Hillary's stance on foreign policy is apparently one reason the "Bunnies" have endorsed her, video below, citing her ability to negotiate with foreign leaders similar to how they communicate with foreign men through a "language barrier."
Another reason the prostitutes want Hillary in the White House is because of health insurance, which they have never had access to, according to Hof. "They classify them in the same category as illegal prostitutes, who have sexually transmitted diseases. Legal prostitutes don't. So the girls are thrilled with Obamacare, that they finally have proper healthcare," he explained.
Another prostitute has reportedly pledged to donate the money she receives from selling her underwear online to the Hillary campaign. TMZ obtained videos of two women from the farm, wherein they explain why they are proudly backing Hillary Clinton.
"Because I'll stick by any woman that stands by her man in a cheating relationship so that she can further her career," says Air Force Amy. "I'm voting for Hillary Clinton because I have just as much trouble with my emails as she does."
Ava Adora cites healthcare reform as a basic human right and thinks Hillary will continue to fight for it as leader of the free world. "I think it's kind of sad that as one of the best countries in the world we don't have that as a universal system," she says.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Kanuk Free Press] There is something very disquieting occurring in American politics today. Most dramatically, the Democratic Party is offering a candidate who is a moral cesspool filled with lies and a history of behavior that would render anyone unthinkable for the highest office in the land. Something is very wrong when Hillary Clinton is, at this point, the only candidate for President the Democrats will be able to vote for and, worse, an estimated 47% of them will vote for her.
[Breitbart] Prostitutes from Dennis Hof's Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Mound, Nevada have officially endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. With a new campaign called "Hookers for Hillary," Hof says his girls will do anything they can to support Hillary.
