US vice president Joe Biden is notorious for speaking out of turn. His latest mishap occurred in Israel. There, he gave us to understand that the US wouldn't stay Israeli's Netenyahu's government's
if Jerusalem thought its security threatened by Iran by bombing Tehran's underground nuclear facilities. Immediately president Barack Obama [BHO] riposted by saying the US won't give Israel the green light. His predecessor George W Bush, more hawkish than BHO, put a damper on Israel's ardour, too, if anyone has forgotten it.
Nevertheless, it is reasonable to suggest that Biden didn't commit another gaff. BHO took a reasonable approach to the brouhaha in the aftermath of Iranian elections, with its 'blitzkrieg' results handing a questioned victory to the incumbent, president Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad. BHO risked the wrath of crumbling Republican party and some within his own party's ranks, who thought him soft. The US president plays a good game of poker so his responses to the turmoil in post elections Iran was measured and graduated according to the events on the ground. Which proved his instincts were on the money.
Saying this, of late, an impatient tone has crept into the White House's language on Iran. Although Tehran may want to engage Washington, it is going to proceed on its own terms and at its own pace.
BHO had shaped his opening to Iran by saying he was extending an opening hand not a closed fist. His flat hand has not been readily seized by Tehran yet. Hence the growing impatience and edgy words. Now into this atmosphere comes the report of Biden's comments. It is a veiled warning that Iran would be better where it to enter into direct talks with the US than suffer the 'existential threat' of war with Israel.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Studied boredom in Moscow
US president Barack Obama [BHO] didn't wow them in Moscow. It is questionable if he thought that he would. Russia wants to deal with the US, though. Although Moscow is allowing Washington rights to fly military aeroplanes bound for Afghanistan through its air space, it sees in the defeat of the Taliban a score that it has to settle for its humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, and on the other hand, the resurgence of a reinvigorated Taliban is a threat to Russia's vital interests in Central Asia. Furthermore, it is not quite overjoyed that the Americans have gained a toehold in a geography that it sees as its own. Still, let the Yanks bleed and die in that life and death struggle with Mollah Omar & co.
Russia like the US wants an extension of the nuclear ban treaty, which HBO modestly agreed to.
Nevertheless, what is sticking in the maw of the Russians is the US president playing with their heads. The American president picking up on a dropped Bush stitch has not abandoned the idea of stationing US missiles in Poland, near Russia's own borders, and what's more seems intent in seemingly extending NATO membership to the Ukraine and Georgia. So, little wonder, the Russian authorities see Washington's goal is encirclement. A fearful and threatened Russia is a cause of great concern in Europe and Asia in the longer run.
Hence for the moment the Russians will play along with BHO in a restricted sense. BHO should treat Russia with a respect inherent in the fact that Moscow is a nuclear powerhouse with thousands of missiles and warheads, and on a par with Washington's stockpiles.
BHO did lecture the Russian leaders on a country's right to do as it pleases to protect itself, but does he realise that his words cut two ways? BHO's entourage is dotted with a phalanx of Cold Warriors who wouldn't like anything better than to revive the cold war.
Times have changed, however. Little wonder Russia's president Dmitri Medvedev and prime minister Vladimir Putin seem sullen in photo op's with BHO.
Russia like the US wants an extension of the nuclear ban treaty, which HBO modestly agreed to.
Nevertheless, what is sticking in the maw of the Russians is the US president playing with their heads. The American president picking up on a dropped Bush stitch has not abandoned the idea of stationing US missiles in Poland, near Russia's own borders, and what's more seems intent in seemingly extending NATO membership to the Ukraine and Georgia. So, little wonder, the Russian authorities see Washington's goal is encirclement. A fearful and threatened Russia is a cause of great concern in Europe and Asia in the longer run.
Hence for the moment the Russians will play along with BHO in a restricted sense. BHO should treat Russia with a respect inherent in the fact that Moscow is a nuclear powerhouse with thousands of missiles and warheads, and on a par with Washington's stockpiles.
BHO did lecture the Russian leaders on a country's right to do as it pleases to protect itself, but does he realise that his words cut two ways? BHO's entourage is dotted with a phalanx of Cold Warriors who wouldn't like anything better than to revive the cold war.
Times have changed, however. Little wonder Russia's president Dmitri Medvedev and prime minister Vladimir Putin seem sullen in photo op's with BHO.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
North Korea sends the US navy on a wild goose chase
The DPRK's [Democratic People's Republic of Korea aka North Korea] vessel 'Kang Nam 1' left port hardly a fortnight ago, allegedly steaming towards Myunmar. Hot on its heels was the US John McCain, itching to board the ship in a foreign port, armed with UN Resolution 1758. Aboard 'Kang Nam 1', the US allegedly fancied high tech wizardry in nuclear technology or advanced rocketry. It furthermore was hellbent on catching North Korea in flagrante delecto'. Pyongyang simply refused to play Washington's game of 'do or dare' or 'touch tag'. Its vessel plied the waves of international waters, and the American battleship followed. Then suddenly the wheel turned homeward towards the DPRK, opening the ship's bowels for the East China Sea, thereby re entering North Korean waters where the Obama administration's navy couldn't go. The more brazen critics will proudly beat chests proclaiming that the US put the 'fear of god' into the North Koreans, perhaps boasting that the DPRK was shaking in its boots, not wanting to confront the world's remaining superpower. But such bravado misreads Pyongyang's track record in dealing with Washington. Mr. Obama may have 'dotted the i's and crossed the t's' on his Korea policy, but Pyongyang doesn't see it that way. In fact, it is equally logical to posit that the DPRK was stringing the US along. It sent the US navy on a wild goose chase, and it worked. Endless man hours spent without the merest results, shrouding over again in 'mystery' Pyongyang's intentions. Which are neither opaque nor unreadable if the Mr. Obama and his Korea team ever found the right glasses to read them
Jane Hodes -- Goldman Sachs little hidden Red secret
Every now and then out of the bowels of America's finance capitalism emerges an offspring who will use the advantages and privileges of capitalism to fight to radically reform it or even overthrow it for a democratic socialist or yes a communist society. The name of Corliss Lamont comes to mind; scion of JP Morgan's Thomas Lamont, the son used his wealth and influence to oppose and counter the intemperies of an unbridled economic hellbent on war in Vietnam for example, for the denial of the rights of the ordinary man regardless of colour, caste, or clashos; and who fought to preserve the right of citizens to speak their minds as a right in the US constitutions First Amendment.
But Jane Hodes? Who was she? An obituary in the Communist Party [USA]'s 'People's Weekly World' informs us. Hodes died in June 2009 in Oakland, California, at 90. But what has she to do with the mighty Goldman Sachs empire? Born Jane Sachs, he father Walter Sachs headed Goldman Sachs. GS doesn't advertise the fact that Walter Sachs was a founder of the NAACP [National Association of the Advancement of Coloured People], now celebrating its 100 anniversary. Jane grew up in a liberal spirited house, went to the top private schools, and graduate from Harvard's sister school Radcliffe. At the university she became involved with the American Youth Congress and wrote her honours thesis on 'The Soviet Union in the League of Nations'. At Columbia's Teachers College she earned a Master's in Education. She was what is euphemistically called a 'progressive', meaning someone opened to radical ideas, or at worst a crypto Communist or even shudders! a card carrying member of the CP. Her teaching career ended abruptly at Tulance owing to the McCarthy witch hunt. After she and her husband and children lived in China for 5 years. There, she edited English language publications, broadcast programmes in English, and taught it.
In 1959 she returned to America, working for the CP's publishing arm, International Publications. Widowed she married Aaron Cohen, a CP organiser and labour activist. She and Cohen established the Niebyl Proctor Marixist Library for Social Research in Oakland in 1987.
Such in brief was her life. Born to the manor, she used her upbringing and wealth for progressive goals. Unlike Goldman Sachs who like the other bridge banks brought the world to the edge of a global financial meltdown in toxic assets and which continues its rush to feather its the nest of finance capitalism, Joan Hodes nee Sachs is the paradox of this greed and gargantuan appetite of capitalism: one destined to the life of the rich and famous, who nevertheless spurned her 'birthright'to fight for the wretched of the earth. Rest in peace, unsung heronie!
But Jane Hodes? Who was she? An obituary in the Communist Party [USA]'s 'People's Weekly World' informs us. Hodes died in June 2009 in Oakland, California, at 90. But what has she to do with the mighty Goldman Sachs empire? Born Jane Sachs, he father Walter Sachs headed Goldman Sachs. GS doesn't advertise the fact that Walter Sachs was a founder of the NAACP [National Association of the Advancement of Coloured People], now celebrating its 100 anniversary. Jane grew up in a liberal spirited house, went to the top private schools, and graduate from Harvard's sister school Radcliffe. At the university she became involved with the American Youth Congress and wrote her honours thesis on 'The Soviet Union in the League of Nations'. At Columbia's Teachers College she earned a Master's in Education. She was what is euphemistically called a 'progressive', meaning someone opened to radical ideas, or at worst a crypto Communist or even shudders! a card carrying member of the CP. Her teaching career ended abruptly at Tulance owing to the McCarthy witch hunt. After she and her husband and children lived in China for 5 years. There, she edited English language publications, broadcast programmes in English, and taught it.
In 1959 she returned to America, working for the CP's publishing arm, International Publications. Widowed she married Aaron Cohen, a CP organiser and labour activist. She and Cohen established the Niebyl Proctor Marixist Library for Social Research in Oakland in 1987.
Such in brief was her life. Born to the manor, she used her upbringing and wealth for progressive goals. Unlike Goldman Sachs who like the other bridge banks brought the world to the edge of a global financial meltdown in toxic assets and which continues its rush to feather its the nest of finance capitalism, Joan Hodes nee Sachs is the paradox of this greed and gargantuan appetite of capitalism: one destined to the life of the rich and famous, who nevertheless spurned her 'birthright'to fight for the wretched of the earth. Rest in peace, unsung heronie!
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