Debacle, Inc.
How Henry Kissinger Helped Create Our “Proliferated” World
By Greg Grandin
The only person Henry Kissinger flattered more than President Richard Nixon was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. In the early 1970s, the Shah, sitting atop an enormous reserve of increasingly expensive oil and a key figure in Nixon and Kissinger’s move into the Middle East, wanted to be dealt with as a serious person. He expected his country to be treated with the same respect Washington showed other key Cold War allies like West Germany and Great Britain. As Nixon’s national security adviser and, after 1973, secretary of state, Kissinger’s job was to pump up the Shah, to make him feel like he truly was the “king of kings.”
Click here to read more of this dispatch.http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176049/tomgram%3A_greg_grandin%2C_henry_of_arabia/#more
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Sunday, September 27, 2015
Debacle, Inc. How Henry Kissinger Helped Create Our “Proliferated” World
Syria crisis: The road to peace means more war
Syria crisis: The road to peace means more war
Only by destroying Isis forces on the battlefield can there be a possible end to years of bloodshed
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-crisis-the-road-to-peace-means-more-war-a6668606.html
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Pope's Address in Philadelphia on Religious Freedom
Pope's Address in Philadelphia on Religious Freedom
"Religious liberty, by its nature, transcends places of worship and the private sphere of individuals and families"
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-address-in-philadelphia-on-religious-freedom
Pope to Americans: Defend Your Religious Liberty
Pope to Americans: Defend Your Religious Liberty
Says the Truths of the Declaration of Independence Must Be Constantly Reaffirmed
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-to-americans-defend-your-religious-liberty
Take the Russian Gift Horse’s gift and run like hell to North America
Take the Russian Gift Horse’s gift and run like hell to North America
http://non-intervention.com/1827/take-the-russian-gift-horses-gift-and-run-like-hell-to-north-america/
Read Full Text of Pope Francis' Homily From His 1st Stop in Philadelphia
Read Full Text of Pope Francis' Homily From His 1st Stop in Philadelphia
http://abcnews.go.com/US/read-full-text-pope-francis-homily-1st-stop/story?id=34062206&override=facebook
CENTCOM under Investigation for "Cooking" ISIS Intelligence
In
July, a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) analyst, assigned to the US
Central Command, filed a complaint with the Pentagon's Inspector
General, John T. Rymer, charging that he was put under pressure to
modify intelligence assessments of the ongoing war...View full schedule.http://mebriefing.com/?p=1942&utm_source=MEB+VOL+-+II_+Issue+96+September+2015&utm_campaign=VOL+II+-+Issue+96&utm_medium=email
Obama Stung by Putin's Syria Gambit
Obama Stung by Putin's Syria Gambit
On September 17,
President Barack Obama made a sudden about-face and ordered Defense
Secretary Ashton Carter to contact his Russian counterpart, Defense
Minister Sergey Shoigu, to begin talks on Syria. For weeks, since the
beginning of Russia's increased military deployments...View full schedule.http://mebriefing.com/?p=1943&utm_source=MEB+VOL+-+II_+Issue+96+September+2015&utm_campaign=VOL+II+-+Issue+96&utm_medium=email
The Save-Syria Initiative Debated Among Opposition Groups
Opposition groups
are currently debating the principles included by a group of Syrian
politicians in exile in their initiative published under the title: A
Syrian-Syrian Dialogue. The initiative aims at placing the momentum
around the crisis in its current phase...View full schedule.http://mebriefing.com/?p=1940&utm_source=MEB+VOL+-+II_+Issue+96+September+2015&utm_campaign=VOL+II+-+Issue+96&utm_medium=email
US, Chinese approach to ties sharply differ
US, Chinese approach to ties sharply differ
Updated: 2015-09-25 07:38
By CHEN WEIHUA
(China Daily)
Senior
Chinese and US government officials had been speaking and writing on
China-US relations in the run-up to President Xi Jinping's state visit
to the United States. The tone of senior US officials, including a
policy speech by National Security Advisor Susan Rice at George
Washington University on Monday,
has seen a clear shift toward a more positive and cooperative plane
despite the media's obsession with the South China Sea issue and cyber
hacking.
It
is a pity that speeches by Rice and other US officials are not widely
covered, let alone broadcast live, by US media outlets. Nevertheless,
stronger emphasis on expanding cooperation while effectively managing
differences is a welcome sign.http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2015-09/25/content_21977435.htm
Friday, September 25, 2015
An Interview with Dorothy Day
An Interview with Dorothy Day
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/09/25/an-interview-with-dorothy-day/
Dorothy Day from "Who Cares About The Saints?" with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIknaD0qtOU
Pope's Address at Ground Zero
Pope's Address at Ground Zero
"This flowing water reminds us of yesterday’s tears, but also of all the tears still being shed today"
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-address-at-ground-zero
WPR Articles Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 - Friday, Sept. 25, 2015
WPR Articles Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 - Friday, Sept. 25, 2015Ukraine’s Other Domestic Threat: Far Right and UltranationalistsBy: Josh Cohen | Briefing
While Ukraine continues to fight
Russian-backed separatists, it is also facing an internal challenge
equally threatening to its sovereignty: a small but powerful right-wing
nationalist movement prepared to use violence to achieve its goals. The
far right could destroy Ukraine’s nascent democracy.
How Latin America Can Tackle Climate Change and Economic GrowthBy: Jed Bailey | Briefing
Latin America accounts for only 5 percent
of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet many countries in the region are
leading climate change mitigation efforts. Ahead of U.N. climate talks
in Paris later this year, ambitious plans face two major obstacles:
slowing economic growth and low oil prices.
North Africa’s Ties to Europe Leave Little Room for IranBy: The Editors | Trend Lines
Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Tunisia and Algeria to discuss
strategic ties. In an interview, Geoff Porter, an assistant professor at
West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center, discussed Iran’s outreach to
North Africa.
With Declining Oil Prices, Mexico’s Economy Is Down but Not OutBy: The Editors | Trend Lines
Earlier this month, the Mexican government
submitted a budget to cut spending in 2016, including investment in the
state oil company Pemex, amid a drop in global oil prices. In an
interview, Amb. Antonio Garza, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico,
discussed Mexico’s economy and the impact of the oil shock.
It’s Time to Abandon the Myths Behind America’s Syria StrategyBy: Steven Metz | Column
The effort to contain the Syrian conflict
has failed. Yet there is no movement toward a resolution that reflects
U.S. interests. From the U.S. perspective, the core problem is that U.S.
strategy has been based on three myths. Abandoning them is the only
chance of forestalling greater disaster.
MoreCan Military Talks Bridge U.S.-Russia Diplomatic Divide on Syria?By: Richard Gowan | Column
Moscow’s decision to send aircraft,
air-defense systems and significant amounts of other military equipment
to Syria could make the war there even more dangerous. Yet some
diplomatic observers believe that Russia’s engagement is,
counterintuitively, a peace initiative disguised as an act of war.
What to Expect From the U.N. General AssemblyBy: The Editors | Trend Lines
In the latest Global Dispatches podcast,
host Mark Goldberg talks with World Politics Review columnist Richard
Gowan about Pope Francis’ address and the other topics likely to
dominate the 70th U.N. General Assembly: Syria, the refugee crisis and
U.N. peacekeeping.
Above and Beyond: Humanitarian Uses of DronesBy: Faine Greenwood | Feature
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are
often thought of as military machines, but they’ve also become a
development tool for post-disaster mapping, documenting environmental
abuses and more. While the use of development drones remains novel, they
are likely to become more common in the near future.
Pope’s Visit Underscores Religion’s Prominence in Global AffairsBy: Ellen Laipson | Column
The head of the Catholic Church has long
been seen as a world leader, but Pope Francis’ U.S. visit seems to
represent a step beyond former pontiffs’ travels. His ability to address
major issues like poverty and inequality has made for a more explicit
link between religious principles and public policy.
Rather Than Reform, Bahrain Launched ‘Program of Mass Incarceration’By: Frederick Deknatel | Trend Lines
Last week, 33 countries signed a letter to
the U.N. Human Rights Council criticizing Bahrain’s human rights
record, but also commending some of the government’s “positive steps”
toward reform. But reform has meant little in practice in Bahrain, where
jails are overflowing with political prisoners.
Pentagon Hypes Russia Threat in Effort to Boost Defense SpendingBy: Michael A. Cohen | Column
The Pentagon is busy trying to convince
Americans that Russia is an existential threat to the U.S. But the
no-holds-barred effort to turn Russia into America’s next bogeyman is a
transparent attempt by the military to make the case for its budgetary
relevance in a post-Iraq, post-Afghanistan world.
Xi’s Visit Exposes Mismatch in U.S and Chinese ExpectationsBy: Timothy R. Heath | Briefing
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S. this week, including a state dinner at the White House Friday,
appears to face serious headwinds. Chinese media and officials are
striking a more hopeful tone, but contrasting U.S. and Chinese
priorities will likely lead to disappointment on both sides.
Anti-Refugee Backlash Will Benefit Europe’s Far-Right PartiesBy: Frida Ghitis | Column
There is still much that is unknown about
how the refugee crisis in Europe will unfold and the impact it will
have. But one thing is certain: The massive wave of immigration onto
European shores will usher in a powerful backlash that will benefit
right-wing anti-immigrant parties.
Despite Opposition Unity, Tanzania’s CCM Likely to Keep Grip on PowerBy: Michael Jennings | Briefing
Shuffling among the ruling CCM party and
the opposition has raised questions about their strengths and prospects
ahead of what looks to be a closely contested election in October. The
CCM still has a clear edge, but expect the opposition to make inroads
against the CCM’s decades of political dominance.
Managing Expectations Could Be Toughest Challenge for Nigeria’s BuhariBy: Alex Thurston | Briefing
Demands within Nigeria for immediate
change confront President Muhammadu Buhari with an imperative to
demonstrate progress on his anti-corruption drive and the fight against
Boko Haram. But his early pledges face the reality of a still-troubled
economy and tough political choices ahead.
Confronting the Islamic State—and the Limits of American PowerBy: David Gioe | Briefing
The Obama administration’s strategy
against the Islamic State has given rise to accusations of mission creep
and weakness, with many GOP presidential candidates vowing to expand
U.S. military operations. But there are good reasons to be wary of an
expanded American intervention in Iraq and Syria.
|
Pope Francis’s optimistic and embracing message to Congress
Pope Francis’s optimistic and embracing message to Congress
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-optimistic-and-embracing-message-to-congress/2015/09/24/d31cd3fc-62f0-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html
In Pope Francis’s outreach to the poor, his deeds speak louder than his words
In Pope Francis’s outreach to the poor, his deeds speak louder than his words
http://wapo.st/1Fx6cre
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