In These New Times

A new paradigm for a post-imperial world

Posts Tagged ‘End of empire’

Obama annoys allies over Syria talks

Posted by seumasach on May 19, 2013

M.K.Bhadrakumar

Indian Punchline

18th May, 2013

The Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan’s visit to Washington on Thursday was expected to put pressure on the Obama administration to take a tougher stance against the Syrian regime. Erdogan was quoted as seeking the imposition of a US-led ‘no-fly-zone’ in Syria and increased arms supplies to the rebel fighters. In the event, however, Obama stood his ground and insisted there is no “magic formula” to resolve the crisis. Of course, he couched the rebuff in extravagant diplomatic niceties during the joint press conference in the White House, but it was a rebuff nonetheless.

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Syria endgame approaching fast

Posted by seumasach on May 15, 2013

Shamus Cooke

Counterpunch

13th May, 2013

The tempo of events in Syria has accelerated in recent weeks. The government forces have scored significant battlefield victories over the rebels, and this has provoked a mixture of war provocations and peace offers from the U.S. and its anti-Assad allies.

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Cameron backs down over Syria

Posted by seumasach on May 11, 2013

We’ve now seen the Syrian national army enjoying some significant success in the last few weeks in taking back rebel-held areas of the country. I think this has produced panic, actually, in Washington, London and Paris, which is why David Cameron has been so keen to fly to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin.”

Well, at least panic in London and Paris, to say nothing of Doha and Riyadh.Yes, this is prudent of Cameron to jump onboard the peace process already initiated by Obama and Putin- better late than never. For appearances he continues to stress “that there was “no secret” that the two sides still had “differing views on how best to handle this situation.”” However, the “Assad must go” mantra which we have heard ad infititum over the last two years is being dropped and governance in Syria is being seen as the prerogative of the Syrian people rather than Washington, Paris and London. It’s good to see the West embracing democracy for a change- Hilary must be turning in her political grave.

Russia, UK both interested in ending Syrian violence – Putin

RT

19th May, 2013

Despite having a different approach to Syria, Russia and UK share an interest in preserving the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, Vladimir Putin said after talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron in Sochi.

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Governor Brown unbalanced in China

Posted by seumasach on April 11, 2013

Bill Mundell

Asia Times

10th April, 2013

See also: Let’s build a strategic partnership with China!

Californian Governor Jerry Brown had the engagement rules straight for his followers: offer your business card with two hands; clap along if others clap; do not present clocks or knives; arrival gifts for your friends and clients are welcome.

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What did Thatcher achieve?

Posted by seumasach on April 9, 2013

Cailean Bochanan

9th April, 2013

The amazing thing about all the discussions about Margaret Thatcher’s legacy is the insistence of so many that Thatcher revived Britain. Yet we are living through the Thatcher legacy now and it looks very much like a nation falling apart: to the spectacle of de-industrialization, which she pioneered, we now have the dismal and depressing sight of the collapse of the high street and the return of begging as a livelihood. What can explain this contradiction?

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The Assault On Gold

Posted by seumasach on April 8, 2013

Paul Craig Roberts

Institute for Political Economy

4th April, 2013

For Americans, financial and economic Armageddon might be close at hand. The evidence for this conclusion is the concerted effort by the Federal Reserve and its dependent financial institutions to scare people away from gold and silver by driving down their prices.

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When truth is suppressed countries die

Posted by seumasach on March 18, 2013

Paul Craig Roberts

Institute for Political Economy

14th March, 2013

Over a decade during which the US economy was decimated by jobs offshoring, economists and other PR shills for offshoring corporations said that the US did not need the millions of lost manufacturing jobs and should be glad that the “dirty fingernail” jobs were gone.

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US drops key European missile defense component

Posted by seumasach on March 16, 2013

RT

16th March, 2013

The United Stated is abandoning a key part of its Eastern European missile defense plan due to development problems and funding, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has announced. The focus, he said, will be shifted to perceived threats from North Korea.

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Speaking truth to declining power

Posted by seumasach on March 3, 2013

Cailean Bochanan

2nd March, 2013

President Assad of Syria’s comments in an interview to the Sunday Times are unusually forthright from a diplomatic point of view. Is that because he is , as foreign secretary William Hague claims, “delusional” or is he speaking from a position of strength?

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William Hague hits backs at ‘delusional’ Assad as Syrian leader calls Britain ‘an arsonist’

Posted by seumasach on March 3, 2013

Yes, as President Assad put it, “shallow and immature”

Standard

2nd March, 2013

Foreign Secretary William Hague today said Britain cannot afford to “sit on the sidelines” and watch the slaughter continue in Syria.

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President Assad: shallow, immature UK supporting terrorism

Posted by seumasach on March 3, 2013

Al Manar

2nd March, 2013

View interview

Syrian President Bashar al Assad lashed out at the British government, describing it as “shallow and immature” for wanting to arm terrorists fighting against the country.

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