If Asia takes a cue from the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, the world’s governments might face the haunting specter of working people of all countries uniting.
Asia Stands Poised to Join 2011’s Global Revolution
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Democracy & Governance
“Great Successor” Kim Jong-un Needs Unalloyed Support of Military
The test of Kim Jong-un’s leadership will be to convince the military to throw its support behind him.
The Kims: Like Grandfather, Like Son?
Don’t look for reform in North Korea in the foreseeable future.
Succession Questions Persist in Wake of Kim Jong-il’s Death
Kim Jong-il reportedly kept his son Kim Jong-un on the sidelines for fear of a challenge to his authority.
The Amilcar Notes (Part 5):Election Exhilaration in Tunisia
Those who took to the streets in Tunisia and faced down fear are not those elected to the Constituent Assembly.
The Amilcar Notes (Part 4): Tunisia — Profoundly Islamic
Tunisia’s militant youth, whose courage brought down President Ben Ali, has been replaced by politicians talking about both free market capitalism and the Koran.
Why the New “Emphasis on Asia” in U.S. Policy?
In his remarks to the Australian parliament on November 17, President Obama declared that the U. S. was making the Asia-Pacific region a top priority. While promising a continued U.S. military presence in the region, Obama also expressed his intention to strengthen U.S.-China cooperation. This declaration, however, was made at the same time as Obama announced a series of anti-China measures: to station U.S. forces permanently in Australia for the first time, to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – a multilateral trade agreement that excludes China – and to discuss the South China Sea Islands at the ASEAN summit, to Beijing’s displeasure. Therefore, the Japanese media view Obama’s emphasis on Asia as strengthening an anti-China containment ring.
The Amilcar Notes (Part 2): Tunisia — Emerging Democracy or Just a Facade?
While Ennahdha talks unity, in fact it seems to be engaged in a power grab which it could win the battle but lose the war — the future of Tunisia.
Challenging Climate Apartheid
In downtown Durban, the climate negotiators have settled into their beachfront hotels, ready for the official UN climate negotiations starting Monday. Already, voices speculate about cracks in the existing negotiating blocs. Will the developing countries hold together all the way? Will the so-called emerging economies flex individual muscles?
Bad Pizza . . . and Even Worse Intelligence
At least a dozen CIA sources were reportedly compromised through shocking operational deficiencies that made them easy pickings for Hezbollah’s counterespionage agents.