It is true that from the perspective of its military resources, its web of alliances, its strategic ties around the globe, its ability to project power on all levels and to intervene quickly and effectively at every possible flashpoint, the U.S., at least on paper, remains a hegemonic superpower even today. But it is showing signs that its hands are tied and its room to maneuver is shrinking. Gulliver may be a giant, but he is weighed down by shackles. He shies away from taking risks and using his many sources of strategic power, which could be used to deter Iran and North Korea, two players whose provocations are challenging the world order and global stability.
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It seems that the 44th president has completely internalized the extent to which domestic considerations are limiting his options, and has reconciled himself to the inevitable. The aim to avoid getting entangled in another military adventure has compelled Obama to emphasize multilateral actions and alliances.
FP: Now they come around to realize it! And on top of the corporate welfare state, the Iraq war was the major blunder that put the US on an irreversible decline path.…
It seems that the 44th president has completely internalized the extent to which domestic considerations are limiting his options, and has reconciled himself to the inevitable. The aim to avoid getting entangled in another military adventure has compelled Obama to emphasize multilateral actions and alliances.
George Jonas: Palestinians want peace. Just not with Israel
The Palestinian Authority proposes to become the 194th member of the United Nations by a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state in September. Those who complain that such a declaration undermines the peace process with Israel don’t understand that that’s the declaration’s purpose.
If “Palestine 194” were designed to coexist with the Jewish state, it wouldn’t have to be declared unilaterally. Since it’s designed to replace it, it has no other choice. If the Palestinian state comes about as a result of negotiations, it legitimizes the Jewish state.
It isn’t that Palestinians don’t want peace. They want peace, all right; it’s only that they don’t want peace with Israel.
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It follows that peace is the only way Israel can win, and peace is the only way the Arab side can lose. Under such circumstances, Israelis would be fools not to give land for peace, while Arabs would be fools to give peace for land. Neither side are fools.
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It’s hard to say whether Abbas believes in the unilateral Palestinian state or not. Perhaps he just believes in retiring with a bang rather than a whimper. This would be quite realistic and I’d give it a 50-50 chance. The only thing that has no chance in the Middle East is peace.
FP: Actually Israel since Oslo has behaved as if it were the fool side, while the Palestinian side did not. Even if Israel is dismantled the Middle East will have no peace, because genocidal hatred of Israel is the only thing that unifies the Arabs and without it they’ll be at each other’s throat.If “Palestine 194” were designed to coexist with the Jewish state, it wouldn’t have to be declared unilaterally. Since it’s designed to replace it, it has no other choice. If the Palestinian state comes about as a result of negotiations, it legitimizes the Jewish state.
It isn’t that Palestinians don’t want peace. They want peace, all right; it’s only that they don’t want peace with Israel.
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It follows that peace is the only way Israel can win, and peace is the only way the Arab side can lose. Under such circumstances, Israelis would be fools not to give land for peace, while Arabs would be fools to give peace for land. Neither side are fools.
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It’s hard to say whether Abbas believes in the unilateral Palestinian state or not. Perhaps he just believes in retiring with a bang rather than a whimper. This would be quite realistic and I’d give it a 50-50 chance. The only thing that has no chance in the Middle East is peace.
Elizabeth Rubin: An Iranian Cult and Its American Friends
This group of luminaries includes two former chairmen of the joint chiefs of staff, Gens. Hugh H. Shelton and Peter Pace; Wesley K. Clark, the former NATO commander; Gen. James L. Jones, who was President Obama’s national security adviser; Louis J. Freeh, the former F.B.I. director; the former intelligence officials Dennis C. Blair and Michael V. Hayden; the former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson; the former attorney general Michael B. Mukasey, and Lee H. Hamilton, a former congressman who was co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission.
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Mr. Hamilton and Generals Jones and Clark have been paid speakers’ fees by front groups for Mujahedeen Khalq and have spoken in support of the group in public conferences. They claimed ignorance of how the group treated its members.
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At a February conference in Paris, Mr. Dean praised the group’s extraordinary “bill of rights.” And General Jones said to Ms. Rajavi: “It is time for those of us from the United States who have come to know and admire you and your colleagues and your goals to do what is required to recognize the legitimacy of your movement and your ideals.” When I asked General Jones last week if he knew that some considered the group a totalitarian cult, he replied, “This is the first time I’ve heard anything about this.”
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American officials who support the group like to quote the saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” By this logic, the group’s opposition to the Tehran theocracy justifies American backing. But there is another saying to consider: “The means are the ends.”
By using the Mujahedeen Khalq to provoke Tehran, we will end up damaging our integrity and reputation, and weaken the legitimate democracy movement within Iran.
As a senior State Department official told me, “They are the best financed and organized, but they are so despised inside Iran that they have no traction.” Iranian democracy activists say the group, if it had had the chance, could have become the Khmer Rouge of Iran.
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Recent history has shown that the United States often ends up misguidedly supporting not only the wrong exile groups in the Middle East, but the least relevant ones. We cannot afford to be so naïve or misguided again.
FP: How typically US developes its foreign policy: Corruption, ignorance, failure, loss of friends and acquisition of enemies. Not sustainable, thus the decline.…
Mr. Hamilton and Generals Jones and Clark have been paid speakers’ fees by front groups for Mujahedeen Khalq and have spoken in support of the group in public conferences. They claimed ignorance of how the group treated its members.
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At a February conference in Paris, Mr. Dean praised the group’s extraordinary “bill of rights.” And General Jones said to Ms. Rajavi: “It is time for those of us from the United States who have come to know and admire you and your colleagues and your goals to do what is required to recognize the legitimacy of your movement and your ideals.” When I asked General Jones last week if he knew that some considered the group a totalitarian cult, he replied, “This is the first time I’ve heard anything about this.”
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American officials who support the group like to quote the saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” By this logic, the group’s opposition to the Tehran theocracy justifies American backing. But there is another saying to consider: “The means are the ends.”
By using the Mujahedeen Khalq to provoke Tehran, we will end up damaging our integrity and reputation, and weaken the legitimate democracy movement within Iran.
As a senior State Department official told me, “They are the best financed and organized, but they are so despised inside Iran that they have no traction.” Iranian democracy activists say the group, if it had had the chance, could have become the Khmer Rouge of Iran.
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Recent history has shown that the United States often ends up misguidedly supporting not only the wrong exile groups in the Middle East, but the least relevant ones. We cannot afford to be so naïve or misguided again.
Xenophobia hits Egypt again, citizens wary of 'spies'
Foreigners singled out as part of strategy to use media to increase fears of “other,” “deflect society away from government’s atrocities.”
FP: Plus ca change… Let’s pump more billions of aid into them.CoryMcCray: Why do the Poor Continue to Defend tax Breaks for the Rich
Their argument is always that government can’t tax or has to cut taxes for large corporations or millionaires so that they can invest in the economy and create jobs. My first question for them is “Have you ever heard of General Electric?” Here is a corporation that paid zero dollars ($0.00) in corporate taxes, and received a tax benefit of 3.2 billion dollars. In addition, they are still shipping American jobs overseas. General Electric has over 300 tax lawyers that help them evade paying taxes and find every corporate loophole known to man. They do not need another lobbyist that is paycheck “free”. The people that need to be heard or need lobbyist are the middleclass that had to almost give up their right arm for a tax break, the federal workers who are receiving a two year freeze in pay, and the state workers that have been taking furlough days for the last four years. Those are the people that need to be represented and have their voices heard.
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How could anyone think that trickledown economics could ever work? Banks and Insurance companies proved this when they received all types of bailouts during the recession and refused to lend money to the working class or small businesses. Instead they just let the money sit in their vaults, closed lines of credits (LOC’s), and let the American economy go on life support. The way to go will always be bottom-up. Give the tax breaks to the working class or small businesses because they will always spend the money to put their kids through college, purchase a home, go on vacation, buy food at the local grocer, and maybe even purchase a car. America’s economy has always been strong when the middleclass is thriving because the dollars are being recycled and people are spending money.
FP: The corporate welfare state is a major factor in American decline.
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How could anyone think that trickledown economics could ever work? Banks and Insurance companies proved this when they received all types of bailouts during the recession and refused to lend money to the working class or small businesses. Instead they just let the money sit in their vaults, closed lines of credits (LOC’s), and let the American economy go on life support. The way to go will always be bottom-up. Give the tax breaks to the working class or small businesses because they will always spend the money to put their kids through college, purchase a home, go on vacation, buy food at the local grocer, and maybe even purchase a car. America’s economy has always been strong when the middleclass is thriving because the dollars are being recycled and people are spending money.
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