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THE ROVING EYE
Al-Qaeda's air force still on stand-by
It was 12 years ago today that, according to the official narrative, Arabs with minimal flying skills turned jets into missiles to attack the US homeland in the name of al-Qaeda. 9/11 elevated them to Ultimate Evil status. Twelve years on, the President of the United States wriggles on a Syrian hook, and the amorphous "al-CIAeda" eagerly awaits the US Air Force to clear the road to Damascus. - Pepe Escobar
(Sep 11, '13)
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SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Putin lures Obama towards engagement
 Barack Obama has put the Syrian ball in the Russian court as Moscow fleshes out its detailed plan to neutralize Syria's chemical weapons. The shift from a war-footing offers the prospect of new cooperation extending to issues including Iran, and confirmation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's shrewd handling of the crisis. More immediately, the United States president can expect the hawks to pick him apart.
- M K Bhadrakumar
(Sep 11, '13)
Attack stuck in fog-shrouded limbo
The fog of war over Syria is so dense that even now it is not clear whether President Barack Obama is truly serious about directly joining the conflict there or serious about staying out of it. One thing is certain: at least 110,000 have died to date and come diplomacy or air strikes - or anything else, for that matter - there are few signs that the carnage will abate any time soon.
- Victor Kotsev
(Sep 11, '13)
After Syria, six countries still at large
If Syria agrees to accept the US-Russia proposal to abandon its weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention, six other countries will still be outside the treaty. Myanmar and Israel have signed but not ratified, while Angola, North Korea, Egypt, and South Sudan are in the same situation as Syria in having neither signed nor ratified the convention. - Thalif Deen
(Sep 11, '13)
Nerve gas flashbacks hit Iran, Iraq
While traumatized Iraqi Kurdish survivors of Saddam Hussein's chemical weapon attacks say the use of poison gas in Syria should invite international retribution, Iranian survivors of a similarly deadly strike during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war are more skeptical over America's motivations. Had the world taken either tragedy seriously, perhaps they wouldn't have been repeated. - Golnaz Esfandiari
(Sep 11, '13)
SPEAKING FREELY
No joy in US or Chinese exceptionalism
While American exceptionalism led the US to blunder into Iraq and now perhaps Syria, Chinese exceptionalism has seen Beijing ignore international human-rights standards and claim 80% of the South China Sea. Neither power appreciates that the issues facing humanity today are global issues that require global solutions - and global standards of behavior. - Mark C Eades
(Sep 11, '13)
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US STRIKES ON SYRIA
Kerry becomes first war casualty
 The strain of defending an indefensible brief to push for a US military strike on Syria is beginning to show as US Secretary of State John Kerry performs taxing diplomatic acrobats. As gaffe piles upon gaffe, the United States is being forced to consider the merits of Russia's proposal for Syria to hand over chemical weapons. It's time for a contorting President Barack Obama to step up to the bar.
- M K Bhadrakumar
(Sep 10, '13)
Intrigue surrounds Obama's intel
The intelligence summary on last month's chemical attack in Syria released by the Barack Obama administration on August 30 did not represent an intelligence community assessment. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's refused to endorse the document - presumably because it was too obviously an exercise in "cherry picking" to support a decision for war.
- Gareth Porter
(Sep 10, '13)
THE ROVING EYE
Lavrov gambit
checks Washington
The joys of the geopolitical chessboard: Russia throwing a lifeline to save Barack Obama from his self-spun "red line" on Syria. By forwarding a two-step proposal on Bashar al-Assad giving up nerve gas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov outplayed Washington, though his move is not a checkmate; it is a gambit, meant to prevent the US from becoming al-Qaeda's air force, at least for now. - Pepe Escobar
(Sep 10, '13)
Papal challenge rocks US's Syria plans
Pope Francis' case against a military solution in the Syrian crisis cuts deep to the Christian core of United States' governance, and the Holy See can count on the support of European countries made skeptical by the collapse of US-backed revolutions in Egypt and Libya. The pope's calls could grow into a historic opportunity for the Vatican to regain a global political role.
- Francesco Sisci
(Sep 10, '13)
Who shall guard the guardians of India?
China is testing the mettle of the Indian political leadership with small-scale military incursions across the Indian line of their disputed borders. The PLA is not yet confident enough to invade, though that day will come. As things stand, India will lack the political resolve and military capability to support its inferior forces.
- Aruni Mukherjee
(Sep 10, '13)
THE ROVING EYE
The (farcical) emperor is naked
 The threatened US attack on Syria is not about "strong common sense", as the White House puts it. Is about farce built upon farce built upon farce, not least the "credibility" farce starring the Obama administration, caught in its own self-spun net woven of recklessly created "red lines". The pesky "world" is not buying it.
- Pepe Escobar
(Sep 9, '13)
Congress to the
rescue on Syria?
From the manipulations that led to a "slam dunk" war in Iraq to the revelations of whistleblower Edward Snowden on the scale of United States spying, enough of the world is ticked off with the United States for a "coalition of the willing" to be the failed dream of a waning power. True to form, expect this week's congressional debate on Syria to yield little of value beyond entertainment.
- Andrew J Bacevich
(Sep 9, '13)
More US boots on Philippine soil
A proposed United States-Philippines deal that will allow Washington to use bases on Philippine soil for up to 20 years will boost Manila's ability to hedge against further Chinese territorial assertiveness, while seemingly calming the latter's concerns over the US's regional military commitments. However, it presents a challenge to the Philippines' post-Cold War constitution, and Beijing is already preparing a diplomatic response. - Richard Javad Heydarian
(Sep 9, '13)
Suppose we offered battle ...
Air Sea Battle, US military's latest grand doctrine and megaboondoggle, is not, absolutely not, about war with China, which just happens to be the one power at which the related plans can be targeted. But just suppose the PRC fails to respond with fangs drawn ... just suppose ...
- Peter Lee
(Sep 6, '13) |
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Tale of two
casino countries
The Philippines and Vietnam are vying to enter Asia's top tier of casino destinations with palatial new resorts and other multi-billion dollar investment plans. With so much money involved, nothing is straightforward in either country. - Muhammad Cohen
Summers, Syria and the Fed
Larry Summers appears to be President Barack Obama's first choice as next Federal Reserve chairman. Why? He has proven he can manipulate the system to make the world - and that includes Iraq, Libya, Syria et al - safe for Wall Street. - Ellen Brown
CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
Difficult decisions ahead
Syria is a frightening place in a tough and rapidly disintegrating region. Yet, outside of crude oil, global markets show minimal concern, focused on the monetary backdrop and blind to imminent far-reaching change.
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
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India's Left and the 2014 poll
Sadly, it needed a bloody round of communal riots in Uttar Pradesh for the Left to see the ugly face of the Samajwadi Party [SP] government in the state. The plain truth is that the SP has been playing communal politics in UP because it is bankrupt of ideas to project during the 2014 poll and has an "anti-incumbency" factor to overcome. - M K Bhadrakumar
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That Tel Aviv and its black ops in the Mossad stand to benefit from a US intervention into yet another quagmire is beyond doubt.
Hardy Campbell
Texas
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