Pakistan: Bilwal’s Ascension Increases Zardari’s Control of the Party but Changes Nothing for the International Community
The assassination of Pakistan’s former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, is a milestone event for Pakistan and the Bhutto family. As a dynamic albeit corrupt leader, her return from exile was … Continue reading
Greece: Positive Developments Mask Taxpayer Funded Profiteering and Distract from Long-Term Solutions
The Greek financial crisis has hurt almost everyone in that country and throughout Europe. It has ended one political administration, numerous careers and industries, and destroyed the Greek social net. … Continue reading
India: Growth Potential Remains Subservient to Infrastructure Deficiencies
The Indian economy and population continue to rise but infrastructure development has not kept pace with this growth. As a result, energy shortages and traffic gridlocks are a daily occurrence … Continue reading
Afghanistan: Taliban’s Desire to Come in from the Cold Likely Due to the Weather and Not the Season
The New York Times recently reported that Taliban representatives have floated the idea of working with the Afghan government and opposition officials, and adopting “the current American-financed army as their … Continue reading
France: Adieu Depardieu, They’ll Always Love You
Almost every European and American government is trying desperately to raise revenues while attempting to contain spending and manage the anger of its residents. The US legislature, for example, is … Continue reading
Turkey: Arrival of NATO’s Patriot Missile Batteries Increases Number of Foreign Troops in the Country
It goes without saying that the ongoing Syrian civil war, which began in March 2011, shows no signs of ending. While this increasingly violent conflict has, heretofore, remained largely contained … Continue reading
Movies: The Bourne Legacy is The Phantom Menace of the Bourne Series
Movie trilogies are tricky because they almost always implode under the weight of self-designed expectations. In most cases, the first film is not designed to be part of a trilogy … Continue reading
Global Economy: Settlement Exposes Underlying Weakness in Global Financial System but Offers No Solution
The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) are the benchmark interest rates used to set short term interest rates for over $10 trillion in loans … Continue reading
US Politics: Sandy Hook Tragedy Calls for Effective not Superficial Legislative Changes
The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown has given gun-control proponents yet another opportunity to demand new legislation from their elected representatives. Obviously, this is not a surprise … Continue reading
US Politics: Conservative Belief in Religion Supersedes Spirituality
Conservatives have come up with a number of reasons to explain their loss in the 2012 presidential election. Some of these theories are quite valid – appeal to a limited … Continue reading
All Sorts of Things 