Tag: usa

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Russian sanctions as war and farce

Mohammed Abbasi

If we come to a minefield, our infantry attacks exactly as if it was not there – Marshal Georgy Zhukov  Let’s start with the serious stuff. As Russia’s Federation Council ratifies a treaty with Crimea, concluding the formal annexation, Ukraine signs the political chapters of an association agreement with the European Union (EU). The signing of the full EU agreement will only happen later in 2014. These are the facts on the ground. Now let’s turn to comedy hour – also known as the sanctions war. The oh-so democratic EU has punished the democratic Crimea referendum by sanctioning 33 Russians and Crimeans … Continue reading Russian sanctions as war and farce

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How Crimea plays in Beijing

Mohammed Abbasi

“We are paying very close attention to the situation in Ukraine. We hope all parties can calmly maintain restraint to prevent the situation from further escalating and worsening. Political resolution and dialogue is the only way out.”  This, via Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong, is Beijing’s quite measured, official interpretation of what’s happening in Ukraine, tailored for global consumption.  But here, in a People’s Daily editorial, is what the leadership is really thinking. And the focus is clearly on the dangers of regime change, the “West’s inability to understand the lessons of history”, and “the final battlefield of the Cold … Continue reading How Crimea plays in Beijing

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Russia 1, Regime Changers 0

Mohammed Abbasi

By Pepe Escobar  Let’s cut to the chase – short and sweet.  1. The Obama administration’s “strategic” gambit to subcontract the State Department’s “Khaganate of Nulands” to extricate Ukraine from the Russian sphere of influence – and ultimately annex it to NATO – by instrumentalizing a coalition of willing neo-nazis and fascists with a central bank veneer (prime minister “Yats”), is in utter shambles.  2. Moscow’s counterpunch was to prevent in Crimea – as intercepted by Russian intelligence – a planned replay of the putsch in Kiev. The referendum in Crimea – 85% of turnout, roughly 93% voting for re-joining … Continue reading Russia 1, Regime Changers 0

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Women doctors say what ails Pakistan

Mohammed Abbasi

By Beena Sarwar  BOSTON – On one of her many visits to Pakistan recently, Sarah Peck, director of the US-Pakistan Women’s Council, spent some time talking to young women medical students in Pakistan. She was struck by their passion and commitment – and by the hurdles they face.  Women outnumber male students in medical colleges across Pakistan, forming up to 85% of the student body in private universities and 65% in the public sector.  But only about half of them end up working as doctors. There are no nationwide figures for this estimate, but the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s … Continue reading Women doctors say what ails Pakistan

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Saudi Arabia bans the Muslim Brotherhood – who next?

Mohammed Abbasi

Saudi Arabia’s decision to brand the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation should surprise none, the conservative kingdom’s paranoia about is not just movements that stand for freedom, human rights and democracy, but also Muslim groups or movements that believe in democracy. The Brotherhood has its own agenda yes, and its charter may have aims that sound anachronistic, but the party founded by Hassan al-Banna has been relying on the electoral process to achieve power. The Saudis welcomed the army coup that ousted the Brotherhood’s elected government headed by Morsi. Saudi Arabia is not the only one: recent days have seen … Continue reading Saudi Arabia bans the Muslim Brotherhood – who next?

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Ukraine: The clash of partnerships

Mohammed Abbasi

John Feffer  The Cold War is history. For those growing up today, the Cold War is as distant in time as World War II was for those came of age in the 1970s. In both cases, empires collapsed and maps were redrawn. Repugnant ideologies were laid bare and then laid to rest, though patches of nostalgia persist.  Surely the Cold War has been consigned to the textbooks as irrevocably as the Battle of the Bulge. The Berlin Wall is in pieces. The US president speaks of the abolition of nuclear weapons. The “common European home” from the Atlantic to the … Continue reading Ukraine: The clash of partnerships

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Ten Things you didn’t know about the Republican Party – Tea Party – Southern Baptist Axis

Mohammed Abbasi

You Think You Knew Crazy? Think Again. 10 Shockers from the Increasingly Unhinged Right Wing Nothing shuts down America’s far-right lunatic fringe. Photo Credit: AFP October 12, 2013  |     1. Michele Bachmann: ‘Obama is part of Al Qaeda and end times are near.’ To the extent that she is capable of rational decision-making, Minn. Rep. Michele Bachmann decided this week might be a fitting time to remind the public that she is batshit crazy. During a radio interview, she spun out her theory that, A) President Obama is arming terrorists, generally, and Al Qaeda, specifically. And B) This is … Continue reading Ten Things you didn’t know about the Republican Party – Tea Party – Southern Baptist Axis

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Bibi’s bluff and Pastorised Americans

Mohammed Abbasi

Israeli experts back Bibi’s bluff By Gareth Porter  TEL AVIV – A striking feature of the Israeli political landscape in recent months has been the absence of a serious debate on the issue of the threat of war with Iran led by national security figures. It is well known that many prominent former military and intelligence officials believe an attack on Iran would be disastrous for Israel. After an initial blast at the idea of striking Iran by two former high-ranking officials last year, however, very little has been heard from such national security figures.  The reason for this silence on the … Continue reading Bibi’s bluff and Pastorised Americans

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US – China War ?

Mohammed Abbasi

Maybe that war with China isn’t so far off By Peter Lee The year 2011 has been a tough one for Sino-United States ties. And 2012 does not look like it’s going to be a good year either, with a presidential election year in the United States. For both the Democratic and Republican parties, bashing the Chinese economic, military and freedom-averse menace will probably be a campaign-trail staple. Lunch-pail issues – protectionism and the undervalued yuan – will focus disapproving US eyes. Tensions will also be exacerbated by the Barack Obama administration’s “return to Asia” – a return to proactive … Continue reading US – China War ?