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hanson:
it’s a different world - it’s the same world
“In contrast, stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan, stop the nuclearization
of Iran, cut radically back on imported oil, close the southern border,
and end the financial hemorrhaging, and the United States will do just
fine, to the great benefit of the world at large.
“But for now hold on, as the Russians get angrier, the jihadists
more desperate, Mr. Ahmadinejad closer to Armaggedon, the Chinese more
eager to match new power with now [new] old money, Europe more terrified
-- and the United States ever more baffled by it all.”
Victor Hanson sure gets depressed by the idiocy from
time to time, but America remains immensely strong.
I do not like the looming possibility of a ‘Democrat’
president, but even they are likely to become more rational if they are
forced to take responsibility in place of whining.
“The United States should launch military strikes against Iran
if the government in Tehran does not stop supplying anti-American forces
in Iraq, Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday on Face The Nation.”
—
“ "We can tell them we want them to stop that, but if there's
any hope of the Iranians living according to the international rule
of law and stopping, for instance, their nuclear weapons development,
we can't just talk to them," Lieberman said. "If they don't
play by the rules, we've got to use our force and to me that would include
taking military action to stop them from doing what they're doing."
” [Quoted from cbsnews.com]
“Global demand for US exports helped shrink the country’s
trade gap in April in a strong sign that the American economy is picking
up speed.
“The trade deficit fell by more than even the most optimistic
Wall Street economists were expecting and prompted many to upgrade their
forecasts for economic growth in the second quarter.” [Quoted
from ft.com]
“[...] the largest solar thermal power plant built in 16 years,
has gone online, and is now providing power to Nevada's electrical grid.
Built by Acciona Solar Power, the 64MW power plant is the world's third
largest solar thermal power plant, and will generate enough reliable
clean energy to power 15,000 homes (up to 134 million kilowatt hours
of electricity per year). It covers 400 acres.” [Quoted from treehugger.com]
Most of the problem comes down to oil. In 10 years, the West,
and even India and China, could build themselves out of oil dependency
and bankrupt the Middle East and Russia.
Meanwhile, the Middle East and China will soon be unable
to feed themselves. How much will their paper be worth then?
Russia’s Putin seems marginally stable, and is in a panic.
Some opinion is that Putin thought to drive a wedge
between the pacifists in Europe and the USA. But that it is backfiring
on him and driving the defenceless Europeans back to NATO. Hence Putin’s
backpedalling.
Some Europeans think Russia can afford is serious hassle
with America. Russia is far too vulnerable with its shrinking
population and vast land mass.
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