First, The Good News…
The United States people in charge of dealing with North Korea now have enough trust in that rogue nation to release some of the fuel oil that’s been promised in exchange for their shutting down their nuclear reactor, in advance. So far, North Korea has never kept a single promise but has instead conned us into giving them a bunch of stuff by promising to comply to agreements, and then breaking the agreements after they get the goodies. Our seeming confidence in them now is a hopeful sign considering our level of wariness, which is high.
Iraqs Cabinet has finally approved a bill for the distribution of oil revenues. The lack of agreement over this has prevented the cooperation of the Kurds, Shias and Sunnis on literally all other issues. This is why they’ve left the fighting up to us. None of them want to fight for nothing, they want to be guaranteed a share of the pie in return. Maybe now we can get them to make an effort to protect their future investments. Another hopeful sign.
Joe Lieberman jumped aboard the Military Solution For Iran train after a top military official went public Monday about the extent of Irans global terrorism and meddling in Iraq, and the impetus for some military strikes against Irans terrorist infrastructure is growing in Congress. If so, this is very long overdue. We should have taken action when they attacked our embassy there and took our diplomats hostage for 400 days. Iran would be a different place today.
Now the bad news…
Pakistan is becoming increasingly unstable as more mosques spread more radicalism among the college age population. The U.S.-backed, democracy-crushing regime of dictator-general-president Pervez Musharraf has been increasingly, openly challenged by opponents demanding real democratic reform. All the dissension leaves the nation wide open for Islamist assault. The imam of the Red Mosque in Islamabad, the capital city, has inspired students to do battle with government forces. Two government buildings have been torched at this writing, and at least 9 persons are dead. The radicals want to impose Taleban style laws. Since Pakistan is a nuclear nation, this is not good news.
At the same time, there’s a million people left homeless there from the flooding they’ve recently endured, to add to the governmental burden and general misery and discontent.
Meanwhile, A. Q. Khan, the Pakistani scientist who had illegally sold Pakistans nuclear-development secrets, is reported to have been released from house arrest and can now travel freely. This is the guy who sold nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Ouch!
Last on my list, George Bush says he trusts Vladimir Putin. I believe Bush, for once, and that’s scary.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Good post, but you forgot more good/bad news. Whichever you want to catagorize it, Russia has declared a surge in oil production for the future. This could be good for the U.S. because Russia is willing to work with us to ensure their global power position, and it could be bad because they could continue working with anti-american countries like Venezuala, who would love nothing more to see the U.S. crumble…Here’s an article to consider adding to this post.
http://www.whiskeyandgunpowder.com/ppc/RussianOilReport2.html
Cheers!
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
There’s always more. I just try to hit what seem the most salient points to me. Too long a post bores the reader. I appreciate your input though.
Russia is increasing oil production to take some of the money and oil dependency away from the Arabs and use it to make Russia richer and more powerful in the global economy. Russia is making a comeback and this is not necessarily good news for the rest of the world, considering what a bully Russia is when it has a big stick. I don’t think any nation needs to be dependent on Russia for its oil.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
I had not heard about A.Q. Kahn. This is bad news. He is the source of spreading nuclear information and materials around the globe. If you want to know the depth of the damage this man has done, read the book “Allah’s Bomb”. I reviewed it for the book club and it is amazing.
On the oil bill for Iraq, I think it’s just in draft form. They will have to debate, revise, etc. before voting it into law. Unless I’m wrong. I still have doubts it will get passed.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:58 pm
America celebrates July 4, here’s what’s happening…
“Peaceful” Muslim Nations Threaten U.S. Over Slavery Sanctions, You don’t want another 9/11, do you? Malaysia dismissed on Monday possible U.S. sanctions over human trafficking and warned Washington of alienating Muslims after it blacklisted mostly …