Topic: New World Order
80 Days and Counting? What faces us in the transitionby Ben Samuel
(centrist liberal libertarian)
Saturday, November 1, 2008
In 80 days, Barack Obama will be sworn in as president of the United States. That is the likely scenario, but a chance exists that it still might not be.
In the waning days of George Bush/Dick Cheney, the world is undergoing some rapid changes. In Venezuela, despite our long touted Monroe Doctrine, a Russian Flotilla with Russian bombers engages in joint exercises with our Venezuelan adversary. Bolivia and Honduras have joined him in some anti-American petulance, while Columbia masses troops on its border to Venezuela.
In Lebanon, Syria masses troops on its Lebanese Border and in dangerous proximity to its border with Israel. It has removed troops from its Iraqi border where they had been assisting in reducing arms flows to Iraqi insurgent forces. Russia has stationed a small flotilla of hi-tech ships at a Syrian port and sells advanced anti-air missile systems to both Syria and Iran. Iran proceeds apace to enrich uranium in pursuit of weapons and energy technology.
In Iraq, Turkey still pursues Kurdish nationalists in cross border thrusts. Iranian influence continues to expand within the Iraqi government and in the southern Iraqi provinces.
in Afghanistan the Taliban resurges, indicating a split again within the Pakistan military and particularly its intelligence service the ISI. American forces have begun cross border incursions to Pakistan in pursuit of Taliban, further alienating the Pakistani population from American (NATO) interests. Kashmiri separatists seem to have become aggressive again with bombings in India fueling Indian and Pakistani animosities.
Africa is ablaze in the Congo, Sudan/Darfur, and Somalia.
In eastern Europe, the Russian/Georgia aggression has waned but not ended. The pro-western government of Ukraine is changing course.
Western Europe is inwardly focused as its own financial crisis deepens. Iceland is bailed out by Russia, its own version of invasion of NATO.
North Korea reneges on its cessation of nuclear weapons production. It reengages with Syria and Iran for development of nuclear and missile technology.
The list here is not exhaustive. Are these times when America can afford to undergo a change at its helm. I dare say, steadier hands are needed. George Bush, Dick Cheney, don't go, now that we need you most.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 0 thumbs so far
The views expressed in this
article are those of Ben Samuel only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Ben Samuel is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2008-11-01 06:39:07
Dear Ben Samuel,
It seems you are of the opinion that the US is the world's policeman. I agree wholeheartedly that the military is overstretched. Every American should question themselves for whom, for what are they risking their lives abroad.
That said, I think its best to get Bush/Cheney out of power as fast as possible. They've had 8 years, they've had their chance, and in my humble opinion really made just about everything worse.
The real tricky changeover probably wont be in the White House or the military. My prediction is it will tbe he Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets. I think Comrade Paulson wants to go help his animals and nature out again.
"I dare say, steadier hands are needed. George Bush, Dick Cheney, don't go, now that we need you most."
This is what these characters have done for us so far:
-They increased the national debt by 75% to more than $10 trillion.
-They continued the raid on the social security trust fund so that it now contains $2 trillion in IOUs instead of dollars.
-They ran up the unfunded future liabilities to more than $40 trillion , nearly 3 times GDP.
-They started a pointless and costly war against a country that didn't do anything to us. (President Bush has publicly admitted that Iraq was not involved in 911 and also did not have WMDs.)
-They stole $700 billion from the treasury to give to unscrupulous bankers who dug themselves into trouble.
-They have in effect nullified habeas corpus, the 5th amendment's protection of due process of law, the 6th amendments right to a trial by an impartial jury and the 4th amendment's requirements for search warrants.
Any you want them to stay in office? (That BTW would constitute yet another violation of the constitution.) What are you thinking?
The constitution protects all of our rights. Without it America could be as horrible a totalitarian state as any that ever existed. And the Bush administration has done tremendous damage to it. He should be impeached and then prosecuted.
I apologize if my tongue did not protrude more visibly from my cheek. The reality is that American hubris the past 7.5 years has provided motive and opportunity for all the plagues mentioned. In total, however, they provide the ready scenario for a refusal to transfer authority. Compounded by our own financial meltdown, social unrest could realistically lead to a declaration of marshal law. We shall see.
My apologies back to you. It seems that my geezer eyes are no longer sharp enough to detect subtle impressions of the tongue in the cheek. :-)
The prospect of W declaring marshal law is an unpleasant, but perhaps not unrealistic possibility. There was some concern about this happening at the end of the Clinton administration but fortunately it never materialized. My guess is that there is no need for this to happen. Changing the puppets is of no consequence. The puppet masters still stay the same.
Want to comment on this
article? Leave your comment here. Your email address is
required to track your comment. However, we will neither
publish your email address nor distribute it to other
organizations or persons. The only reason we might use
it would be if we needed to contact you regarding your
comment. All comments are subject to our
terms of use policy.
