Possibly the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, will be remembered as the most opaque until now. And one of the most embarrassing for the United States.Not only because of the embarrassing question of the relation of some security officers with prostitutes. The summit ended with sharp political differences between the U.S. and Canada with the rest of the continent with regard to the future inclusion of Cuba and support to Argentina over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) occupied by Britain. Moreover, the absence of the radical group of… [Read more…]
The visit by Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff to USA’s Barak Obama was preceded by non-optimistic omens. The announced lack of “state visit” status granted to Rousseff” trip hurt Brazilian ambitions of being recognized as a mayor player in world affairs. Then, there are a series of economic disputes in a time when each country has to… [Read more…]
I find it remarkable that the independent press in the Free World to pay attention to the meeting of two dictatorial rulers. At least, the meeting appears to be an example of diplomacy: one avoids asking for political prisoners and the other avoids asking about pedophilia.
The public disclosure of the NYPD activities spying on citizens of muslim faith stirred an outcry as it should do. But, to be frank, it hardly could be otherwise given the role of the US in the world; as they say: “A nation who oppresses others can’t be itself free”. In fact, this is a… [Read more…]
In the board game of Geopolitics there are always two sides playing. Or more, obviously. What is not so obvious is that reputed political analysts sometimes are just re-writing the guidelines provided by just only one of the players. This is what I thought of the brief Andres Oppenheimer’s piece I had to illustrate for… [Read more…]
Two decades ago, when the Soviet Union imploded, the prevalent opinion in the press as well as in the Academy, was that time had arrived for a unified or “globalized” world. In tune with this spirit, a series of “global” forums and institutions turned to become a regular feature. Some of them (like the World… [Read more…]
Argentina’s incumbent President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner re-election by a landslide 54,4% sends a message to other politicians: “bail the people instead of the banks; in the end, it pays better on the ballots”. This is a message that the Big Media aren’t eager to spread, but the whisper has started to jump over the… [Read more…]
After the 9/11 attacks, the hysteria for retaliation led the American people into the abyss of unending war, lost of civil liberties, moral debacle, monstrous debt and economic chaos. Bin Laden couldn’t dream of a biggest success. I’m not arguing here with the “truth” about who actually was the mastermind behind the attacks. I’m answering… [Read more…]
Sergio Bergman (2nd from right) is an Argentine rabbi of frequent media appearances who associated himself with local center-right politicians. He endorsed the movement headed by Mr. Blumberg (who’s son died when kidnapped) for “security” against marginalized youngsters. Then organized an NGO to raise money from wealthy Jews and contend in the community elections. Last… [Read more…]
Since the middle of 2010 the Cuban government launched economic measures aimed to improve its low productivity. They intend to ease the creation of small business and to fire half a million State employees. Is this the start of a sort of Cuban NEP? May this bring to the building of a middle class with… [Read more…]
As Barack Obama is adjusting details for his first trip to Latin America (South of Mexico) in March, questions raise about the scales scheduled and the motifs behind. First questions deal with the jump from Brazil to Chile , ignoring Argentina –which lies in between. Diplomatic explanations don’t keep at bay the local opposition from… [Read more…]
On Feb.16 a summit to be held at Lima, Peru will be attended by 9 South American leaders and 11 Arab chiefs of state to discuss a proposal of declaration by the first, recognizing an independent Palestinian State. Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia recently recognized a Palestine State along borders prior to the 1967 war,… [Read more…]
Some of the 2010 developments which Andrés Oppenheimer thinks are shaping the coming years. Asiatic students ranked high in standardized tests, announcing a possible future leadership in innovation. While Brazil became a star as an emergent economy, its diplomacy showed an “alarming” independence towards such “pariah” states like Iran. Finally, the prosecution of Julian… [Read more…]
In a few days Dilma Roussef will be sworn as the first woman elected president of Brazil and its almost 200 million citizens. With a past in the guerrilla warfare against a Western supported dictatorship, she was imprisoned and tortured. And she doesn’t regret.
In a note quite resigned, Oppenheimer acknowledges that things are going well between the presidents of Colombia and Venezuela. Why not before? The author does not say, but it seems that the controversial one was not the “dictator” Chávez but, rather, the “democratic” Uribe, after all. On the other hand, it seems now the Colombians are tired… [Read more…]
April 17, 2012
0