by Richard Gowan | Feb 12, 2009 | Conflict and security, Economics and development, North America
Major league economic crisis trumps minor league terrorists:
Sounding more like an economist than the war-fighting Navy commander he once was, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told a Senate panel Thursday that if the crisis lasts more than two years, it could cause some nations’ governments to collapse.
And a number of allies the United States depends on might no longer be able to afford to meet their own defense and humanitarian obligations, he said.
Blair said already the financial meltdown, which started in the United States and quickly infected other countries, has eroded confidence in American economic leadership and belief in free markets.
“Time is probably our greatest threat. The longer it takes for the recovery to begin, the greater the likelihood of serious damage to U.S. strategic interests,” he told the Senate Intelligence Committee, as Congress prepares to vote Friday on a $789 billion stimulus package.
Blair’s 49-page statement opened with a detailed description of the economic crisis. It was a marked departure from threat briefings of years past, which focused first on traditional threats and battlefields like Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.
“The primary near-term security concern of the United States is the global economic crisis and its geopolitical implications,” he said in a written statement for the committee.
One reason for the new ranking is progress made in the last year against al-Qaida. A year ago, al-Qaida was said to have reconstituted its operations in the lawless tribal area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. But that has changed.
“Because of the pressure we and our allies have put on al-Qaida’s core leadership in Pakistan and the continued decline of al-Qaida’s most prominent regional affiliate in Iraq, al-Qaida today is less capable and effective than it was a year ago,” he said.
Four top al-Qaida operatives were killed over the last year — partially a result of newly aggressive rules of engagement for U.S. forces on the Pakistan border. The organization has had to promote junior players figured “considerably less skilled and respected” to fill those slots, he said.
by Richard Gowan | Feb 12, 2009 | Middle East and North Africa, Off topic
Somewhat incredibly, this is the lead story on cnn.com this Thursday afternoon:
The shotgun blast rips into the stray dog’s midsection, sending it tumbling over and over. Agonizing yelps echo through the streets as it tries to reach and bite at the gaping wound. Minutes later, the dog is dead.
A few miles away, a puppy eats a piece of poisoned meat. Its body starts to twitch and spasm as the toxins kick in. It dies within 15 minutes.
The two strays were among the thousands that roam the streets of Baghdad. Authorities have been killing them since November, trying to prevent the spread of disease and attacks on residents.
The Baghdad dog-culling program comprises two vets, a council official and a police officer armed with a shotgun. The vets distribute bits of meat poisoned with strychnine. If the poison doesn’t kill the dogs, the police officer steps in with the shotgun.
“I do have mercy for all animals,” veterinarian Khalil Abdullah said. “But we can’t vaccinate the wild animals in the street, and we don’t have the means or ability to bring them all to the hospital.”
Does this really count as the most important story in the world right now? And if it does, how is it improved by the pulp novel prose? And if it somehow does benefit from this sort of trash, is this the best you can do?
The mongrel was blown apart like a Republican Guard tank hit by a Tomahawk missile fired from a U.S. submarine thousands of miles away. Khalil looked around for one last hit. Some little punk of a beagle-terrier cross cowered on the sidewalk. Khalil raised his piece. “It’s time to go walkies, big boy”, he snarled.
OK, I made that up. But it’s about the same quality of journalism, or maybe a bit better. Shame on you CNN. Even if you have a cute puppy photo:
by Daniel Korski | Feb 12, 2009 | Conflict and security, East Asia and Pacific
You will be pleased to know that this blog is now not only good for analysis, but is also sometimes first with the news…
Earlier today, Gordon Brown announced that he had appointed Des Browne as UK Special Envoy for Sri Lanka. Two days ago I broke this news in my piece about the futility of UK envoy. Conclusion: Global Dashboard is well-informed, but not read by anyone in power…
by Alex Evans | Feb 12, 2009 | What we're watching
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr9FO15CHO4[/youtube]
by Alex Evans | Feb 12, 2009 | Influence and networks, London Summit
Yes, it’s only February, but it seems pretty unlikely that anything will top this for sheer pointlessness and banality. Here’s the pitch from the “Put People First” march that will be taking place in London on 28th March:
On 2 April the leaders of 20 of the world’s biggest economies meet in London to tackle the recession and global financial crisis..
But even before the banking collapse caused recession, the world suffered vast poverty and inequality and faced the looming threat of climate chaos.
Governments, business and international institutions have followed a model of financial deregulation that has encouraged short-term profits, instability and an economy fuelled by ever-increasing debt, both financial and environmental.
There can be no going back to business as usual. The only sustainable way to rebuild the global economy is to create a fair distribution of wealth that provides decent jobs and public services for all, ends global inequality and builds a low carbon future.
Wow. That’ll tell the politicians.
But, er, what is it telling them, exactly?
Sure, it’s not exactly a newsflash that the last few years have seen a pronounced move among NGOs away from having actual policy, and towards big campaign platforms that are much more about maximising participation (and hence donations and membership).
But even so, this is a new low. Make Poverty History may not have had the most sophisticated of policy platforms, but it looks like a doctoral thesis in comparison to this. The coalition of participating organisations haven’t even bothered to put together a position paper to explain what they want. Instead, there is simply this one liner:
Our message is clear. We must put people first.
The only clear message I can make out is the one that says “NGOs are hellbent on political irrelevance”.
(See also: Where next for NGOs?)
