The Iran War

Robert Fisk on the saber rattling build up to an attack on Tehran.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-an-attack-on-tehran-would-be-madness-so-dont-rule-it-out-6358872.html

Selection of articles setting the scene for the 'inevitable' attack:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/iran-begins-monthlong-naval-exercises-near-strait-of-hormuz-key-world-oil-waterway/2012/02/04/gIQA80hfoQ_story.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/04/iran-military-manouveres-tensions?newsfeed=true

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/292810/20120203/iran-war-bomb-israel-panetta-attack-oil.htm

Conflicts in the New Year

Foreign Policy issues for 2012.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/27/next_years_wars?page=0,2#.TvsJcLI7arc.twitter

Rethinking American Governance

Interesting article attempting to redefine the parameters of fascism and include the growing governmental power of consecutive American administrations, including FDR and Nixon. This is an look at the power of the state, with a clear slant in the direction of libertarianism.

http://mises.org/daily/5634/Americas-Unique-Fascism

Sharp Shift in the World Order

The slow death of the Euro gives China and the USA the opportunity to call the shots.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ambroseevans-pritchard/100013198/america-and-china-must-crush-germany-into-submission/

Peace Declared

US forces to begin final withdrawal from Iraq, with the last day of 2011 as the endpoint for the 'Occupation'.

http://www.thenation.com/article/164087/after-nearly-nine-years-war-and-occupation-america-withdraw-all-troops-iraq

Letter to Mohammed Bouazizi

As the Arab spring becomes the 'American Fall', this article recalls the actions of the man who provided the spark for it all.

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/18/mohammed_bouazizi_ows/singleton/

The Trends of Ill Health

Excellent graphic displaying the growing gap in income levels and the relationship between productivity and reward in the USA.


http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/09/great-prosperity-1947-1977-vs-great-regression-1981-present/

The Day China Took Over

The downgrading of the United States credit rating is not in itself a big deal, it is, however, symptomatic of a wider trend whereby the Americans are seen to be a failing power, unable to manage wither it's foreign or domestic financial affairs, never mind lead the world. In contrast, China has been flexing it's economic muscles since the start of the current economic downturn and is now in a position to not only claim to challenge the US position as world hegemon but indeed to put forward it's case as the senior partner in a symbiotic relationship between the two giants. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8684245/China-cant-and-wont-save-the-world.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14430598

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/business/global/china-a-big-creditor-says-us-has-only-itself-to-blame.html

http://blogs.forbes.com/kenrapoza/2011/08/06/the-post-western-world/

Mind The Gap

“the rich are different from you and me.”

An article regarding the growing inequality gap in America and the reasons those in the know give for it

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/11633/let_them_eat_megabytes

Who to Blame?

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/jamesfallows/assets_c/2011/07/debt_chart_wh_0-58731.php

Looking for a scapegoat or getting to the root of the problem? Who and what caused the debt? Rebuffing the idea that Obama's 'spending binge' was the sole or even primary reason for the current crisis.

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/93159/what-caused-the-deficit-reply-megan-mcardle

United States of Parasites?

Vladimir Putin attacks 'Dollar Dominance' and the negative impact Americans frivolous spending is having on the world economy.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/us-russia-putin-usa-idUSTRE77052R20110801

The Debt Ceiling Debate

What has been learned in Washington from the debate between the Democrats and the Republicans over the Debt Ceiling. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-debt-ceiling-fight-what-we-learned/2011/08/01/gIQA94dbnI_blog.html?hpid=z1

China-US Relations in South East Asia

US and China continue to clash in the South China Sea over the perceived spheres of influence of both governments. China has launched its clearest warning yet that it is running out of patience with the US.

http://the-diplomat.com/new-leaders-forum/2011/06/26/china-plays-nationalism-card/

Monroe in Asia

The differing versions of hegemonic powers in the world: the Free-rider, the Strongman, and the Constabulary models, and how the Monroe Doctrine applies them to China, India and the USA in Asia.

http://the-diplomat.com/2011/06/15/monroe-doctrines-in-asia/

Not So Exceptional

A look at the idea of American Exceptionalism, with a particular focus on debunking the very idea of it.

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/03/03/in-defense-of-american-excepti#

One Nation Under Retrospection

The Founding Fathers of the USA

The faith of the three traditional pillars in the telling of the history of North America

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jun/09/very-violent-road-america/

Is America Still Relevant in the Middle East?

Robert Fisk's article on the shrinking role of the Obama administration in the Middle East

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/who-cares-in-the-middle-east-what-obama-says-2290761.html

The Shifting Sands of American History




The Lincoln Memorial

 

What is History but an interpretation of facts for political aim? How can we trust a retrospective analysis of political figures when it's in certain people's interest to push their agenda through the prism of famous, or infamous, historical names and events. This article looks at the way American history is distorted and revised, viewed from one side or the other, how the narrative becomes an active playbook which informs modern policy. The American political obsession with legitimising itself by calling on examples from the past can and has meant that our views of their history are constantly being challenged, especially when viewed by the standards of today, rather than in historical context.

http://www.democracyjournal.org/20/making-history.php?page=1



The ICC and Validating War

The role of the ICC in providing justification for military intervention

http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-fake-icc-the-globalist-strategy-of-tension.html

The Crux of the Issue

Fundemental Islam as a way of life in Pakistan

http://www.tnr.com/article/world/88652/pakistan-united-states-relations-islam-afghan-taliban-terrorism