Betzee said...

Betzee at 10:39 PM JST - 10th July

As news spread across the world of Iran’s provocative missile tests, so did an image of four missiles heading skyward in unison. Unfortunately, it contained one too many missiles, a fact that had not emerged before the photo appeared on the front pages of The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago…

Posted in U.S. calls for Iran to stop firing missiles at 10:39 PM JST - 10th July
Betzee at 10:40 AM JST - 10th July

Earlier this year the GWB administration designated African oil as a “strategic national interest” which raises the specter of using American military force to protect it, presumably to assure continued pumping in the face of domestic social unrest rather than squaring off against the Chinese PLA.

Whereas in Iraq there…

Posted in Iranian leader slams U.S. as greatest threat to global security at 10:40 AM JST - 10th July
Betzee at 10:15 AM JST - 10th July

The Chinese are developing their own deep-water navy.

Yeah, they are pumping money into it. The Chinese realized once your economy is dependent on international trade you'd better have a first-rate navy which can do things like keep the sea lanes open. The 2001 US spy incident off Hainan Island…

Posted in Iranian leader slams U.S. as greatest threat to global security at 10:15 AM JST - 10th July
Betzee at 11:18 PM JST - 9th July

Not, it's pointing out the problem of claiming to represent the interests of the Iraqi people without listening to them.

Posted in Iraq raises pressure on U.S. for troop withdrawal timeline at 11:18 PM JST - 9th July
Betzee at 11:16 PM JST - 9th July

Seems to me Japan managed to become the worlds second largest economy largest economy because of 'bases', Europe did pretty well becuase of American 'bases' also dont'cha think.

Yes, because we were protecting the capitalist economic infrastructure upon which our way of life depends. SuperLib, by contrast, seems to feel…

Posted in Iranian leader slams U.S. as greatest threat to global security at 11:16 PM JST - 9th July
Betzee at 11:03 PM JST - 9th July

leave now is a good idea dont'cha think,

How much say should the Iraqis have in this matter of stay or go? According to McCain, it doesn't matter what Maliki says cuz he's "just a politician."

Posted in Iraq raises pressure on U.S. for troop withdrawal timeline at 11:03 PM JST - 9th July
Betzee at 10:52 PM JST - 9th July

Hope they can move up their economy together,

The Chinese have taken some flak owing to their support for Mugabe. Can't even remember what is is that Zimbabwe has which the PRC needs, but it has some natural resource which they covet.

Posted in Mugabe ready to work with opposition at 10:52 PM JST - 9th July
Betzee at 10:35 PM JST - 9th July

because the US set up bases over the world to make sure other countries could not reach our shores.

In fact many of those bases are there to protect our economic infrastructure. Since other countries are not in a position to put bases outside their own borders, they find other…

Posted in Iranian leader slams U.S. as greatest threat to global security at 10:35 PM JST - 9th July
Betzee at 10:00 PM JST - 9th July

Maliki is in a bit of a bind on this. It's doubtful he could have been appointed PM without the backing of al-Sadr. Plus there's been an incident in his hometown which risks making him look like a patsy:

Maliki is Janaja's most famous son, but he's been conspicuously silent…

Posted in Iraq raises pressure on U.S. for troop withdrawal timeline at 10:00 PM JST - 9th July
Betzee at 09:34 PM JST - 9th July

Yeah, but who absorbed all the tax-dollars?

Deep pockets.

The contracts were written in such a way that the more you spent the more you could make. There was no incentive to control costs which of course went up as security detoriated. Few are even functioning today. The Iraqis didn't…

Posted in Iraq raises pressure on U.S. for troop withdrawal timeline at 09:34 PM JST - 9th July