With the announcement of QE2 this well balanced guide to QE is worthwhile reading. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/paulmason/2010/11/the_wall_of_money_a_guide_to_q.html As good as the US election news was for many Americans, there remain serious fault lines in […]
The Pope, the Nazis and Atheism
Following the Pope’s tour of the UK I am somewhat mystified by his statements linking the Nazi movement and Atheism. He seems to impute to Atheists the responsibility for wars and atrocities […]
Beware the Angry Dragon
China is under fire once again from an American administration desperate to find a scapegoat for the economic malaise in the US. It is no coincidence that Timothy Geithner’s comments are being […]
Misconceptions, Bad Investments
Mesopotamia The US troops have begun departing Iraq shouting “we won, it’s over”; Obama says he will withdraw the remaining 50,000 troops end 2011; and in Afghanistan he stands by the promise […]
US Foreign Policy, an Antonym for Realpolitik
Realpolitik, a definition: Realpolitik (German: real “realistic”, “practical” or “actual”; and Politik “politics”) refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical considerations, rather than ideological notions or moralistic premises; There is no listed Antonym for Realpolitik, but […]
China at the 2010 Davos WEF
Today’s (31 January 2010) NZZ am Sonntag (Neue Züricher Zeitung), my favourite Sunday newspaper, in the Background Section carried a full page feature article on the Chinese presence at the WEF in […]
Democracy as a global concept – an observation from the past, a warning for the future
I first posted this blog on 26 March 2005, and because it remains a salient topic I am republishing it. With reference to my previous posts expressing doubt about the validity and […]
Reprint China/Democracy Blog
Today’s blog, a reprint of one from March 2006, is a long one and, although dated, it still reflects my controversial views about Democracy and in particular how it applies to China. […]
America’s Deficits, Debts and Diplomacy Part 2
I refer the readers to my post of 18 February in which I wrote of the risk of America financing its debt by selling T-Notes to foreign governments and financial institutions. Last […]
Help wanted – a political oculist
A Political oculist? Is there such a thing? Well, if not, perhaps someone should become one, because the United States is in dire need of treatment for political short sightedness. America’s foreign […]
Global Policy Index 