ckaihatsu
23rd November 2008, 00:24
[...],
Thanks for the continuing news articles. I'm sure you're aware that they, including this one, are from the bourgeois press and so should be read with that in mind.
The rolling bubble of speculation most recently made its way through the commodities markets which included supplies of oil. Countries like Venezuela, Russia, and Australia saw windfall revenues as a result, but that period is now over. Oil prices, while still inflated, are returning to more modest levels, which also indicates that the rise in prices was indeed based on speculative movements, and not on a true ballooning in demand, as the article makes out.
My take is that the major powers are so hamstrung due to crashing profits and faltering consumer confidence that the best they can do right now for common political ground is to point fingers at pirates around the waterways of Somalia.
Thanks, take care.
Chris
--
--
___
RevLeft.com -- Home of the Revolutionary Left
www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=16162
Photoillustrations, Political Diagrams by Chris Kaihatsu
community.webshots.com/user/ckaihatsu/
3D Design Communications - Let Your Design Do Your Footwork
ckaihatsu.elance.com
MySpace:
myspace.com/ckaihatsu
CouchSurfing:
tinyurl.com/yoh74u
On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 5:34 PM, [...] wrote:
> Page last updated at 11:38 GMT, Friday, 21 November 2008
>
> US global dominance 'set to wane'
>
> US economic, military and political dominance is likely to decline
> over the next two decades, according to a new US intelligence report
> on global trends.
>
> The National Intelligence Council (NIC) predicts China, India and
> Russia will increasingly challenge US influence.
>
> It also says the dollar may no longer be the world's major currency,
> and food and water shortages will fuel conflict.
>
> However, the report concedes that these outcomes are not inevitable
> and will depend on the actions of world leaders.
>
> It will make sombre reading for President-elect Barack Obama, the
> BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says, as it paints a bleak picture
> of the future of US influence and power.
>
> "The next 20 years of transition to a new system are fraught with
> risks," says Global Trends 2025, the latest of the reports that the
> NIC prepares every four years in time for the next presidential term.
>
> Washington will retain its considerable military advantages, but
> scientific and technological advances; the use of "irregular warfare
> tactics"; the proliferation of long-range precision weapons; and the
> growing use of cyber warfare "increasingly will constrict US freedom
> of action", it adds.
>
> Nevertheless, the report concludes: "The US will remain the single
> most important actor but will be less dominant."
>
> Nuclear weapons use
>
> The NIC's 2004 study painted a rosier picture of America's global
> position, with US dominance expected to continue.
>
> But the latest Global Trends report says that rising economies such
> as China, India, Russia and Brazil will offer the US more competition
> at the top of a multi-polar international system.
>
> The EU is meanwhile predicted to become a "hobbled giant", unable to
> turn its economic power into diplomatic or military muscle.
>
> A world with more power centres will be less stable than one with one
> or two superpowers, it says, offering more potential for conflict.
>
> Global warming, along with rising populations and economic growth
> will put additional strains on natural resources, it warns, fuelling
> conflict around the globe as countries compete for them.
>
> "Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade,
> investments and technological innovation and acquisition, but we
> cannot rule out a 19th Century-like scenario of arms races,
> territorial expansion and military rivalries," the report says.
>
> "Types of conflict we have not seen for a while - such as over
> resources - could re-emerge."
>
> Such conflicts and resource shortages could lead to the collapse of
> governments in Africa and South Asia, and the rise of organised crime
> in Eastern and Central Europe, it adds.
>
> And the use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely, the
> report says, as "rogue states" and militant groups gain greater
> access to them....
>
> Read the whole story at:
> <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7741049.stm>
>
> __._,_.___
> Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic
> Messages
> Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
> Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format
> to Traditional
> Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
> Recent Activity
>
> Visit Your Group
> Give Back
>
> Yahoo! for Good
>
> Get inspired
>
> by a good cause.
>
> Y! Toolbar
>
> Get it Free!
>
> easy 1-click access
>
> to your groups.
>
> Yahoo! Groups
>
> Start a group
>
> in 3 easy steps.
>
> Connect with others.
>
> .
> __,_._,___
Thanks for the continuing news articles. I'm sure you're aware that they, including this one, are from the bourgeois press and so should be read with that in mind.
The rolling bubble of speculation most recently made its way through the commodities markets which included supplies of oil. Countries like Venezuela, Russia, and Australia saw windfall revenues as a result, but that period is now over. Oil prices, while still inflated, are returning to more modest levels, which also indicates that the rise in prices was indeed based on speculative movements, and not on a true ballooning in demand, as the article makes out.
My take is that the major powers are so hamstrung due to crashing profits and faltering consumer confidence that the best they can do right now for common political ground is to point fingers at pirates around the waterways of Somalia.
Thanks, take care.
Chris
--
--
___
RevLeft.com -- Home of the Revolutionary Left
www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=16162
Photoillustrations, Political Diagrams by Chris Kaihatsu
community.webshots.com/user/ckaihatsu/
3D Design Communications - Let Your Design Do Your Footwork
ckaihatsu.elance.com
MySpace:
myspace.com/ckaihatsu
CouchSurfing:
tinyurl.com/yoh74u
On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 5:34 PM, [...] wrote:
> Page last updated at 11:38 GMT, Friday, 21 November 2008
>
> US global dominance 'set to wane'
>
> US economic, military and political dominance is likely to decline
> over the next two decades, according to a new US intelligence report
> on global trends.
>
> The National Intelligence Council (NIC) predicts China, India and
> Russia will increasingly challenge US influence.
>
> It also says the dollar may no longer be the world's major currency,
> and food and water shortages will fuel conflict.
>
> However, the report concedes that these outcomes are not inevitable
> and will depend on the actions of world leaders.
>
> It will make sombre reading for President-elect Barack Obama, the
> BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says, as it paints a bleak picture
> of the future of US influence and power.
>
> "The next 20 years of transition to a new system are fraught with
> risks," says Global Trends 2025, the latest of the reports that the
> NIC prepares every four years in time for the next presidential term.
>
> Washington will retain its considerable military advantages, but
> scientific and technological advances; the use of "irregular warfare
> tactics"; the proliferation of long-range precision weapons; and the
> growing use of cyber warfare "increasingly will constrict US freedom
> of action", it adds.
>
> Nevertheless, the report concludes: "The US will remain the single
> most important actor but will be less dominant."
>
> Nuclear weapons use
>
> The NIC's 2004 study painted a rosier picture of America's global
> position, with US dominance expected to continue.
>
> But the latest Global Trends report says that rising economies such
> as China, India, Russia and Brazil will offer the US more competition
> at the top of a multi-polar international system.
>
> The EU is meanwhile predicted to become a "hobbled giant", unable to
> turn its economic power into diplomatic or military muscle.
>
> A world with more power centres will be less stable than one with one
> or two superpowers, it says, offering more potential for conflict.
>
> Global warming, along with rising populations and economic growth
> will put additional strains on natural resources, it warns, fuelling
> conflict around the globe as countries compete for them.
>
> "Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade,
> investments and technological innovation and acquisition, but we
> cannot rule out a 19th Century-like scenario of arms races,
> territorial expansion and military rivalries," the report says.
>
> "Types of conflict we have not seen for a while - such as over
> resources - could re-emerge."
>
> Such conflicts and resource shortages could lead to the collapse of
> governments in Africa and South Asia, and the rise of organised crime
> in Eastern and Central Europe, it adds.
>
> And the use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely, the
> report says, as "rogue states" and militant groups gain greater
> access to them....
>
> Read the whole story at:
> <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7741049.stm>
>
> __._,_.___
> Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic
> Messages
> Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
> Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format
> to Traditional
> Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
> Recent Activity
>
> Visit Your Group
> Give Back
>
> Yahoo! for Good
>
> Get inspired
>
> by a good cause.
>
> Y! Toolbar
>
> Get it Free!
>
> easy 1-click access
>
> to your groups.
>
> Yahoo! Groups
>
> Start a group
>
> in 3 easy steps.
>
> Connect with others.
>
> .
> __,_._,___