Sunday, September 14th, 2003
DONALD SENSING ON BLOGGING
A good one.
Archive for September, 2003
Sunday, September 14th, 2003
BRIEF EXPRESSION OF PROFESSIONAL FRUSTRATION
Why is it that in general, when it comes to foreign affairs, the American media covers news as if all of us are morons ? With a few exceptions, to be well informed about foreign policy and international news you have to rely on foreign media sources, wire reports and think tank journals. Is there really no market here for decent world news coverage in a mainstream venue ?
Sunday, September 14th, 2003
TOP AL QAIDA LEADER FLESS IRAN ?
Iran has aided Number # 2 al Qaida chief, Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri flee according to the Debka file. The Debka file is always an interesting read and is allegedly linked to Israeli intelligence which purportedly leaks ( selectively) to Debka. My experience in reading the Debka File is that they are often correct in a big picture sort of way that when they indicate something big is going to happen, it will, though the details may differ significantly from what they predicted. Meanwhile, the Saudis have asked Iran for the extradition of Saad bin Laden, a middle level al Qaida leader being groomed to succeed his father Osama bin Laden
Sunday, September 14th, 2003
RUSSIAN-SAUDI STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP OF CONVENIENCE
I’m dubious about the durability of this relationship or the ability of these two states to choke off development of oil and gas reserves in the Trans-Caspian region ( instability and warfare will have far greater effect than Saudi-Russian pressure) but here’s the article.
Sunday, September 14th, 2003
YOU MEAN STATIST THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES ARE BAD TRADING PARTNERS ???
Say it ain’t so ! The Progressive Policy Institute points out that, quite hypocritically, many of the sanctimonious Third World kleptocrats who complain bitterly about the West’s trading practices are all that and more to each other. Case in point:
Bangladesh exports to United States, 2002: $1.90 billion
Bangladesh exports to India, 2002: $0.06 billion
PPI goes on further to say:
“India’s case may be the most remarkable of all. Its Trade Minister Murasoli Maran noted when the Doha talks began in 2001 that “tariff peaks and tariff escalation continue to affect many developing country exports.” He should know — India itself has in essence one trade system for most of the world, and a second (far harsher) for its poorer neighbors. Cotton skirts are an example, carrying tariffs of “30 percent or Rs. 110/ – per piece, whichever is higher.” 110 rupees are the equivalent of about $2.30 — so in practice, a designer firm in Milan selling a $500 skirt gets a 30 percent tax, and small factories in Bangladesh making $1 skirts for their natural market in Calcutta get one of 100 percent or 200 percent
Remember to mention this at the next bash the West for the Rest type protest outside the WTO or World Bank.
