Saturday, February 18, 2012

A Nuclear Middle East

As events in the Middle East dominate today's news cycle, one that has special media attention for the past months (years really) is the perceived Iranian nuclear threat. As the world contemplates what to do in this emerging crisis, one consequence of a nuclear Iran is forgotten. Besides the threat of a nuclear conflict with Israel and even the nuclear arming of terrorist organizations is the proliferation of nuclear weapons to nation-states in the Middle East and the creation of a new 21st century cold war.

Nations such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan have been rumored in pursing nuclear weapons if Iran indeed is allowed to get the "bomb". This would create a crisis in the M.E. and would leave the U.S. in a difficult situation enforcing the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Less than China??

This Tuesday the Obama administration made a shocking announcement; weighing an option to cut are strategic nuclear weapons arsenal by as much as 80%. That would leave the number of warheads at levels that would sub-cede China which has an estimated arsenal of 300 nuclear weapons.

Frankly, this moves puzzles me and makes me wonder if the Obama administration is just using this as a political tool rather than a sincere policy decision. What Mr. Obama either ignores or fails to see is the effects this would have on our first strike capabilities. Even with the unlikelihood of nuclear war with one of the major nuclear powers, it is still imperative that we do not lose our first strike capabilities. First strike capabilities is essentially when one nation has enough nukes to launch a first strike taking out the opposing nation's arsenal.

President Obama must re-think this strategy in order to keep America a strong legitimate superpower in the world. If our nuclear arsenal is reduced to the levels that he is considering, than we have a more dangerous prospect of showing weakness to a rogue nation like the DPRK which could bolster its resolve to develop more nuclear weapons.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

From Europe to the Mid-East

I should really get to bed right now but I have promised myself that I will try and update this blog once a day or should I say once per cycle that I am awake...

Quite a bit has happened since last time I posted. Moody's investor service today downgraded a few Eurozone countries today which among them included major countries such as Italy (A3 to A2), Portugal (Ba3 to Ba2) and Spain (A3 to A1). As U.S. stock markets will surely be rattled tomorrow morning from these events the oil markets will surely have its own startling in the days ahead. Iran is being blamed for an array attacks on Israeli diplomats most likely as revenge for the suspicious killings of Iran's own nuclear scientists. This and Iran's promise of releasing new information about its nuclear program will surely lead to a spike in oil prices. If you've missed the days of $4.00 gas then you might be in for a treat...

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Athens Burns.....again

Sunday marked the beginning of a new infusion of violence and unrest for Greece. Greek lawmakers today passed once again another major austerity bill in order to secure another EU/IMF bailout. This marks the second time Greece has made sweeping cuts in order to save the nation from its sovereign debt crisis.

Greek citizens once again have taken into the streets with wide spread violence, looting, and overall unrest. As Athens burns the IMF, which receives a substantial amount of its funds from the United States, plans to give another bailout package.

As civil unrest has plagued Greece for almost a year now and has already seen major changes in its leadership, one must think how long this nation can survive at this state without substantial or dare say radical changes. This past year has been a rocking one to say the least in regards to the crisis in Greece and Euro crisis that has followed. The technocracies of Greece and now Italy have led to roller coaster like European Union. Can the EU survive this now elongated crisis or will Greece and the other "PIGS" truly bring down the European experiment?