''Obama’s first trip to Thailand : Why is he visiting now?''

From Asian Correspondent

''In previous trips to Asia, not visiting Thailand could have been understood (given time pressures), but this time to visit Cambodia and Myanmar without visiting Thailand would have been seen as a snub to Thailand.  Clearly, visiting Cambodia, where Obama will attend the ASEAN summit, and Myanmar (see here, here, here, and here about the Myanmar trip)* are the priorities on this trip and not Thailand.''

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Myanmar: ''New Geopolitical Status''

From Strategic Culture
By Igor Ignatchenko

''85% of oil and its products are supplied to China from the Persian Gulf and Africa across the Indian Ocean, including the narrow Malacca Strait controlled by the armed forces of USA and its regional allies. The area is subject to pirate attacks. In June 2011 Washington initiated the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (Seacat) joint field training exercise involving the navies of the US, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei in the Malacca Strait. Beijing couldn’t but see it as a threat to the sea lanes that are used for supplies of hydrocarbons and other materials to the country. ''

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''Obama's Election and the Caribbean: What Does it Mean?''

From NACLA

''Early Wednesday morning the Caribbean breathed a sigh of relief with the re-election of Barack Obama. A Romney victory would have ushered in a period of uncertainty, as it was expected that he would pursue a more aggressive stance towards Cuba and other left leaning governments in the region. During the debates however, it became apparent that Latin America and the Caribbean was not an area of deep concern for either candidate as the foreign policy discussion was intensely focused on matters relating to the potential conflict with Iran, security in post-Gaddafi Libya, Israel/Palestine, Syria and the trade imbalance with China.''

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Pepe Escobar Podcast

From Boilings Frogs Post

''Our favorite globetrotting investigative reporter, Pepe Escobar, joins us in-studio for the first time, and shares his encyclopedic knowledge on many issues. We largely focus on Iran, which was mentioned 45 times by the candidates, and Romney’s “me-too” message as Obama dominated the exchange and reeled off many zingers.

We also touch on the new film, Argo, and Escobar peppers his comments with literary and pop culture references. Pepe Escobar provides powerful insight and his unique voice based on his world travels, and delivers important perspectives on America by an outsider.''

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''Jack Blood interviews William Engdahl''

From DeadLineLive with Jack Blood

10.11.12 – ''Jack Blood Interviews Author / Expert William Engdahl regarding his newest book: Myths, Lies and Oil wars. Subject is geo politics, energy policy, fake Arab Spring / arab fall… Libya etc.''

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''The Petrodollar: A Missing Link In U.S. Foreign Policy And The Currency Wars''

From Seeking Alpha
By Sharedata Futures

''The US stands to lose considerable political capital and suffer economically should the rest of the world develop functional bilateral payment mechanisms for energy or a non-US Dollar reserve system. Historically, it's usually a sign of the endgame when a nation/empire must use force via both financial and military warfare to sustain the status quo.''

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''Analytic Brief: A Romney Foreign Policy in the Southwestern Pacific''

a great blog and a great read..................From 36th Parallel
By Dr Paul G Buchanan

''If elected it can be expected that Mr. Romney will continue to advance the US “pivot” towards Asia announced by President Obama. He will, however, have a more militaristic edge to his agenda vis a vis the PRC, as he appears to tie trade and security relations much more tightly than  Obama has done and has spoken of confronting China as a trade cheat and military rival. He will re-focus US attention on Russia, which in a Cold War throw-back he has called the “greatest geopolitical threat” to the US. He will reaffirm US support for Israel, to include its position on occupied territories, negotiations with Palestinian authorities and dealing with Iran (in fact some analysts have suggested that Romney’s personal friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has essentially allowed the latter to dictate the candidate’s approach to the Middle East).''

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''Economic Turmoil and Military Crises''

From Financial Sense

''Events are moving very fast now, suggesting that substantive changes are approaching. With tanks on the streets of Venezuela, Turkish artillery shelling Syrian positions, unrest in Tehran and rising Sino-Japanese tensions, the danger of further shocks to the world economy cannot be ruled out. At the same time, the unfavorable impression made by President Barack Obama in his first debate with challenger Mitt Romney has now created the impression that Romney may win the election, leading to economic policy changes in Washington.''

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''A strategic triangle pointing East''

From Russia & India Report
By  Andrei Kislyakov

''China has already surpassed the United States in terms both of industrial production and export volume. The country will catch up with the US in terms of GDP by 2016-2018 and in military spending by 2025. The United States has been trying to adapt to a polycentric world after its efforts to consolidate a unipolar world failed.

The United States is overstretched at the moment. It is withdrawing troops from Iraq and preparing for a pullout from Afghanistan. America is also facing a huge budget deficit. According to estimates, the U.S. will have to borrow 30 cents on every dollar of public spending for the 2013 fiscal year. The majority of this borrowing will be from China.''

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''Around the World with Pepe Escobar'' (Video)

From Corbett Report

''Tonight we talk to Pepe Escobar, roving correspondent for ATimes.com, about the flashpoints in the middle east and North Africa. We discuss the latest round of Iran war hysteria, the Israeli position in the region, the Turkish role in the Syrian war, and the latest moves of newly-elected Muslim Brotherhood President of Egypt, Mohammed Morsi.''

watch the video here 

''Putin’s Geopolitical Chess Game with Washington in Syria and Eurasia''

From Voltaire Net
By F William Engdahl

''For blocking a UN resolution that could have led to military intervention in Syria, Russia has been accused by the Orwellian West of putting its national interests ahead of the lives of millions of Syrians. By scrutinizing Vladimir Putin’s actions since his reelection, William Engdahl shows that Russia is indeed pursuing her national interests which are best served by fostering a just and peaceful world environment and by thwarting the US-Israeli agenda for a Greater Middle East.''

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''US grants ‘Iran waiver’ to China''

a view from India..............From IndianPunchline
MK Bhadrakumar

''The point is, Washington is slithering away from a showdown with Beijing. Life can be very simple at times: You just don’t bite the hand that feeds you.  A trade war with China is the last thing the US wants. 

The US made repeated demarches with China over Iran sanctions. Top US officials including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner travelled to Beijing to plead the case. But China ignored them and kept insisting it will only comply with the UN sanctions. The Chinese foreign ministry insisted last week that its purchases of Iranian oil are “legitimate”.   

What are the facts? True, there was a reduction in China’s oil imports in the first months of the year due to a pricing dispute (which has since been resolved). The facts are that China’s oil imports from Iran have actually jumped by 39% from April to more than half a million barrels per day. Experts predict that Chinese imports are likely to further rise in June and July.  

The fact that a former US secretary of state has been camping in Delhi to plead Wal Mart’s case shows which way the wind is blowing. Where else other than India can Wal Mart hope to tap into a $430 billion market in the remaining part of the 21st century?'' 

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''Pakistan to award gas pipeline contracts to Russia''

i guess the CIA drone attacks didn't work...............From Express Tribune


''Pakistan has agreed to award contracts without bidding for multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects to Russia, which will also extend financial assistance.

However, in an understanding reached with Russia, Pakistan made it clear that it would award the contracts on government-to-government basis only. Private Russian firms will not be entertained.''

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''When Democracies Collide''

From ISN Blog

''The multipolar nature of today’s international system will again be on display at the upcoming G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico. Global problems are no longer solved, crises managed, or global rules defined, let alone implemented, the old-fashioned way, by a few, mostly Western, powers. Incipient great and middle powers, such as India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and South Africa, also demand their say.

Some of these powers are still emerging economies. Politically, however, most of them have crossed the threshold that has long limited their access to the kitchen of international decision-making. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the “P-5”) still defend their right to veto resolutions, and their military power is unmatched. But they can no longer dispose of sufficient resources, competence, and legitimacy to cope with global challenges or crises on their own.

Bipolarity is a thing of the past, and it is unlikely to re-emerge in a new Sino-American “G-2.” It is equally unlikely for the foreseeable future that any one club of countries, such as the G-7 or G-8, will again assume a quasi-hegemonic position. Even the G-20 in its current composition may not really represent the forces that can and will shape the twenty-first century.''

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''Mother of All War Games Planned by China, Russia, Iran and Syria''

From Asia Security Watch

''China, Russia, Iran and Syria plan to stage what would be the “biggest joint war game in the Middle East” ever, the semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency reported Tuesday. Fars cited “informed sources” as saying that 90,000 troops, 400 warplanes and 1,000 tanks will take part in joint military exercises in Syria next month.

The massive war games drill will include air defense and missile units as well as ground, air and naval forces, including “12 Chinese warships, Russian atomic submarines and warships, aircraft carriers and mine-clearing destroyers,” as well as Iranian battleships and submarines.''

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''What Is Going on in the Middle East? A Pragmatic Point of View''

From Foreign Policy Journal

''Even the most thorough writings on the “Arab Spring” have paid little attention to the genuine forces behind this phenomenon and their real purposes. Meanwhile, we strongly believe that the revelation of these purposes, which undoubtedly exist but are unknown to the wider public, is necessary for answering perhaps the most significant question of today’s politics: What consequences may sociopolitical explosions in North Africa and the Middle East have in regional and global terms?''

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India: ''PM leaves for Myanmar, energy need and China in focus''

From Hindustan Times

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday left for Myanmar on a three-day trip that will see him unveil new initiatives in expanding trade and energy cooperation with the oil-rich country besides inking a pact on a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay. Singh said he hoped to focus on stronger trade and investment links, development of border areas and improving connectivity between India and Myanmar.

India remains "committed to a close, cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership with the government and people of Myanmar," Singh said in a statement before leaving for Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city.''

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''No, India Cannot Be the US’ Poodle''

From Strategic Culture
By MK Bhadrakumar

''In the event of an extremist takeover in Afghanistan, regional powers may get drawn in, especially Pakistan and India, which are of course nuclear powers. Needless to say, any Pakistan-India rivalry over the Afghan situation in the post-2014 period would have dangerous consequences for regional security. The two countries are engaged in an incipient dialogue that may appear promising at the moment but there is a real danger that the debris of the US’ Afghan strategy may fall on the dialogue and simply emasculate the voices of sanity. It can’t be otherwise, because for Pakistan, a “friendly” government in Kabul constitutes a crucial national interest, which is not open to discussion, while for India, influence in Afghanistan is a key element of its medium and long term regional strategy toward China, which is increasingly becoming an obsessive thought in all that it does.''

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''Objectives Behind the Looming Great War''

a view from russia and a must read

From 'There are no Sunglasses'

''The recent developments – from the seizure of Iraq and Afghanistan to the rape of Libya and the spill of the Arab Spring – leave no doubt that the world system periphery faces a new round of colonial conquests. The geopolitical process is likely imminent since a power capable of mounting serious opposition to it is completely missing in today’s world, and the only aspect of the situation that currently remains unclear is whether the revival of colonialism will follow a bipolar pattern, with the US and the EU securing a grip on the rest of the world, or some sort of an alternative colonization model is going to emerge.''

''At the moment, the West cannot coexist with countries combining ownership of extensive natural resources with geopolitical might. The West may go on pretending to be unaware of the nuclear arsenals of Israel or Pakistan, a country with chronically poor governance that can’t or doesn’t try too hard to throw out the Talibs, but the spotlight sticks to the energy-rich Iran with its claims to regional leadership, even though the country is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. By all means, Iran’s nuclear program is nothing more than a casus belli – even with no trace of interest in nuclear technologies, the country would still be in big trouble. Moscow should, in the meantime, keep in mind that it is destined to be the next target after Tehran as the same Brzezinski said that in the XXI century the US would develop against Russia, at the expense of Russia, and on the ruins of Russia.''

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''The great game comes to Bangladesh''

From Russia & India Report
By MK Bhadrakumar

..........''the US policies toward Myanmar and Bangladesh are inter-connected and, in turn, they emanate out of Washington’s ‘containment’ strategy toward China. Clinton’s visit to Dhaka follows her recent trip to Myanmar – and from Dhaka she is proceeding to India. The state secretary’s South Asian jaunt is also sandwiched between the meeting of the US-China strategic dialogue forum in Beijing this week and the forthcoming session of the US-India strategic dialogue in Washington next month. Clinton co-chairs both these forums.''

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