Watching Pakistan dealing with the growing menace of extremists inside the country for the past decade or so reminds of the popular game "Deal or No Deal." After every round of political soup opera the stakes are raised, and the Western allies, primarily the US is asked "deal or no deal?" Then the game goes on into a new round. This comparison would have been entertaining had it not been so demonically tragic for the ordinary Pakistani clamped down between corrupt government(s), unpredictable military institution, and blinded religious fanatics-idealists. The latest round is particularly 'entertaining' because of what seems to be at stake – Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. So now we have ever more emboldened, ever more galvanized, and ever more determined Pakistani Taliban movement, a shaky, unpopular, and divided government, a finalist in the form of the US, and a military 'banker.' Do we have a deal? Before going along with this crude comparison, ...
North Korea tested a nuclear device this past Memorial Day weekend in attempt to call the US bluff. The Great Powers rushed to condemn the test, which was expected, and the UN's Security Council is expected to deliver a strong resolution against N. Korea. South Korea, frightened and frustrated, agreed to back the US plan to search N. Korea's boats for weapons. Pyongyang has warned that such a move would be considered an open declaration of war. Now South Korea must call the North's bluff. But the real victims of the Dear Leader's power game will be Russia and China, along with his tacit supporters. Conversely, he US actually stands to benefit from this escalation. Here is why. Before looking at the implications of this new situation, and the possible ways to respond, we must address: a) why the escalation happened and b) why it happened now. There are at least two possible scenarios as to why Pyongyang tested the nuclear devices, and launched the missiles. The first...
Като външен и далечен наблюдател, осъзнавам, че нито мнението ми, нито наблюденията ми са достатъчно прецизни. Въпреки честите визити до България и постоянното следене на преса и мултимедия, не претендирам за акуратност. За това и се въздържах да пратя за публикация този, така или иначе, доста дълъг и вероятно скучноват или травиален текст. Надявам се, все пак, четящите го да го намерят поне за малко интересен или оригинален. The most famous visualisation of the idea behind Russell's Paradox: Magritte's "This is Not a Pipe" pipe drawing. Is, indeed, an image of a pipe a "pipe"? През последните 6-7 месеца търсех и сравнявах теории, които биха могли да обяснят протестите в България и динамиката на “взаимоотношения” между правителство и протестиращи. Най-близката аналогия, разбира се, би била с протестните движения “Окупирай”, които през последните няколко години превзеха Европа, Америка и Азия. Следвайки логиката на развитие на “Окупирай”, бъл...
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