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Seumas Milne, The Guardian | October 17, 2008 Violence, corruption and lawlessness keep pushing Afghanistan into a “downward spiral.” ++ Foreign troops are part of the problem; the US and the NATO focus on air attacks, “putting the life of occupation troops before civilians.” ++ A growing number of civilian victims intensifies the risk of terror attacks and hinders the country from ...More

Editorial, The New York Times | October 17, 2008 Viktor Yuschenko, president of Ukraine, has called for another parliamentary election in hopes of settling internal divisions symbolized largely by Ukraine's leading three politicians - Yuschenko, Tymoshenko, and Yanukovich. ++ This must be a Ukrainian election for Ukrainians. ++ Both Russia and the US (NATO) must keep their hands off. ++ Instead the EU should ...More

Hossein Askari, Asia Times | October 17, 2008 In addition to the development of the Iranian nuclear program and the economy, the choice of the next Iranian president will be determined by this year's US presidential election. ++ Iranians are afraid of an American or Israeli military strike. ++ Knowing that McCain endorses military options, Iranians might tend to reelect Ahmadinejad in the case that ...More

Dalia Marin | Bruegel | October 2008 Global commerce has dramatically changed in the last fifteen years. The opening of new markets, growing competition, and the struggle for attracting the world's brightest minds are all responsible for such a change. On the basis of substantial evidence from Germany and Austria, Dalia Marin shows the two manners in which companies in Europe have reacted to this ...More

David Ignatius, Washington Post | October 16, 2008 When it comes to the economy, the West and China are becoming more and more alike. ++ The Chinese are moving towards private ownership and crave the kind of dynamism that only a capitalist system can provide. ++ Western economies, on the other hand, are only capitalist in name. ++ They don’t trust the free market anymore; they want a safety net in case of ...More

Joseph Nye, Financial Times | October 16, 2008 Obama’s lead in national and global polls might tempt Osama bin Laden to make a public reappearance. ++ Bin Laden wants the US to continue “policies that create the appearance of a clash of civilizations.” ++ An Obama administration might threaten these intentions as Obama is expected to promote a more diplomatic political course. ++ Unlike ...More

Editorial, The New York Times | October 16, 2008 President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is bucking the power-sharing deal with Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader. ++ Mugabe wants to fill the security ministries with his loyalists, including those controlling the army and police. ++ Tsvangirai has called for a new power-sharing deal. ++ The US, EU and the rest of Africa must pressure Mugabe to accept this ...More

Alfred Kokh, f. deputy P.M. under Yeltsin | October 16, 2008 The West is "pushing away" Russia, not the other way around. ++ The US needs to see Russia's point of view for a change. ++ At the end of the Cold War, there was "no move to meet Russia partway;" instead, the US "talked away" Russian attempts at integration with Western institutions. ++ Yeltsin looked like a puppet for trying to gain acceptance and Putin came ...More

Kenneth Davidson, The Age | October 16, 2008 Deregulated markets are to blame for the financial crisis; likewise, only governments can salvage the wreck. ++ We will not see another great depression, but rather a recession. ++ Neo-liberal economics will go the way of the dinosaur in favor of a return to the practicality of the Keynesian brand. ++ This pragmatism was present until a new generation rose in ...More

Andrew Graham, The Guardian | October 15, 2008 The monetary meltdown is partly the result of collapsing consumer and business spending. ++ The assumption that banking sytems could be left alone has proven to be false. ++ There needs to be state-financed banking systems. ++ While spending in the West slows, the only way to stop recession is for the Chinese to increase their spending. ++ They hold $2 trillion ...More