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Paul Krugman, The New York Times | October 13, 2008 Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling "have shown us the way through this financial crisis." ++ The British Prime Minister and his officials lead the world in assessing the financial crisis and quickly enacting an apt solution. ++ The problem: lack of capital in the banking system; Brown's solution: equity injections, a type of temporary nationalization, with the ...More

Peter Boone & Simon Johnson | October 13, 2008 It will not suffice if the G7 only saves the financial systems of its own members. ++ The wealthiest nations can afford to shore up their banks, but emerging countries won’t be able to do the same on their own. ++ Steep recessions will follow in emerging regions and will in turn dampen the economies of Western Europe and the US. ++ Therefore, in its own ...More

Atul Aneja, the Hindu | October 13, 2008 Recent developments have greatly reduced the chances of a war against Iran. ++ Washington had planned to conduct air strikes against Iran from Georgian soil. ++ Russian intervention makes it impossible, which has “strengthened Iran’s hand.” ++ Russia undermined US efforts to impose new sanctions against Tehran during the Security ...More

Thomas M. Skypek, The Weekly Standard | October 13, 2008 China’s demand for raw materials and new markets boosts its appetite for economic and military involvement in Africa. ++ The African continent is increasingly serving as a proxy battleground for Beijing and Washington. ++ China exports weapons to states hostile to the US thus complicating American counterterrorism actions. ++ Chinese involvement in Africa ...More

Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister | October 10, 2008 World’s financial systems are increasingly interdependent, and solutions to economic slowdown that used to be relevant are now “outworn dogmas.” ++ Cross-continental flows of capital make regional systems of supervision inadequate. ++ A global system of supervision needs to be introduced immediately. ++ The Financial Stability Forum and the ...More

George Woloshyn, Kyiv Post | October 10, 2008 Russia’s military is almost an obsolete force due to poor training and poor quality of armaments. ++ Russia's defense budget is just 7% of US spending. ++ It is unlikely that Russia will be able to afford the $200 billion needed for the revival of its military due to declining oil prices. ++ Ukraine also lacks appropriate military equipment and training - ...More

Martin Winter, Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German) | October 10, 2008 NATO has lost itself in the in Caucasus conflict. ++ Medvedev has repeatedly outlined his plans for a EU security architecture - he views his country’s security interests neglected. ++ The EU has almost disqualified itself from diplomatic talks by blindly solidarizing with Georgia. ++ The acceptance of Georgia’s wish for future membership in NATO ...More

Michael Gerson, The Washington Post | October 10, 2008 Iran is at most four years away from its nuclear goals - diplomacy is needed. ++ Russia’s offer to provide Iran with enriched nuclear material and US proposals for direct talks in return for the abandonment of nuclear intentions have been turned down. ++ The disapproval of further offers might result in the total isolation of Iran. ++ Using military force ...More

Gwynne Dyer, The Dawn (Pakistan) | October 10, 2008 The British commander admitted that winning in Afghanistan is unlikely - reducing the Taliban insurgency to a manageable level may be the only realizable goal. ++ Northern ethnic groups, which account for 60% of the population, are backed by the US, but the Taliban are still the major political force for the Pashtuns constituting 40% of the people. ++ Foreign ...More

Martin Wolf, Financial Times | October 9, 2008 The current breakdown in financial markets is driven by unjustified panic. ++ Restoring confidence in the financial systems should be the priority for American and European governments. ++ EU countries should offer a time-limited guarantee of the liabilities of the most systemically important institutions. ++ Coordination on how to proceed is necessary if ...More