Las Politicas

So, MSN just broke news that talks are going to begin on “redefining the fundamental role of U.S. troops, whose mission would shift from combat operations to logistics and support” in Iraq.  Now, as we all know, and in keeping with the nature of negotiations regarding this topic, things could fall flat on their face or simply never progress.  (Kind of like Fred Thompson.)  Hopefully, we may actually see some of those poor military kids coming back to go to school and enjoy lives as citizens, not soldiers.  (Full article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22825800)

This follows shortly after the announcement of those fun little refund checks we are getting to boost the economy.  (Full article here:   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22782454/)  Thank Jeebus, because I sure went crazy and got a new living room.  (See new tv above.  A girl’s gotta see her History Channel in HD and in life-size.  And ignore the mess.  I am still living out of boxes.) Recession, my butt.  I could keep the economy running on my own frivolous spending- know this. 

Sending happy karma to Petraeus and Pelosi,

Teri

This will not come as a horrible shock to the general public, but studies conducted by two nonprofit journalist organizations corroborated that the Bush administration issued hundreds of false reports about the national security threat in Iraq in the years following September 11. The study concluded that the statements “were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses.”

The results of the study were made public on Tuesday evening on the web site of the Center for Public Integrity. The Center for Public Integrity funded the study.

White House spokesperson, Scott Stanzel did not comment on the validity of the study, but instead issued an esoteric statement concerning the “perceived” threat that Hussein made to National Security. The study found 935 false statements concerning Hussein’s possible link to Al-Qaida and unequivocal evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

“It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida,” according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members. “In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003.”

Though not a shock, these results are just a repeated slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of lives lost.

Caroline

In a step that will hopefully advance Mexico economically or otherwise, Felipe Calderon appointed a new Secretary of the Interior and removed the former Secretary. Calderon’s former Secretary was removed amid an upsurge in drug-fueled killings and criticism that he has cracked down on opposition protests.

The new Secretary, Juan Camilo Mourino, is a Spanish national who was educated in the United States. Mourino hopes to bring a refreshing approach as the Secretary who acts as the president’s chief negotiator. An economist well versed in free market principles, Mourino will begin the steps of the much needed privatization of PEMEX. PEMEX is still flagged by endemic corruption and remains one of the only state owned oil companies that loses money for its native country. The new Secretary is the third cabinet switch in Calderon’s administration, switches that will hopefully begin the advancement of a better Mexico.

Caroline

Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister was killed in a suicide attack at an election rally today.  

While horribly tragic, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has left me…… and the rest of the population that has a passing interest foreign policy wondering what is next. I knew that an assassination was eminent…. two of her brothers and her father had died at the hands of Pakistan.  Bhutto also knew of the dangers of returning from exile into Pakistan. Pakistan is a relatively new country that in its short life as a nation has experienced perennial political turmoil. Bhutto came from an incredibly powerful family and her assassination marks a watershed moment for Pakistan, democracy and nations that are heavily influenced by Islam. Bhutto’s murder is also marking a watershed moment in the election. Her assassination will take center stage in the election in regards to the War on Terror. All the candidates are currently making statements.

Caroline

As we all know, Chavez lost his chance at the referendums that would have granted him the power to be president for life.  It was a stunning defeat that, Chavez seem to accept gracefully.  Gracefully accepting anything negative directed towards him is something that, Chavez seemed unable to do.  Many in Latin America and in the political world feel that we have not seen the end of Chavez and the referendum business.  Why the sudden change in behavior? It’s like the school bully who stops stealing lunch money overnight.

The question that everyone is asking is why did the voters turn on him? Was it Chavez’s perennial insults thrown at foreign opposition? The topic was only lightly covered, but Venezuela relies heavily on Colombian exports for eggs, milk and cheese. When Chavez began his abusive criticism of President Uribe the exports came to a screeching halt to the detriment of the poor.  Chavez’s  21^st century  Socialism failed to provide for its main target…the poor . Shopping malls were packed as were the streets and highways of the country. Those images don’t exactly conjure a Socialist paradise, but in fact a post industrial Venezuela. Perhaps to the voters of Venezuela…their country was not the up and coming model for Socialism, but in fact a service based economy that was causing more problems for the poor. The students also had a role of paramount importance…they clogged the streets showing their opposition to Chavez and his referendums.

Sorry to say, Chavez…but…whammy!

Caroline

Ivan Stalin Gonzalez, the student movement leader that has become a thorn in Chavez’s side is now being recognized in geo politics. Stalin, as he prefers to be called is a Marxist law student at the University of Venezuela who is opposed to Chavez’s model of “21^st Century Socialism”. Over the course of several weeks Stalin and other student leaders have organized protest marches that include tens of thousands of students opposed to Chavez. The student’s main concerns are the constitutional referendums that are set to occur December 2. These referendums will grant Chavez the power to seek perpetual reelection.

Students opposed to government in Latin America is not a new occurrence …irrespective of political affiliation. Castro’s role as a student leader was pivotal in the revolution of Cuba. Students in Mexico were mercifully massacred in 1968 as they tried to peacefully protest. If Chavez were not such an inflated buffoon that made himself so visible in geo-politics the same fate may have befallen these students.  The protests were marred with armed violence, but no lives were lost. Instead, Chavez fell back on his favorite and effective political strategy of name calling…stating that the students are a bunch of “pampered rich pretty boys”.  Hmm…rich pretty boys that attend a university that charges no tuition and are named Stalin.  The name Stalin doesn’t exactly conjure up the image of a decadent capitalist. Stalin came from meager beginnings within a household that dreamed of a Marxist Venezuela. His father was a high ranking member of the Bandera Roja, a hard line Marxist guerrilla party.

Caroline

During the Ibero American summit in Chile this weekend, Chavez was told to do something that was long overdue…he was told to “shut up”. It’s about time someone told him to shut his yapper. The real kicker is that the person that told him to do so was the king of Spain. Throwing royal decorum to the wayside, King Juan Carlos shouted that in reaction to Chavez’s constant name calling of Spain’s former Prime Minister. Chavez continually berated the Prime Minister by calling him a fascist…. prompting the King to react.  Even leftward leaning publications in Spain called Chavez’s behavior intolerable. Although King Juan Carlos’ reaction was received well by most…some are of the opinion that he should remain out of politics. Juan Carlos won the confidence of the Spanish people through Democracy in 1975 after Franco ( an actual fascist)  died . I can honestly see why Juan Carlos would become upset over such words. The outburst only lasted a few minutes, Chavez did not heed the royal advice and instead waffled on about having a right to speak. Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet….  and the Summit’s host quickly interjected and ended the outburst.  

Quite the diplomat, Old Chavez!

Caroline

PetroChina  has become the world’s first company worth I trillion dollars surging past ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil is valued at 488 billion dollars which…is far less than PetroChina. PetroChina is a state owned operation. I believe there is a trend developing…the major oil and gas companies in the world, with the exception of ExxonMobil are… state owned…and it seems to be working.

That is of course with the exception of nation of my birth, Mexico. Mexico can never seem to get it together in terms of national oil companies. For almost 70 years, PEMEX has actually lost money for Mexico . I believe that PEMEX should be privatized, but that is not going to happen because in order for that to occur the constitution would have to be amended.

What is next for PetroChina?

From the AP

“The company has seen revenues soar amid surging oil prices but has struggled to boost production from its aging domestic oil fields. In refining, it has struggled with a widening gap between soaring world crude oil prices and state-controlled prices for oil products in the domestic market.

Like other Chinese energy giants, PetroChina is investing heavily in both overseas and domestic oil and gas fields as it rushes to meet soaring demand. The company said it plans to use around 37.8 billion yuan ($5 billion) of the proceeds from the Shanghai IPO to help finance five projects aimed at boosting its crude oil output and refining capacity.”

Caroline

Global warming has remained a problem since scientist discovered the beginning s of it in the 70’s and many are of the opinion that it was kept quiet for political agenda pertaining to oil exploration. Now that global warming has been pushed to the forefront of top political debates….oil companies are now capitalizing on investment that has been made possible through global warming itself. As the ice caps melt…land that was once impossible to work on is now becoming investment friendly. The Arctic is known to contain one quarter of the worlds untapped oil reserves, but those oil reserves could be become the center of an ugly international struggle.

From Mother Jones

“The region has become the center of an international skirmish, with Russian interests going so far as to plant an underwater flag in order to at least symbolically claim reserves presumed to exist beneath the North Pole’s Lomonosov Ridge (which, they say, is connected to Russian territory by a submerged shelf). Even the U.S. government, which for decades has resisted signing an international treaty called the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea—which establishes rules for national sovereignty over portions of the earth’s oceans and seas, along with the resources beneath them—suddenly supports ratifying the treaty. The Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee began hearings in late September to get the process rolling.” 

Caroline

I happened upon a protest at Greenway Plaza on Friday and I managed to get a few pictures from the event. I have searched through the local news to see who was in Greenway plaza. The banner read “Israel Out of Palestine” and when I rolled down my car window I heard a chant that would be considered anti-Semitic by some.  The Israeli Palestinian conflict is something that I chose never to discuss… as the topic is a hot button issue, but I did want to share my pictures from my blackberry. Caroline