WEEKLY
BLOG COMMENTS POSTED No. 65
DATES:
2013/03/19– 2013/03/26
ANALYST:
Domingo Trassens
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Dear Friends:
Last week, a strong tornado knocked
Moore, Oklahoma. The power of Nature showed again that
only minutes are enough to demolish houses, pull down trees, crash vehicles and
kill people and animals.
According to the news, all was
panic, desolation and debris. The shelters in public buildings were not enough
prepared for a contingency of the magnitude of this tornado. Somebody said, we
cannot predict when the tornadoes come, but we can predict that there going to
be disasters every time a tornado hits us if we don't have emergency plans.
In the political arena,
President Obama spoke about the end of the war against terrorism. The President
said: “This war, like all wars, must end.” His speech astonished the observers
who are seeing how the Islamic extremists continue killing and bombing everywhere.
During the Congress hearings,
the debate about the discriminatory attitude of the Internal Revenue Service
against conservative groups changed its direction. Now the officials of the IRS
blame lower-level employers for the “mistakes” committed. Nobody wants to take
responsibilities. Till now, it is not clear what will be the end of this case.
Apple CEO Tim Cook testified on
Capitol Hill after that a Senate panel accused the company of avoiding billions
of dollars in U.S. taxes by shifting profits through
“ghost” companies abroad.
Yahoo bought Tumblr for
approximately $1.1 billion. Tumblr is a 6 year old company that works in
microblogging and social networks.
Members of Congress interrogated
Google about the "Google Glass". The lawmakers feel worry about the
possible privacy violation through the use of this new wearable computer.
Now I would like to share with
you a series of comments posted by myself in the WSJ Journal Community and PBS
through Twitter during the last seven days about the top news of the week.
The comments are organized in
the following sections: United States, Europe, The World (Asia, Africa, Middle East…), Latin America, Education and Economy, Business,
Technology.
DAT
May 26, 2013
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UNITED
STATES
Subject: In
a Navy graduation, President Obama accused the sex abusers of damaging the
honor of military institutions.
My Comment: The sexual assault in the military is a
serious problem, but it is nothing new.
From the other side, the trust in our troops comes for their courage and professional attitude in combat. (2013/05/24) 4 Recommendations
From the other side, the trust in our troops comes for their courage and professional attitude in combat. (2013/05/24) 4 Recommendations
Story: Obama
Resets War on Terror– Part 1
Subject: In
a special speech about the war on terror, President Obama redefined the
fight against the terrorism, anticipating this war will have an end.
My Comment: Talking about terrorism, President
Obama said: “This war, like all wars, must end.” His view is very optimistic,
but not realistic.
The terrorism war will not end
soon because there are a lot of people with extremist ideas on the ground
across the world and newcomers like the Boston’s bombers who learn about terrorism in
magazines and as friends of other bad folks.
We have to continue to be alert and prepared for the worst due to terrorists can grow everywhere and under different flags. Today the majority of the terrorists are Islamic. In the 70s and 80s, they were the "Che" Guevara's disciples. Probably, tomorrow, they will be the followers of another leader who propagates the seed of destruction in other ways. (2013/05/24) 5 Recommendations
We have to continue to be alert and prepared for the worst due to terrorists can grow everywhere and under different flags. Today the majority of the terrorists are Islamic. In the 70s and 80s, they were the "Che" Guevara's disciples. Probably, tomorrow, they will be the followers of another leader who propagates the seed of destruction in other ways. (2013/05/24) 5 Recommendations
Story: Obama
Resets War on Terror– Part 2
My Comment answering
to another member who made an observation about the fanaticism of Islam: Mr. XX, Thank you for your
observation. I agree with you that “the fanaticism of Islam has been around for
centuries and won’t diminish any time soon.”
However, in the past, the Islamist groups didn't use terrorist techniques like now. They had been located in Africa and Asia and from there they invaded the south of Europe through a series of bloody and massive military campaigns.
However, in the past, the Islamist groups didn't use terrorist techniques like now. They had been located in Africa and Asia and from there they invaded the south of Europe through a series of bloody and massive military campaigns.
Today the fanatics of Islam are
a serious threat everywhere. They will continue attacking civil and government
targets with terrorist techniques across the globe probably for a limitless
time.
The terrorism actions are not possible to measure with the criteria of conventional wars. By the way, the mistake of Benghazi was that the White House thought that after the death of Osama bin Laden, the enemy didn’t have more operational capacity to make mortal attacks.
The alert must to be universal because from behind any rock of our route a fanatic can jump over us with sophisticated weapons or home-made bombs built in a dormitory of any university. (2013/05/24) 2 Recommendations
The terrorism actions are not possible to measure with the criteria of conventional wars. By the way, the mistake of Benghazi was that the White House thought that after the death of Osama bin Laden, the enemy didn’t have more operational capacity to make mortal attacks.
The alert must to be universal because from behind any rock of our route a fanatic can jump over us with sophisticated weapons or home-made bombs built in a dormitory of any university. (2013/05/24) 2 Recommendations
Story: After Murder
Suspect's Death, Probe Is Decried, Defended – Part 1
Subject: During an interrogation, a Tamerlan
Tsarnaev’s friend attacked an FBI agent with a knife in a suicide action.
My Comment: If Mr. Todashev lunged at an FBI agent
with a knife during questioning, he really sought suicide. It is obvious that
he was involved in criminal activities. (2013/05/23) 4 Recommendations
Story: Associate
of Boston Bombing Suspects Is Killed (This is Part 2 of previous
comment.)
My Comment: The death of Ibragim Todashev doesn’t
help to learn more about the “crime chain” where Tamerlan Tsarnaev was
involved.
When the “fish” is big, they have to catch it alive. (2013/05/23) 2 Recommendations
When the “fish” is big, they have to catch it alive. (2013/05/23) 2 Recommendations
Subject: IRS officials pointed lower-level workers about the
responsibility for the discrimination against conservative groups.
My Comment: The story says “Emails Suggest IRS
Targeting Developed by Lower-Level Workers”.
Probably, the lower-level
workers made the “dirty work”, but who was behind them? Always in these cases,
there are “brains” and “executors”.
When you are a lower-level
worker and your boss suggest you do a task, if you want to make progress in
your job, you don’t discuss if the initiative is good or bad; you execute it.
(2013/05/22) 4 Recommendations
Subject: Due
to the current mess in Washington
linked with IRS, AP and other cases, political observers remark the big
government loses control.
My Comment: Frequently, big governments are
vulnerable and inefficient, and nobody is responsible of anything.
In these cases, the CEO or president or top leader is first responsible for all the chaos that sprouts under his/her feet. (2013/05/21) 4 Recommendations
In these cases, the CEO or president or top leader is first responsible for all the chaos that sprouts under his/her feet. (2013/05/21) 4 Recommendations
Subject: The tornado that hit Moore in Oklahoma produced a lot of destruction and victims.
My Comment: In these cases of devastation, we
don’t have a lot to say, only pray for the dead people and help the survivors
to surpass the terrible experience. (2013/05/21) 6 Recommendations
Subject: President Obama ordered an audit of IRS in
connection with the case of the tea-party groups.
My Comment: Despite the current audit of the
Internal Revenue Service, the shadows about the case will remain.
It is not only about who inappropriately targeted the tea-party groups, it is also why and when… (2013/05/20) 5 Recommendations
It is not only about who inappropriately targeted the tea-party groups, it is also why and when… (2013/05/20) 5 Recommendations
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EUROPE
Story: Second
Suspect in London Attack Named – Part 1
Subject: In London, a British soldier was killed by suspected Islamic
extremists with a large knife and a meat cleaver.
My Comment: The news says that Lee Rigby, a
British soldier who once served in Afghanistan, was killed in London by two young men with a large knife
and a meat cleaver. Apparently the killers are two British citizens of Nigerian
descent converted to Islam.
We don’t know the motivations of this slaughter, but it is a new alert about the behavior of the Islamic extremists who use any “tool” they find to spread blood and murder: knifes, meat cleavers, home-made bombs…
With this dark panorama, it is difficult to understand the optimistic expression of President Obama about the terrorism war: “This war, like all wars, must end.” (2013/05/25)
Story: More
Detained in British Soldier's Killing – (This is Part 2 of previous
comment)
My Comment: This is the “price” that U.K. is paying due to its incapacity to
“filter” the bad guys at the door of “Immigration”.
It looks a very complicated case like the extremist Chechens who put bombs in Boston. (2013/05/26) 4 Recommendations
Subject: The Spanish government offers residency to rich
foreign people.
My Comment: This is the new business of the
countries that want to capture the money of the rich people.
What will be the percentage of this business for the politicians who are behind the deal? (2013/05/24) 1 Recommendation
What will be the percentage of this business for the politicians who are behind the deal? (2013/05/24) 1 Recommendation
Story: Stockholm
Suburbs Beset by More Riots – Part 1
Subject: In a poor neighborhood of Stockholm, Sweden, immigrants of minority groups rioted against the
authorities producing different kind of damages.
My Comment: The story doesn’t give specific
references of who began the riots in Sweden now. It only says that they are
immigrants of minority groups from Turkey, Syria, Somalia and Lebanon.
Normally, the minorities are a
mix of nationalities, religions, cultures and races.
A lot of people come to Europe because they are persecuted or intimidated
in their native countries.
For example, there are Christian
Syrians who were persecuted by the Islamist extremists that have infiltrated
among the rebels fighting against al-Assad. Years ago, Lebanon had a similar problem. And the
European invasion of Catholic Iraqis is massive since the extremist groups
burned churches in Iraq.
Of course, there are a lot of
Muslims from different countries that come to Europe looking for new horizons (good and bad
people, professionals and people without basic studies).
These complex waves of
immigration have the support of some governments that work hard to integrate
the immigrants with the local communities. In other cases, they only give visas
and residences. (According to the story, the Swedish authorities don’t make
enough effort to integrate the immigrants and this is a serious problem
independently of the origin of the immigrants.)
Something very important: Not
always the unrests are produced by the immigrants. For example, across Europe there are neo nazi groups like the NSU
of Germany who attack the immigrants and burn their properties. This is another
important factor to consider when we learn about riots and social problems in Europe today.
The question is: Why in this
chaotic environment, do the European governments give massive visas and
residences to immigrants who come from conflictive countries of Asia and Africa? The answer: The majority of the
European countries don’t have enough “births” to balance their retirement
systems and they need young people from other places who pay taxes and continue
feeding the retirement funds. (2013/05/23) 1 Recommendation
Story: Stockholm
Suburbs Beset by More Riots – Part 2
My Comment: The current riots in the Stockholm’s suburbs are an important alert for
all the western countries that are giving residence to ethnic minorities from Syria, Somalia, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and other Asian and African countries
with different culture, religion and social conditions.
A lot of the immigrants and
refugees are good people but when they move to countries like Sweden, they have a lot of difficulties to
integrate. They have to study a new language, find a job according to their
professions or learn a new job plus find a place where they can live.
Frequently the natives of the country don’t like the behaviors of the immigrants and they discriminate them from good jobs and other opportunities.
To survive, the immigrants have to do the worst tasks of the society with very bad payment or live with the “social money” that the government institutions give to immigrants without incomes.
In these circumstances, the social conflicts begin and after that some “bad guys” use the dissatisfaction from both sides to generate riots or hard expressions of racism. (2013/05/23) 1 Recommendation
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THE
WORLD: Asia, Africa, Middle East…
Subject: Bashar al-Assad has a strong support of loyal
Syrian businessmen and external partners.
My Comment: This story shows a very interesting
picture about the current civil war in Syria. Definitively, if Bashar al-Assad remains
in power till now, it is because he has strong internal and external allies,
and from the other side, everybody knows that the “rebels” are a dangerous
option for the future of the country.
In front of these facts, U.S. continues showing a very ambiguous attitude.
We have to learn that all the civil wars are brutal, sanguinary, terrible and sectarian but you cannot act only for “emotions” and stay in the middle of “nothing”. You have three options:
1) Ignore the war
2) Play together with the group A.
3) Play together with its “enemy”.
If you decide to play on the side of the “enemy”, you have to know whether the “enemy” is your friend or it is only using you as a recyclable partner. (2013/05/25) 2 Recommendations
In front of these facts, U.S. continues showing a very ambiguous attitude.
We have to learn that all the civil wars are brutal, sanguinary, terrible and sectarian but you cannot act only for “emotions” and stay in the middle of “nothing”. You have three options:
1) Ignore the war
2) Play together with the group A.
3) Play together with its “enemy”.
If you decide to play on the side of the “enemy”, you have to know whether the “enemy” is your friend or it is only using you as a recyclable partner. (2013/05/25) 2 Recommendations
Subject: Iran is accused of cyber-attacks against American
energy companies.
My Comment: The serious problem with Iran is that for decades, the young
generations have been educated with hate against the United States and they have intelligent people with
the knowledge to produce intentional damages in the cyber-world.
From the other side, despite the
western embargoes, they have access to new technology through Chinese companies
that also know American software and hardware.
And for the Iranian regime, it is a great honor to back operations that hit American power. (2013/05/24)
And for the Iranian regime, it is a great honor to back operations that hit American power. (2013/05/24)
Subject: New report from Iraq shows the wave of car bombing continues hitting
the country due to the rivalry among different ethnic groups.
My Comment: The violence never will end in Iraq because Shiites and Sunnis hate each
other.
Before, this country always
lived under the boots of troops from dictators and strongmen. (2013/05/21)
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LATIN
AMERICA
Subject: Now a group of politicians of Puerto Rico are looking to become the 51 state of the United States.
My Comment: Due to all the differences there are
among Puerto
Rico and the
current states of US, it is reasonable that before any plebiscite in the
island, Puerto
Rico levels
out its economy and educational system according to the rest. (2013/05/25)
Subject: The Venezuelan opposition continues accusing the
government of corruption.
My Comment: This story says: “Venezuelan
Opposition Alleges Corruption.” This statement doesn’t say anything new.
Corruption is embedded in the Venezuelan public institutions and private organizations from the top level to the bottom and vice versa.
When you travel across the country, you smell all the "flavors" of corruption everywhere: in airports, public offices, police stations and on each corner of the street. (2013/05/21)
Corruption is embedded in the Venezuelan public institutions and private organizations from the top level to the bottom and vice versa.
When you travel across the country, you smell all the "flavors" of corruption everywhere: in airports, public offices, police stations and on each corner of the street. (2013/05/21)
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EDUCATION
WSJ-
Journal Community Question: Do you think schools are interested in teaching
good manners and common courtesies in schools today?
My
Answer: I don’t have enough elements to
determine the percentage of schools interested in teaching good manners and
common courtesies.
However I suspect today a lot of
teachers only rush for the tests and statistics without caring for essential
aspects of education like good manners and common courtesies. (2013/05/22)
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
Subject: The news says that Google is working in the
development of wireless networks in emerging markets, normally poor countries.
My Comment: During the last months, the executives
of Google were very active. Its chairman - Eric Schmidt - visited North Korea and established links with Myanmar. And some days ago - during the last
conference of developers of the company - Chief Executive Larry Page talked
about new plans and projects in a very loquacious mode.
Now the news says that Google is
working to build wireless networks in the emerging markets of Africa and Southeast Asia.
If Google achieves the goal to “wire” the emerging world with its Internet platforms and wireless networks, the poor people of sub-Saharan, Africa or Asia will pray every morning in front of their Android smart-phones: “Thanks Google!” instead to say “Thanks Allah” or Thanks God” (2013/05/25) 2 Recommendations
If Google achieves the goal to “wire” the emerging world with its Internet platforms and wireless networks, the poor people of sub-Saharan, Africa or Asia will pray every morning in front of their Android smart-phones: “Thanks Google!” instead to say “Thanks Allah” or Thanks God” (2013/05/25) 2 Recommendations
Subject: Yahoo announced the acquisition of young company
for a billionaire amount.
My Comment: Yahoo has acquired Tumblr for
approximately $1.1 billion. When you read this kind of news, the question is:
Why Yahoo is paying $1.1 billion for Tumblr?
Tumblr is owner of a microblogging platform and social networking website with more than 100 million blogs, but low revenues. The company was founded by David Karp – a web developer - in 2007 and it is based in the Silicon Alley of New York City.
After we read a little more about Tumblr, we realize that despite the 100 million of blogs, till now this company is a “bubble”.
The acquisition looks very expensive, but probably Marissa Mayer, Yahoo
CEO, knows more about the potential of Tumblr and the benefits that her company
will receive from this strange marriage.
From the perspective of an external observer, it is like when an adult
person marries a teenager who till now didn’t end their high school education.
(2013/05/25)
Subject: Apple Inc executives testified about taxes in
Congress.
My Comment: In brief, a Senate panel wanted to beat Apple Inc
for avoiding billions of dollars in U.S. taxes by shifting profits to foreign affiliates,
but the company gave the members of Congress two important lessons:
1) Apple is more than an excellent
technology company. It is smart defender of its interests.
2) The “loopholes” of the tax legislation
are not its fault. It is the fault of the lawmakers.
(2013/05/25) 0 Recommendations
Subject: Hewlett-Packard posted the financial results of its
last quarter with a significant decline of its profit.
My Comment: The optimism of Meg Whitman - CEO and
President of HP - cannot reverse the poor results that Hewlett-Packard posted
for its fiscal 2013 second-quarter.
Together Dell and HP show a
dramatic decline of American leadership in the technology market. (2013/05/22)
Subject: Google testified in Congress about the potential
privacy violation of the new Google Glass.
My Comment: Google is really not the inventor of
the wearable computer. Other companies developed other prototypes before.
The difference is Google has a complete “universe” of software products that together with the engineering of Google Glass open new possibilities.
The difference is Google has a complete “universe” of software products that together with the engineering of Google Glass open new possibilities.
But if today Congress prohibits
Google from testing its new “system”, tomorrow the Chinese will rescue the current prototype and will introduce other
wearable computers based on the same ideas.
Definitively, somebody will go ahead with this kind of project because technology curiosity is not possible to stop with a law.
Of course, it is a device with pros and cons, but the new smart-phones with very sensitive cameras also can invade the privacy of the people in a similar way. (2013/05/20)
