WEEKLY BLOG COMMENTS No. 77
DATES:
2013/08/11 – 2013/07/18
ANALYST:
Domingo Trassens
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Dear
Friends:
Again
the news from Egypt became headlines of the middle
of August with a lot of violence and uncertainty about the future of this
country rich in culture but weak in democratic life.
Meanwhile, during
the last few days we hear nothing important from the U.S. Congress and the
American government institutions because it is vacation time in the federal
government.
Only
President Obama interrupted his rest to send a strong warning to the Egyptians
and stopping the military assistance to the forces of this country due to the
bloody repression actions against the Morsi’s followers.
A series
of stories from Egypt commented the brutal techniques
used by the military forces to clean squares and streets of Cairo from the demonstrations of
Islamic Brotherhood.
Also the
news talks about the reaction of the President Morsi’s followers who killed policemen
and burned churches due to the military repression.
No far
from Egypt, Beirut, Lebanon was shaken with a strong car
bomb and in Iraq, the toll of deaths increased
due to new sectarian attacks.
In the
technology corner, Dell and Cisco Systems posted faded financial results and
Zynga announced an important reorganization.
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:
- Egypt
- United States
- Europe
- The
World (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
- Latin America
-
Education
-
Economy, Business, Technology.
DAT
August 18, 2013
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EGYPT
WJS - Story: Vicious Backlash Shakes One Egyptian Town – Part
1
Subject: Deadly reactions of Islamic groups who killed
policemen and burned churches.
My Comment: Hard repression from the security
forces inflame the mobs and open the door for the infiltration of terrorist
groups.
The attack on a police station in Kerdasa and the killing of 11 officers plus the burning of three churches reflects that the hatred between the Brotherhood’s supporters and Military’s supporters is creating the conditions for a cruel civil war. (2013/08/16)
WSJ - Story: Vicious Backlash Shakes One Egyptian Town – Part
2
My Comment answering to another
member who remarked Islamic protesters is making barbarism: Thanks for your observation. The
burning of churches is barbarism. The attackers are mixing political and
religious issues.
The Islamic extremists use any incident to attack Christians. This is not the first time that Islamic protesters burn churches, also after the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (2013/08/16) 4 Recommendations
WSJ - Story: Vicious Backlash Shakes One Egyptian Town – Part
3
My Comment answering to another
member who said that after the fall of President Mubarak, Egypt became a chaotic country: Thank you for sharing
your opinion with me. You are right about President Hosni Mubarak. He was an
authoritarian leader; however he ran Egypt
in a reasonable way during long years.
At this point we have to recognize that the Obama’s administration was wrong when it supported the beginning of the Arab Spring with an ingenuous optimism.
The Mubarak’s regime was not democratic in the way that the Western countries understand democracy, but he governed his country in a balanced way according to the freedom levels of the Arab countries.
At the end of his term, due to the domestic and international pressure, he repressed the popular unrest with a hard hand and immediately the Western countries pointed against him.
At this point we have to recognize that the Obama’s administration was wrong when it supported the beginning of the Arab Spring with an ingenuous optimism.
The Mubarak’s regime was not democratic in the way that the Western countries understand democracy, but he governed his country in a balanced way according to the freedom levels of the Arab countries.
At the end of his term, due to the domestic and international pressure, he repressed the popular unrest with a hard hand and immediately the Western countries pointed against him.
But President Morsi made worse mistakes than Mubarak and now General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is committing also serious mistakes.
From the start of the Morsi’s term, the country entered into a chaotic period with arbitrariness, corruption, bloodshed, deaths and repression.
At this moment, General el-Sisi is trying to implement a regime that looks more like a military dictatorship than a civil temporary government.
The problem is that Morsi’s followers are on the warpath. From both sides, the anger is growing and nobody is measuring the risks of a civil war. (2013/08/17)
PBS – WORLD -- August 13, 2013 at 5:50 PM EDT - Egyptian Foreign Minister on Mideast
Peace Talks: 'Difficult to Be Optimistic' By: Larisa Epatko
Subject: Egyptian Foreign Minister in an interview
with international press recognizes that it is difficult to be optimistic in
the current situation about the future of the country.
My Comment: The
aggressive attitude of the military officers against the protesters is making
more difficult the path to a new democratic government. (By TWITTER)
(2013/08/14) 1 Recommendation
WSJ - Story: Egypt's Deadly Crackdown Spurs Street Violence
Subject: Egyptian Vice President Mohamed ElBaradeo resigned in
protest for the hard military repression.
My Comment: The resignation of the Vice
President Mohamed ElBaradei is an additional signal that the Egyptian military
leaders are driving the process in the wrong direction.
It marks disagreement between the civil authorities and the General Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. (2013/08/14) 2 Recommendations
WSJ - Story: Egypt's Deadly Crackdown Spurs Street Violence
My Comment: The
Egyptian military has to change its "cleaning techniques" of the
places where the Morsi's followers are protesting.
When in the abuse of their power, the military regimes spill the blood of civil population, this blood of unarmed civilians incubates martyrs. And the martyrs become the banners of more bloody rebellions.
History shows a lot of cases of powerful military leaders who collapsed due to the furious reaction of angered crowds. (2013/08/14) 1 Recommendations
When in the abuse of their power, the military regimes spill the blood of civil population, this blood of unarmed civilians incubates martyrs. And the martyrs become the banners of more bloody rebellions.
History shows a lot of cases of powerful military leaders who collapsed due to the furious reaction of angered crowds. (2013/08/14) 1 Recommendations
WSJ - Story: Egypt Troops in Deadly Crackdown on Protesters
My Comment: It looks like the Egyptian troops
want to spill more blood instead of pacifying the country. (2013/08/14)
1 Recommendation
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UNITED
STATES
WSJ - Story: Obama Condemns Egypt Violence
My Comment: Now President Obama condemns the
violence in the Egyptian streets.
The concerns of Mr. Obama for the tragic events that are staining Egypt with blood are reasonable.
However, during the last few years, the American politics related to this African country was very ambiguous.
- First, we supported President Hosni Mubarak.
- After that, we agreed with the people who forced the Mubarak’s resignation.
- Next, we gave our friendship to President Mohamed Morsi.
- A month ago, we agreed with the people who wanted the Mr. Morsi's resignation and then we gave our support to General Aldel Fattah el-Sisi.
Every time that we supported someone, nothing worked well.
In the end, we will lose the friendship of the Egyptian people. (2013/08/15) 5 Recommendations
PBS - Egypt Unrest Politics -- August
15, 2013 at 11:40 AM EDT - Obama Scraps US Military Exercises with Egypt By: Associated Press
My Comment: President Obama says that he wants
“democracy in Egypt to succeed.”
The problem is
democracy in Egypt is different from democracy in America.
In Egypt like in other Arab countries,
democracy includes a religious factor that plays against the principles of
liberty and right that we know in the Western countries. (By TWITTER) (2013/08/16)
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EUROPE
WSJ - Story: Russian Gays Look to U.S. for Asylum
Subject: Russian gays are looking to the United States for asylum.
My Comment: I respect gays as other members
of the society, but I expect from them a reciprocal respect to the people who
don’t think like them.
I never spy on what happens in the bed of my neighbor, however I don’t like the public demonstration of gays and lesbians because in an environment of freedom, they have to accept also the persons who believe in marriage between a man and woman and want to grow children in a classic family.
For this reason, I don’t like the United States gives massive asylum to all the Russian gays who want to come to our country. In my opinion, every case has to be studied like every asylum.
It is not a good image for the country that we become the refuge for all Russian gays. It would be risky to accept applications from all the Russians who declare themselves as gay because perhaps we are opening the door to terrorists or bomb-makers. (2013/08/17) 8 Recommendations
WSJ - Story: Euro Zone Returns to Growth, but Malaise Lingers
Subject: In the
euro zone, the economy returns to growth but till now some countries of the
region are under the pressure of a big national debt.
My Comment: This
story comments that Barry Eichengreen, economist at the University
of California, Berkeley,
said: “Greece
and Portugal
will eventually need debt forgiveness.”
From my side, I think that if the debt from Greece and Portugal is forgiven, all the poor and smaller members of the European Union will ask for the same.
This kind of exception is not a good precedent. It can generate a series of claims. (2013/08/14) 2 Recommendations
From my side, I think that if the debt from Greece and Portugal is forgiven, all the poor and smaller members of the European Union will ask for the same.
This kind of exception is not a good precedent. It can generate a series of claims. (2013/08/14) 2 Recommendations
WSJ - Story: Greece Swings to a Budget Surplus
Subject: Greek authorities say the country swings to a budget
surplus.
My Comment: When
after a long series of gloomy reports, suddenly we read this kind of news; we
have to be very cautious about comments. The best is to continue observing… (2013/08/13)
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THE
WORLD (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
Subject: The new Chinese President uses Mao Zedong’s
images to consolidate his position as a strong leader of the country.
My Comment: Chinese
President Xi Jinping is trying to create his own image as a strong and powerful
leader using the model of Mao Zedong.
Mr. Xi is borrowed the Mao’s model to confront himself against the images of corrupt politicians like Bo Xilai.
Mr. Xi is borrowed the Mao’s model to confront himself against the images of corrupt politicians like Bo Xilai.
We have to see if the Mao’s spirit helps the new Chinese President to lead his country on the right way in very different times from the Mao's leadership period.
Mao Zedong born in 1983 as son of a farmer in Shaoshan, Hunan, was the top Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China between 1945 and 1976. (2013/08/18) 1 Recommendation
PBS - REPORT AIR DATE: Aug. 16, 2013 - News Wrap: Car Bomb in Lebanon Deadliest Attack in Nearly Three Decades
Subject: International
observers say the car bombing in Beirut killed at least 22 people and wounded another 300.
My Comment: The news
says “Car Bomb in Lebanon Deadliest Attack in Nearly Three Decades” (22 deaths,
300 wounded).
When I
read news related to car bombings, I don’t make a statistic of the number of
dead and wounded people, but I remember that frequently during the last decades
Beirut was shaken by different attacks
and killings. For this reason, I cannot assert if really the title of this news
is right or wrong. (By TWITTER)
(2013/08/17)
WSJ - Story: U.N. Force Starts Congo Sweep
Subject: Forces from the United Nations start a Congo’s operation to sweep rebels in the Goma’s region.
My Comment: The news
says that U.N. forces arrested more than 40 rebels in Goma. This is nothing
after decades of slaughter and terrible crimes against the civil population.
The U.N. has to do more to help the civilians of this Congo’s
region and to stop the civil war.
The cleaning of the city of Goma implies a very strong offensive and a permanent control of the area for years. Plus, they have to build a new city. Goma needs infrastructures and protection for its inhabitants. (2013/08/13) 2 Recommendations
PBS - REPORT -
AIR DATE: Aug. 15, 2013 - News Wrap: Dozens Dead After Car Bombings
in Iraq
Subject: A series of car bombings in Baghdad killed at least 33 people. It was the latest
in a surge of attacks that have killed 3,000 Iraqis since April.
My Comment: After a long
series of car bombings during the last years, the attacks and the killing of
people (more than 3000 deaths since April) really are not news. The news will
be the day that Iraq becomes a peaceful country,
something that today looks quasi-impossible. (2013/08/16)
WSJ - Story: Car Bomb Hits Southern Beirut
Subject: A car bomb hits the southern area of Beirut
My Comment: Lebanon
is a weak country in the middle of the hell that always receives the impact of
the fight among different groups. And frequently, Beirut
is the main scenario of this fight. (2013/08/15) 1 Recommendation
REPORT AIR DATE: Aug. 14, 2013 - News Wrap: Israel, Palestinians Resume Peace Efforts in Jerusalem
Subject: Israel and the Palestinian authority of the West Bank resume peace efforts in Jerusalem with the support of the United States.
My COMMENT: The peace talks
between Israel and the Palestinians are a waste
of time while Gaza is not part of the negotiation. (By TWITTER) (2013/08/15)
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LATIN AMERICA
WSJ - Story: How Mexico Ended Political Gridlock
Subject: Mexican
President Enrique Peña Nieto tries to work with other parties to achieve solutions
to thorny issues.
My Comment: Mexican
President Enrique Peña Nieto – according to the story – is working with the
opposition parties to find solutions to thorny issues with positive results.
If President Enrique Peña Nieto finds the way to pull down the corruption of the government institutions, to cut the monopolistic power of the billionaire Carlos Slim in the telecommunication industry, and dismantle the drug gangs, his government will make History.
The previous presidents promised a lot of changes but in the end they didn’t show relevant results. We have to observe how far President Enrique Peña Nieto goes. (2013/08/16) 2 Recommendations
If President Enrique Peña Nieto finds the way to pull down the corruption of the government institutions, to cut the monopolistic power of the billionaire Carlos Slim in the telecommunication industry, and dismantle the drug gangs, his government will make History.
The previous presidents promised a lot of changes but in the end they didn’t show relevant results. We have to observe how far President Enrique Peña Nieto goes. (2013/08/16) 2 Recommendations
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EDUCATION
WSJ - Story: Teachers Face License Loss
Subject: Educational authorities of Tennessee announce new initiatives to evaluate the teachers’
effectiveness in the schools of this state.
My Comment: The idea to link the payment of
teachers according to their effectiveness in the classroom could be good and
bad depending on different factors.
First, the teachers have a crucial responsibility in the carving of the brains of their students. The education of human beings is one of the most critical professions related to the future of people as individuals and members of the society.
For this reason, the teachers require special knowledge and skill and they have to be efficient in their work.
However, today the method used to evaluate the effectiveness of the teachers is linked with the way the students react in connection with their teachers. And this is a very complicated point.
In some communities, the students come to school with a bag of negative influences that the teachers cannot change despite all the best efforts they make.
Due to all these components of the educational process, we think the evaluators of the effectiveness of the teachers have to consider the framework where the teachers act with a flexible and intelligent perspective. (2013/08/17) 2 Recommendations
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
WSJ - Story: Three Top Zynga Executives Are Out
Subject: New Zynga’s CEO, Don Mattrick is reorganizing the
social game services company and cuts some top executive’s positions.
My Comment: Zynga is becoming a good sample
of what happens when innovation in technology cannot produce more income.
In the start of this provider of social game services, a lot of executives were hired and everybody thought that they were discovering a new “gold mine”.
In the last days, the new CEO, Don Mattrick announced a big reorganization and immediately three top executives were out.
Now the big question is: Will this reorganization return Zynga to the road of success?
The idea of the development of the new segment of social game services is great but till now the majority of the users of “social networks” try to use new tools, games and other possibilities for free. They only pay for the basic software, the Internet links and the smart-phones and electronic devices that are the key infrastructure of the digital world, but nothing more. (2013/08/17)
WSJ - Story: Court Denies Icahn's Challenge to Dell Buyout Vote
Subject: A court denies Icahn’s challenge against Michael Dell
related to the Dell buyout.
My Comment: It looks like the “game” of
investor Carl Icahn is to produce “turbulence” in the technology industry.
Several years ago he was fighting against the CEO and co-founder of Yahoo and its directory board during long months. Now, his targets are Dell and Apple. (2013/08/16) 1 Recommendation
WSJ - Story: BlackBerry Puts Itself Up for Sale
Subject: BlackBerry puts itself up for sale due its poor financial
results and the loss of market share in the smart-phone industry.
My Comment: The obstinacy of BlackBerry’s CEO
is moving the company to the grave.
BlackBerry has to try to use all its expertise and background to introduce an Android product line before it puts itself up for sale. (2013/08/13)
WSJ - Story: Dell Profit Falls 72%; Sales Flat
Subject: Dell Inc posted the financial results of its last quarter
with a 72% profit fall.
My Comment: While
Michael Dell continues dealing the buyout of his company, the quarterly
financial results of the PC maker don’t show encouraging figures.
A 72% fall of the net income for its fiscal second quarter and flat revenues are demanding urgent actions to reverse the plunge. (2013/08/15)
A 72% fall of the net income for its fiscal second quarter and flat revenues are demanding urgent actions to reverse the plunge. (2013/08/15)
Subject: Cisco Systems posted weak financial results and announced the
cut of 4,000 job positions.
My Comment: The news
from Cisco paints a gloomy landscape of the technology niches of networking and
communications solutions.
When Cisco CEO John Chambers announces drastic initiatives like a cut of 4,000 jobs, despite it is only 5% of the payroll, it is because the investments in advanced technology from the corporations and big customers across the world are under normal expectations.
When Cisco CEO John Chambers announces drastic initiatives like a cut of 4,000 jobs, despite it is only 5% of the payroll, it is because the investments in advanced technology from the corporations and big customers across the world are under normal expectations.
This picture extends the series of poor images that other technology players showed during the last few months. Everybody complains about weak economic conditions in Europe and a decline of investments in China and other Asian countries. (2013/08/14)
PBS – REPORT AIR DATE: Aug. 13, 2013 - Justice Department: Anti-Competitive
Airline Merger Will Make Flight Prices Soar
Subject: U.S. Justice Department didn’t approve the
merger between American Airlines and US Airways.
My Comment: The mega-mergers
concentrate power in top CEOs and directors, destroying the competition, cut
employment and don’t offer a real benefit for the customers. (By
TWITTER) (2013/08/14)
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SOURCES:
1)
External Sources: Wall
Street Journal, The New York Times and PBS NewsHour
2)
Own Sources: My
own research for previous publishing projects: TTT of Comlab Corp, Spanish
English Club online.
Website: http://world-rethink.blogspot.de/
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