BLOG COMMENTS

DATES: 2014/03/02 – 2014/03/09

ANALYST: Domingo Trassens

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Dear Friends:

I would like to share with you a series of comments posted by myself in the WSJ Journal Community, PBS NewsHour and other media during the last few days about important headlines.

The comments are about politics, economy, business, education, technology and other subjects linked with:

- United States

- Europe

- Other Lands

DAT

March 9, 2014

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PBS-NEWS-HOUR: Russia increases control in Crimea ahead of referendum - By Kayla Ruble

My Comment: According to the last events, the Crimean referendum will give the “YES” to Russia. Tanks, propaganda and intimidation are the tools to the Russians are using to legalize their ambitions. Who can say that this is not a new "cold war"? (2014/03/09) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: Vietnam Searchers Report Spotting Plane Debris

Officials Say They Found Piece of Door, Airplane Tail - By Gaurav Raghuvanshi, Nguyen Pham Moui and Jason Ng

My Comment: Perhaps a terrorist attack (?) The stolen passports generate some suspicions… (2014/03/09) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: Ukraine Icon Calls for More Help From West

Former Prime Minister Tymoshenko Warns Against 'Referendum under Kalashnikovs' as She Mixes with Foreign Leaders - By Gabriele Steinhauser in Dublin and James Marson in Kiev, Ukraine

My Comment: With this direct approach to Yulia Tymoshenko, Angela Merkel is showing to Mr. Putin that she doesn't fear the Russian boots. The day will come that the Iron Man of Moscow will be complete isolated from the Western civilization. (2014/03/09) 2 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Technology - Freescale Says 20 Employees on Missing Malaysia Jet

By Don Clark

My Comment: We can understand that is a serious problem if a technology company loses 20 technical employees in an accident or terrorist attack. However, the huge drama is for the families who lose one or two of their parents, a son or daughter, and they really don't know where they are. When a member of our families dies, we always want to give him our last “good-bye”. (2014/03/09) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: The Really Big Money? Not the Kochs

Harry Reid surely must have meant the unions when he complained about buying elections. - By Kimberley A. Strassel

My Comment: Harry Reid is worried for the money that the others expend in election campaigns, but he doesn’t show the same concern for the poor advances on issues that he has in hands as Democrat leader in the Senate.
It is very regrettable that the politicians always put their personals goals over the national interests. (2014/03/08)

WSJ Story: The Ideologue vs. the Children – Part 1

New York's new mayor attacks charter schools, proving his critics right. - By

Peggy Noonan

My Comment: A mayor cannot run a city according to ideologies. He has to be pragmatic, effective and positive. If the charter schools work properly, it is not right to close them. (2014/03/07) 15 Recommendations

WSJ Story: The Ideologue vs. the Children – Part 2

New York's new mayor attacks charter schools, proving his critics right. - By

Peggy Noonan

My Comment: Mac: From my humble perspective, all the officials in charge of crucial public services (education, police, firemen, health...) have to think first about the people and second about their ideologies.
The ideologies don't solve essential problems of the population. And the country is tired of excuses and faked arguments of the politicians who always find the way to cheat the people. (2014/03/08) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: The Ideologue vs. the Children – Part 3

New York's new mayor attacks charter schools, proving his critics right. - By

Peggy Noonan

My Comment:  Mac, it is good that you agree with me.
As I said before, in crucial issues like education, we need schools that educate our children in the right way. For this reason, it is “criminal” that due to their ideological goals, the politicians go against the schools that fill their educational goals.
The society puts in jail a father if he steals money to buy books for his children, but nobody jails the politicians who put in the trash the efforts that the fathers make for the education of their children. (2014/03/09)

WSJ Story: The Ideologue vs. the Children – Part 4

New York's new mayor attacks charter schools, proving his critics right. - By

Peggy Noonan

My Comment: James: You made a very good observation. It is a "crime" that for a politician who introduces himself with a popular profile, the interests of the unions are more important than the good education of the children. (2014/03/08) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: Jobs Rebound Eases Fears of Spring Stall

Worries over Early-Year Hiccups Recede As U.S. Businesses Add 175,000 Workers - By Ben Leubsdorf

My Comment: You can celebrate the new 175,000 new jobs if you were lucky to find a work or you never lost your job, but if you are one of the others who continue sending resumes and applications without results, the statistics doesn’t satisfy you.
The monthly job reports don’t give you the way to live better and solve your economic problems. (2014/03/07) 4 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Moscow Tightens Squeeze on Ukraine Over Energy

Russia Offers Support for Absorbing Crimea; Pentagon, Kiev Discuss Closer Ties - By Paul Sonne, Andrey Ostroukh and Carol E. Lee

My Comment: Russia continues looking for new incidents and frictions, but with threats they will not collect the money of the pending debts. (2014/03/07) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: A Letter from the Prince to Putin

Niccolò Machiavelli sends a message on power politics to Moscow from beyond the grave. - By Josef Joffe

My Comment: Congratulations Josef Joffe! Your letter to Mr Putin is great. I see that you make a good analysis of the events that pushed to the Russian occupation of Crimea.
I agree with you that as consequences of the military actions, the new Russian Tsar is playing to his self-isolation from the Western world. And in a long term, this is not good. (2014/03/07) 2 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Obama Calls Russia's Referendum on Crimea Illegal

President Says U.S. and European Union Are United Against Russia's 'Intervention' in Ukraine - By Carol E. Lee and Jay Solomon

My Comment: Mr. President: Putin doesn't care about your complains from Washington related to any action in Crimea. The only way that at least the Russian President listens to you is discussing face to face this hot issue in Moscow with Mr. Putin. (2014/03/06)

WSJ Story: Henninger: Putin Carterizes Obama, Totally

The Democrats are vulnerable again on handling the world. - By Daniel Henninger

My Comment: From my point of view, the discussion is not that Mr. Putin “carterizes” Obama because he is Democrat.

Putin “carterizes” President Obama because he doesn’t assume the role of Commander in Chief in the right way. Mr. Obama has not served in the military. Without experience on the ground, he has serious difficulties to articulate good reactions in front a bully like Mr. Putin.
From the other side, the Russian President has imperial ambitions. He wants to return Russia to its golden age. (2014/03/06) 4 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Story: Jeep Plans Global Production of New Renegade

Italy, Brazil, China Output Plan Part of Global Brand Push - By Gilles Castonguay

My Comment: Surely, a Jeep with Italian flavor is not a Jeep. (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: Behind the West's Miscalculations in Ukraine

U.S. Had Let Europe Take Lead in Guiding Westward Drift of Former Soviet Republic - By Adam Entous in Washington and Laurence Norman in Brussels

My Comment: John: About your comment, frequently the Washington administration doesn't look what happens in its backyard (Latin America). And when it reacts, it doesn't understand why Fidel Castro - the Communist Leader of the 50s and 60s - continues making friends across the continent. (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: Doug Feith: The Temptation of Vladimir Putin – Part 1

If Russia's Ukraine incursion goes unpunished, Moscow may turn to 'rescuing' ethnic Russians in NATO countries.  - By Douglas J. Feith

My Comment: With certainty, we can affirm that Ukraine is a test of the temptation of Vladimir Putin to become the new “Hero” of the world, the “God” of the Human Civilization in the current millennium.
Only a leader with strong guts and resolution can stop him. The question is: Where we can find this leader? (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: Doug Feith: The Temptation of Vladimir Putin – Part 2

If Russia's Ukraine incursion goes unpunished, Moscow may turn to 'rescuing' ethnic Russians in NATO countries. - By Douglas J. Feith

My Comment: Andy, Your analysis is good. I agree with you that a fast victory of the Russian tanks does not imply a real victory in long term. The Russians have more to lose than win, if they attack Ukraine.
1) They will damage its current oil and gas business with the loss of customers across Europe plus the income associated with these operations.
2) They will lose their own people if they try to maintain the Ukrainians as their “slaves” for long time. The riot of the Kiev streets during the last few months showed to the world that the Ukrainians are tired of oppression and they have the resolution of confronting dictators, bleeding and dying for their ideals.
3) Lastly, they will harm their economic and financial relationships with the rest of Europe and the United States. (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: Jeep Plans Global Production of New Renegade

Italy, Brazil, China Output Plan Part of Global Brand Push - By Gilles Castonguay

My Comment: The story says “Jeep will start building the vehicle – Renegade - at Fiat's plant in Melfi, Italy for export to Europe and the U.S. before having it made in a slightly different form in Brazil in 2015. Jeep wants to start production in China a year later.”
Personally, I don’t want a Jeep produced in Italy, Brazil or China. I want a Jeep produced in the United States. (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: The Computer Mouse Still Roars

Like the Madonna of Peripherals, the Mouse keeps Reinventing Itself: The Picks, Pros and Cons - By Geoffrey A. Fowler

My Comment: The use of the computer mouse is part of the classic culture of personal computers, but the new touch-screen software applications with an appropriate hardware offer an easy way to interact with the computer without mouse. (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: Women Could Have Greater Role in Church, Says Pope

Interview Suggests More Decision-Making Power, Shift on Divorcées - By Deborah Ball

My Comment: This story suggests that “women could have greater role in Church” according to the last press interview of Pope Francis.
However, through the content of the story we cannot see concrete steps in the direction to lift the current role of the women to key positions of the Catholic Church as an institution. (2014/03/05) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: Foreign Ministers Meet Over Ukraine, but Russia Is Absent – Part 1

Foreign Ministers of U.S., U.K., Ukraine Meet to Discuss Crisis in Crimea - By Jay Solomon And Stacy Meichtry

My Comment: Without the participation of Russia, the discussions of the Budapest Memorandum Ministerial meeting have not effective value. (2014/04/05)

WSJ Story: Foreign Ministers Meet Over Ukraine, but Russia Is Absent – Part 2

Foreign Ministers of U.S., U.K., Ukraine Meet to Discuss Crisis in Crimea - By Jay Solomon And Stacy Meichtry

My Comment: Andy: Mr. Putin wants to be member of a civilized "kulturny" world to can access to an “environment” that he cannot access as a barbarian. However, for Vladimir Putin, the only important thing is what he wants and in the way how he wants it. (2014/03/05)

WSJ Story: Russia Raises Threat of Higher Gas Prices for Ukraine

Gazprom CEO Says It Will End Ukraine's Discounts Citing its Failure to Fulfill its Contractual Obligations - By Selina Williams and Olga Razumovskaya

My Comment: Russia is mixing business with war. In the end, it will lose its customers. (2014/03/04) 5 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Putin: Russia Reserves Right for Force in Ukraine

Says Toppling of Ukrainian President Was 'Unconstitutional Coup' - By Lukas I. Alpert in Moscow and Alan Cullison in Sevastopol, Ukraine

My Comment: With the excuse “to protect Russian-speaking residents”, Mr. Putin could invade other former satellites of the Soviet Union. This way of acting reminds us the deployment of the Nazis troops across Europe in the start of the World War II. (2014/03/04) 7 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Stephens: Anatomy of a Feckless Presidency

Gone are the days when the American president was capable of articulating the American interest. - By Bret Stephens

My Comment: We can understand that it is not easy to face Mr. Putin for his devilish movements linked with Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, Iran, Sochi... However, according the U.S. Constitution, the President is the Commander in Chief of the military. For this reason, he has to assume the responsibilities that this role implies.

During recent events, we saw that the President is not acting in the way the country hopes. His attitude is not enough firm every time that behind the scene, it is visible the Putin's shadow.

Before Vladimir Putin continues finding excuses to capture all the territories where at least one Russian citizen lives, we would like to suggest to President Obama that in the role of commander in chief, with high resolution confronts the Russian President and forces him to reverse his current steps. (2014/03/04) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: Behind the West's Miscalculations in Ukraine

U.S. Had Let Europe Take Lead in Guiding Westward Drift of Former Soviet Republic - By Adam Entous in Washington and Laurence Norman in Brussels

My Comment: During the last few years Washington’s miscalculations about the always difficult dialogue with Moscow were terrible. Now, we are beginning to see how the Russians act when they perceive the others have fears about them. (2014/03/04)

5 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Russia's Lavrov Defends Position to U.N.

Foreign Minister Says Troops are Protecting Russians Until Ukraine is 'Normalized' - By Peter Kenny 

My Comment: We cannot expect something different from Mr. Lavrov,
Always the aggressors say that the others provoked them and for this reason they are reacting in defense of their interests. (2014/03/03)

WSJ Story: EU May Impose Arms Embargo on Russia

Draft Text of Foreign Ministers' Statement Warns Russia to Reverse Actions in Ukraine's Crimea - By Laurence Norman

My Comment: The “arms embargo” looks like a joke. From the other side, Mr. Putin can retaliate against Europe and cuts the gas and oil supply.
This is a partial list of Russian oil dependence across European countries:
- Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania (100%)
- Slovakia (98%)
- Bulgaria (92%)
- Czech Republic (77.6%)
- Greece (76%)
- Ukraine (66%)
- Hungary (60%)
- …
The current situation is a hard lesson for the European Union and other European countries with a big dependence from the Russian gas and oil. With this ‘weapon” in the hands of President Putin, it is very difficult to take a strong action against the Russian aggression. (2014/03/03) 1 Recommendation

WSJ Story: Putin Declares War

Will Obama and Europe let him get away with carving up Ukraine?

My Comment: If Mr. Putin gains this battle and takes the control of Ukraine, after that, he will go for another target and the next until rebuild the Soviet Union's geography.
Only a strong leader with tough attitude and a lot of courage can stop to a bully in his purpose of dominating the people through their fear. (2014/03/03) 2 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Russia Raises Interest Rates After Markets Plummet – Part 1

Central Bank Raises Rates by 1.5 Percentage Points - By Andrey Ostroukh

My Comment: The fall of the ruble is a signal that the financial world is reacting against the military aggression of Russia, but this is not enough to punish the aggressor. The Russians have resources to resist an economic blockage and probably, China will help to its old partner in the case that Europe and the United States cut all the economic relationships. (2014/03/03) 4 Recommendations

WSJ Story: Russia Raises Interest Rates after Markets Plummet – Part 2

Central Bank Raises Rates by 1.5 Percentage Points - By Andrey Ostroukh

My Comment: Oleg: “Before when I said that “The Russians have resources to resist an economic blockage…” I was talking in particular about the oil and gas that are cash money for Russia.
In addition, they have a series of other mineral resources across its extensive territory and a heavy industry associated with these resources. (2014/03/03) 3 Recommendations

WSJ Story: How Moscow Orchestrated Events in Crimea

Old Allies, Old Resentments Re-Emerge - By Paul Sonne and Alan Cullison

My Comment: This is the moment when we realize that the president of the country has to be somebody who really thinks and acts as commander in chief. (2014/03/03) 12 Recommendations

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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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