BLOG COMMENTS - 2014/08/11

Dear Friends:

During the last few days, the main issue of the headlines of the American and European newspapers was the advance of the ISIS militants in the north of Iraq persecuting minority groups and forcing the others to pay extortionate taxes.

About this subject, the consensus is high. The bloggers are against the brutality of the Sunni extremists led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, some Americans and other Western citizens don’t want a new military intervention in Iraq.

Other news from the Middle East that continues in the first pages of the newspapers is the Gaza chaotic situation and the different truces between Israel and Hamas that were violated. The bloggers are divided about the responsibilities of one and the other part.

The Ebola epidemic is not more an exclusive problem of Africa. Citizens of the rest of the world who work in different African countries are among the patients of this strange sickness. Dr. Miguel Pajares, a Spanish priest who was helping sick people in Africa, died in Spain, his home country, in the last few days. As I wrote in Twitter: “He died as martyr of his vocation of help others.”

One of the good news of the last few days was about the Rosetta spatial mission.  Rosetta is the first spacecraft to orbit a comet nucleus. It reached the 67P Comet. The mission was organized by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the collaboration of European and American contractors.  As I wrote in the blog of Journal Community: “The international cooperation in scientific missions stimulates friendships among different countries and the exchange of knowledge for the best of the Humanity.”

Very important: ESA in its website has a special page for children in different languages. In this page, it posted a very instructive video about Rosetta, the comets and the meteors. I share with you the URL of the English version: http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEM5QY11CYH_OurUniverse_0.html

Now I would like to share with you a series of comments posted by myself in the WSJ Journal Community 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 and other lands. Enjoy them!

Domingo Trassens

Analyst

World-Rethink

August 11, 2014

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BLOG COMMENTS: 2014/08/03 – 2014/08/11

U.S. Giving Military Aid to Kurds in Fight Against Insurgents

CIA Providing Small Arms, Ammunition as U.S. Asks Other Nations to Help - By Dion Nissenbaum And Joe Parkinson

My Comment: Among the different bad reports that come from northern Iraq, it is good to know that U.S. is giving military aid to the Kurdish people in their fight against the Sunni militants.

If the Kurdish troops can defend their positions and recover the ground they lost recently, the refugees will be safety in Kurdistan and the ambition of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to extend the Islamic State will stop.

As we saw till now, Kurdistan could be a “barrier” for the expansion plans of the ISIS. 3 Recommendations 08/11/2014 03:13:44 PM

Calm in Gaza as Israel, Hamas Truce Holds

Israel Reports No New Rocket Fire From Gaza - By Asa Fitch in Gaza City, Joshua Mitnick in Tel Aviv and Amina Ismail in Cairo

My Comment: The news says “Calm in Gaza as Israel, Hamas truce holds.”

The question is: “For how many days or hours the calm will reign in Gaza?”

The current status is very fragile and both sides didn’t show till now a spirit of pacification. 08/11/2014 02:55:38 PM

Biden Signals Potential for Deeper U.S. Involvement in Iraq

Vice President Says U.S. Is Ready to Help New Iraqi Government Against Islamic Militants - By Jeffrey Sparshott

My Comment: This story titled: “Biden Signals Potential for Deeper U.S. Involvement in Iraq” starts with the call of Vice President Joe Biden to Iraqi President Fuad Masum and ends with vacation agenda of President Obama calling Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy.

Really, the phone calls of President Obama with Petro Poroshenko and Matteo Renzi don’t have connection with the current Iraqi political mess. Ukraine and Italy are other different messes. 1 Recommendation 08/11/2014 02:47:26 PM

Big Data's High-Priests of Algorithms

'Data Scientists' Meld Statistics and Software for Find Lucrative High-Tech Jobs - By Elizabeth Dwoskin

My Comment: From my point of view, the “data scientists” have to discover relationships that frequently are not visible for the classic analysts of databases and/or 3D spreadsheets.

After they find the “patterns”, they have to learn how to use these models in the way that the big-data brings positive results and helps other disciplines to solve difficult problems. 2 Recommendations 08/10/2014 12:35:33 PM

Baghdad's Political Rifts Lurk Ahead of Deadline to Select Prime Minister

Parliamentary Divisions Could Keep Iraq in Nouri al-Maliki's Hands, to the Chagrin of the U.S. - By Matt Bradley And Nour Malas  

My Comment: The picture of the political environment of Baghdad is deplorable. They know that the people who live in the north of the country are under the threat of the Sunni militants, but they continue divided by political rifts instead of work together to form a new government. 08/10/2014 12:05:26 PM

Turkey Casts Votes in Presidential Election, With Erdogan Primed for Win

Latest Polls Give Recep Tayyip Erdogan 57% of Vote - By Joe Parkinson

My Comment: When a politician has a lot of ambition and is authoritarian in his way of thinking and acting, the power that he receives from the voters is like an alcohol that intoxicates him.

If Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues intoxicating with the power that he is receiving from the crowds, all will end badly. 6 Recommendations 08/10/2014 07:11:58 AM

Israel, Palestinians Again Trade Fire, as Gaza Death Toll Mounts

Nine People Killed in Israeli Strikes - By Rory Jones in Jerusalem, Asa Fitch in Gaza City and Joshua Mitnick in Tel Aviv

My Comment: In the Gaza conflict, nothing is settled till now. 08/09/2014 02:45:13 PM

Obama Signals Lengthy U.S. Role in Iraq

President Says Crisis Won't Be Resolved Within Weeks - By Jeffrey Sparshott in Washington and Nour Malas in Erbil, Iraq

My Comment: Till now it is not clear if the US operation in Iraq will be a new war or only a partial support to the Kurdish troops in the north of Iraq. 08/09/2014 02:28:32 PM

Germans Back Tougher Stance Toward Russia Over Ukraine -- Poll

Survey Says 82% of Germans Believe Russia Can't Be Trusted - By Harriet Torry

My Comment: In other words, this news says that Germany is taking distance from Russia. Is this true or only an official report of the media? 08/08/2014 03:31:36 PM

Oil Companies Evacuate Staff From Iraqi Kurdistan

Operations Suspended at Some Fields as U.S. Begins Airstrikes to Halt Advance of Islamist Militants - By Sarah Kent

My Comment: The oil is an important economic resource of Kurdistan. We have to hope the suspension of the production will be short. In other case, it will be a serious damage for this region that is pushing for its independence from the Iraqi regime. 08/08/2014 03:21:22 PM

U.S. Planes Start Airstrikes on Iraq Militants

Two Jet Fighters Drop 500-Pound, Laser-Guided Bombs - By Dion Nissenbaum And Julian E. Barnes

My Comment: We have to pray that in this operation the U.S. jet fighters don't hit innocent people.

Everybody agrees that these people need help. The problem is the women, men and children who flee are walking across the field and in between the mountains without any protection and assistance, in small groups. It is a massive escape of individuals with panic. It is really a huge drama.
For this reason, the air-strikes on the Islamic extremists are risky. The air bombing has to be precise to avoid massacres of innocent people. 2 Recommendations 08/08/2014 01:47:20 PM

Argentina Sues U.S. in International Court of Justice Over Debt Dispute

Court Can Hear the Case Only If the U.S. Consents - By Ken Parks 

My Comment: The attitude of the current Argentine authorities is arrogant and simply crazy. They want to continue looking for trouble. They look like children in the school who don’t want to end the brawl.

By the way, during the last days, again the Frankfurter Allgemeine, important newspaper of the financial capital of the European Union, remarked that who act like Ms. Kirchner and her economic team are not honest people because when somebody makes financial compromises, after that they have to respect them. They are dangerous for the European banks.

In summary, if Argentina continues for this insane way, they will close all the important doors of the United States and also Europe. What is the real benefit? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!  3 Recommendations   08/07/2014 03:50:47 PM

U.S. Weighs Airstrikes in Iraq

Washington Wants to Aid Religious Minority Besieged by Insurgents - By Nour Malas and Ali A. Nabhan in Baghdad and Julian E. Barnes in Washington

My Comment: Some weeks ago,the advance of the Sunni militant group named the Islamic State forced a massive escape of the Christian people living in Mosul and other cities of the north of Iraq.

According to personal calls from some of the people that fled from Mosul to Erbil, this city under the control of the Kurds was safe.

Now, the news says that the Sunni insurgents took over Sinjar and they threaten Erbil.

Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan region and the largest city of the area with approximately 1.5 million inhabitants, a city rich in culture and history and with important infrastructure. It is located 55 miles east of Mosul.

If Washington decides any action in Iraq, I believe that the protection of Erbil and the Kurdistan territory has priority.

Today in this northern sector of Iraq there are a lot of refugees. They are members of Christian minorities and Yazudi. Both groups don’t have option to flee by ground to other safe places. They are civil population who lost all. Some of families of this people suffered terrible punishment from the extremists. The ISIS militants behead or crucify the men and capture all the stuff of victims. 2 Recommendations 08/07/2014 03:12:53 PM

Boko Haram Overruns Nigerian Town, Killing Dozens

Gwoza Had Been Bastion of Opposition to Islamist Insurgents - By Drew Hinshaw in Accra, Ghana And Gbenga Akingbule in Abuja, Nigeria

My Comment: During the last few months, a lot of news came from Nigeria about the attacks and atrocities of Boko Haram.
From the other side, the Nigerian army did not find the kidnapped girls and didn't stop the slaughter.
Rethinking the events, we see that the Nigerian military forces are not effective in the defense of the civil population.
Meanwhile, the government of the country looks impotent in front the actions of the Islamist insurgents.
Perhaps, this situation is the result of the corruption of the authorities and/or military leaders, or maybe Boko Haram has infiltration in the some levels of the power of the country. 1 Recommendation 08/07/2014 02:20:19 PM

Mexico's Auto Industry Overtakes Brazil's

Long-standing Policies Helped Cement Varying Performance - By Dudley Althaus And Rogerio Jelmayer

My Comment: Mexico produces cars and industrial products for the American market that is stronger than all the international customers of the Brazilians. 08/07/2014 01:09:46 AM

Putin Limits Some Products From Countries That Sanctioned Russia

Order Lasts One Year; Doesn't Spell Out Specific Goods or Countries - By Greg White

My Comment: In the war of the sanctions, everybody will lose commercial transactions.

But it is important to remark that several weeks ago, Russian President Putin traveled across South American countries – Brazil, Argentina…- that are important producers of agricultural and food products. Mr. Putin prepared the ground to survive the “bombing” of European and American sanctions. 4 Recommendations 08/06/2014 03:12:41 PM

Rosetta Mission Reaches Comet in First for Space Travel

Rosetta Probe and 67P Comet Locked in Common Orbit Around the Sun - By Gautam Naik

My Comment: This is an important achievement of the European Space Agency but it is good to remark that in Rosetta mission also American contractors are involved.
The international cooperation in scientific missions stimulates friendships among different countries and the exchange of knowledge for the best of the Humanity. Congratulations! 1 Recommendation 08/06/2014 02:50:44 PM

Italy Slips Back Into Recession in Second Quarter

Disappointing Growth Data Add Pressure on Prime Minister Matteo Renzi - By Marcus Walker And Giada Zampano

My Comment: Matteo Renzi took the Italian government with a lot of energy and convinced that he will put Italy in its golden days. But after a period again the problems returned.

In summary, nobody has a magic formula to fix the Italian economy. 1 Recommendation 08/06/2014 02:33:57 PM

Why Oppose an Independent Kurdistan?

The Middle East is being remade, and the U.S. needs all the friends it can get. - By William A. Galston 

My Comment: We cannot continue tied to old political patterns of the past. Saddam Hussein is dead and the reunification of all the sectarian groups of Iraq is quasi impossible today.

For this reason, it doesn't make sense to oppose to the independence of Kurdistan.

Kurdistan as an independent country could be a good ally of the United States if we work together with them in a respectful relationship.

Definitely, we cannot force that other countries have to be a “mirror” of the United States. However we can gain better allies than in the past if we act according to a smart foreign politics. 4 Recommendations 08/06/2014 05:41:04 AM

British Airways Temporarily Suspends Liberia, Sierra Leone Flights

Carrier Cites 'Deteriorating Public Health Situation' Due to Ebola Outbreak - By Robert Wall

My Comment: If the situation continues like now, all Africa will be in quarantine soon. 08/05/2014 02:49:25 PM

U.S. General Killed in Afghanistan Attack

Person in Afghan Uniform Also Shoots 14 Other Foreign Soldiers, Including German - By Nathan Hodge and Dion Nissenbaum

My Comment: When an American soldier kills an Afghan, President Hamid Karzai makes a huge scandal.

Now he didn’t apologize for the life of the US general and the other officers.

Really, people like Mr. Karzai don’t deserve all that the allied troops made for his country. 10 Recommendations 08/05/2014 02:19:46 PM

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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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