WEEKLY
BLOG COMMENTS No. 63
DATES:
2013/05/05– 2013/03/12
ANALYST:
Domingo
Trassens
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Dear Friends:
Last week, through a hearing in Congress,
three State Department officials revealed new important details about the Benghazi's terrorist attack on September 11, 2012.
A bipartisan group of senators introduced an
immigration reform plan in the U.S. Senate, the first major immigration overhaul
bill since 1986.
Some press sources commented that the FBI
received an alert from Russia in 2011 about the main suspect of the bombing
attack at the Boston Marathon.
In Bangladesh, the death toll of the garment factory building rose above 1,100 after 17
days of the collapse.
In the New York financial markets, Dow Jones
Industrial Average jumped for first time the mark of 15,000 points.
Now I would like to share with you a series
of comments posted by myself in the WSJ Journal Community 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 and Economy, Business, Technology.
DAT
May 12, 2013
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UNITED
STATES
Subject: In 2011, Russian special services informed to FBI that Tamerlan
Tsarnaev had links with militant groups.
My Comment: The
news says that in 2011 Russia sent
an alert to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the interest of Tamerlan
Tsarnaev to join militant groups in the Caucasus
region.
If the previous statement is true, we cannot expect the Russian special services to do our intelligence work. It was the FBI’s responsibility to follow Mr. Tsarnaev in America before the Boston bombing. (2013/05/11) 6 Recommendations
If the previous statement is true, we cannot expect the Russian special services to do our intelligence work. It was the FBI’s responsibility to follow Mr. Tsarnaev in America before the Boston bombing. (2013/05/11) 6 Recommendations
Subject: Columnist Peggy Noonan analyzes Benghazi’s case after the
Congress’ hearing of the last days.
My Comment: Peggy Noonan makes a good analysis of the Benghazi’s case after the Congress’ hearing
of Gregory Hicks, Mark Thompson and Eric Nordstrom.
In brief, she says that it was wrong that the White House created a fake story to hide the real story from the facts.
It is time that our political leaders learn to say the truth at the right moment. Despite YouTube and all the multimedia resources to create fake videos, the “lies” cannot disguise for long time. (2013/05/11) 11 Recommendations
In brief, she says that it was wrong that the White House created a fake story to hide the real story from the facts.
It is time that our political leaders learn to say the truth at the right moment. Despite YouTube and all the multimedia resources to create fake videos, the “lies” cannot disguise for long time. (2013/05/11) 11 Recommendations
Subject: The called “gang of eight senators”, a bipartisan group of
Republican and Democrat Senators, wrote a proposal of the new immigration
reform law. The Republicans put special focus on securing borders.
My Comment: Good
and bad news related to the immigration reform bill:
- A bipartisan group of eight senators prepared the bill that includes more than 800 pages and 300 amendments. In general, the effort looks serious. The bill came to the Senate for the first debate.
- A bipartisan group of eight senators prepared the bill that includes more than 800 pages and 300 amendments. In general, the effort looks serious. The bill came to the Senate for the first debate.
- The amendment about the gay person who can bring to the country a
partner from another country just like a husband or wife will probably generate
hard polemics and stop the advance in the essential points of new bill.
(2013/05/11)
Subject: House Speaker John Boehner asked for the release of the e-mails
related to the Benghazi's attack after the new Congress' hearing.
My Comment: Now,
after the testimony of Gregory Hicks about the Benghazi
attack, if somebody tries to stop this investigation, the earthquake will be
big.
From the smoke and ashes of the scene, it is possible to smell signs of negligence or incompetence…
From the smoke and ashes of the scene, it is possible to smell signs of negligence or incompetence…
The case can not be closed for "political reasons". It
concerns our national security. (2013/05/10) 1 Recommendation
Story: Charges Filed in Abduction
Subject: The case of three young women abducted and raped for 10 years in Cleveland (Ohio) horrifies the
world.
My Comment: Jail
is nothing for Ariel Castro. He is a monster: abduction, continuous rape and
starving of 3 women for 10 years. It is too much! (2013/05/09) 4
Recommendations
Subject: The reopening of the case of Benghazi generates
a lot of questions about the duration of the attack and why the members of the
consulate didn’t receive military support.
My Comment: If
it was an organized terrorist attack, 30 minutes was enough time to “end” with Benghazi. But
in this case, where were our intelligence services before the attack? And why
in several hours, a commando group couldn’t come to the scene jumping into the
building covered by smoke and fire?
Since the first time, I smell strange air around this case.
Personally, if I know that my people are dying for a “crime”,
immediately I will run to the scene and I will stay with my people till the
last minute helping and researching the ground what happened.
A public function is an obligation and a strong compromise for the good and bad moments. (2013/05/09)
A public function is an obligation and a strong compromise for the good and bad moments. (2013/05/09)
Subject: The new testimony for Congress about the Benghazi attacks.
My Comment: The
new testimony for Congress about the attacks on the U.S.
consulate in Benghazi
shows there are pieces of the “puzzle” lost or hidden. (2013/05/08) 6
Recommendations
Subject: First approach about a man in Cleveland, Ohio, who abducted
three young women.
My Comment: The case
looks incredible: Three women were missing for 10 years in the hands of some
kidnappers and now they appeared due to one of these women found the way to
escape their captivity.
Key questions:
1) Why were they kidnapped? (To work like sexual slaves?)
2) How were they kidnapped?
3) Why the police didn’t follow these cases before? Did nobody report the missing women?
4) How they remained captive undetected for 10 years?
Without any discussion, the criminal/s deserve the maximum punishment for kidnapping.
But if the policemen knew about these cases and they didn't act in the right moment, they have to be punished too. (2013/05/08) 4 Recommendations
Subject: The United
States accuses directly
the Chinese government and military forces of cyber-espionage.
My Comment: It
is clear that China
pursues to be the No. 1 in the World. We have to use all our resources and
intelligence to “abort” their plans.
This doesn’t imply a “war” killing people, but “yes” derailing their projects. It is like when you play chess and with smart movements, you “abort” the strategy of your rival. (2013/05/07) 3 Recommendations
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EUROPE
Subject: Important meeting
in Moscow. The new U.S. Secretary of State talked with President Putin
about Syria and other subjects.
My Comment: It is
good that John Kerry went to Russia to
talk directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Syrian case.
We have to hope the new U.S. Secretary of State doesn’t offend Mr. Putin like when Hillary Clinton expressed in public bad comments about the Russian President.
Independently that we have big differences with the Russians in diverse subjects, we have to talk in a diplomatic way if we pursue real solutions in cases where Mr. Putin has the “key”.
We have to hope the new U.S. Secretary of State doesn’t offend Mr. Putin like when Hillary Clinton expressed in public bad comments about the Russian President.
Independently that we have big differences with the Russians in diverse subjects, we have to talk in a diplomatic way if we pursue real solutions in cases where Mr. Putin has the “key”.
However, I don’t believe that John
Kerry will change the way of thinking of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin is hard like
a stone. (2013/05/09) 1 Recommendation
Subject: A new case of sexual scandal in the British Parliament.
My Comment: In
the top environment of the people with a lot of power, “rape” is not a sin or
crime, it is only an entertainment.
Nigel Evans is a British politician with a lot of power, but his
personal life is not transparent.
According to the “The Mail on Sunday” (2010/12/18), Mr. Evans confessed to the press that he is gay and “he was fed up with living his life as a lie.”
During the last days, also according to stories of other British newspapers he was arrested on suspicion of raping one man and sexually assaulting another during the last years. (2013/05/05)
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THE
WORLD: Asia, Middle East, Africa…
Subject: From Pakistan, Nawaz
Sharif, a
conservative former prime minister (PM) ousted in a 1999 military coup, declared
victory in the Saturday election.
My Comment: This is the vote of the elders. The youngsters
tried to boycott the election. (2013/05/12)
Subject: After the bombing attack in Turkey near the Syrian border, the Turkish authorities point against the
al-Assad regime.
My Comment:
Everybody accuses the Syrian regime for the deaths, chemical weapons and
bombings inside and outside the country.
We have to observe that the militant Islamist groups affiliated with
al-Qaeda are also on the ground creating chaos and confusion. (2013/05/12) 1
Recommendation
Subject: After 17 days of the fall of the factory building in Bangladesh, the rescuers have found another survivor.
My Comment: The
rescue of Reshma Akter Begum alive from the rubble of Rana Plaza, in Dhaka, Bangladesh,
after 17 days of the collapse shows that sometimes miracles are possible. (2013/05/12)
Story: Blasts Kill 40 in Turkey
Subject: Two car bombs exploded in Turkey near the Syrian border.
My Comment: The two car bombs exploded in Turkey near the Syrian border is a signal
that the Syrian civil war could spread through the frontiers to the neighboring
countries. (2013/05/11) 1 Recommendation
Story: Violence as Pakistan Votes
Subject: The election in Pakistan came with a lot of violence and political pressure.
My Comment:
Election Day in Pakistan:
violence and people asking to boycott the vote.
The corruption of the government institutions and politicians produce deception in the population, but the boycott to the voting is not a realistic solution.
The citizen’s apathy strengthens the corruption and the democracy sicknesses. If everybody votes every time there are elections, from mistakes to mistakes, always there are possibilities of changes. The “silence” of the no-voting doesn’t help. (2013/05/11) 3 Recommendations
The corruption of the government institutions and politicians produce deception in the population, but the boycott to the voting is not a realistic solution.
The citizen’s apathy strengthens the corruption and the democracy sicknesses. If everybody votes every time there are elections, from mistakes to mistakes, always there are possibilities of changes. The “silence” of the no-voting doesn’t help. (2013/05/11) 3 Recommendations
Subject: New fire in another garment factory and more deaths related to the
collapsed building in Bangladesh.
My Comment: One
more factory burned and more than 1100 corpses found under the debris of the
building that collapsed! The series of tragedies linked with the garment
industry of Bangladesh are
like an "epidemic" of corruption.
No entrepreneur, government officer or buyer with a minimum human dignity can force the trespassing of secure work conditions, playing with the hunger of poor workers. (2013/05/10)
No entrepreneur, government officer or buyer with a minimum human dignity can force the trespassing of secure work conditions, playing with the hunger of poor workers. (2013/05/10)
Subject: Afghan President Karzai focuses the Taliban activities in the Pakistani
frontier.
My Comment: The
new problem of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is the frontier with Pakistan.
The point is every time that Mr. Karzai has a problem, he accuses the
others and if the solutions don’t come to his desk, he looks for help from the United
States and the allies. He is unable
to solve his problems alone. (2013/05/05)
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LATIN AMERICA
Subject: In Argentina, the exchange black market showed a deep fall of the Argentine Peso.
My Comment:
Black market: 10 Argentine Pesos to US$1.
It looks like a new “toboggan” without a clear stop… (100 Pesos to US$1? 1000 Pesos to US$1? Who knows?)
It is not the first time that Argentina lives this kind of experience.
Very bad news for a country that never learns the lessons of History! (2013/05/10)
It looks like a new “toboggan” without a clear stop… (100 Pesos to US$1? 1000 Pesos to US$1? Who knows?)
It is not the first time that Argentina lives this kind of experience.
Very bad news for a country that never learns the lessons of History! (2013/05/10)
Subject: Venezuela starts a new election audit due to the claim of the opposition.
Meanwhile the new president starts a Latin American tour.
My Comment: All
looks like the time for a new election audit is late. Independently of the
results, no Venezuelan institutions will force President Nicolás Maduro to
resign in favor of Henrique Capriles. (2013/05/06) 3 Recommendations
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
Subject: Billionaire losses crack the foundation of the Japanese consumer
electronics industry.
My Comment: The
net losses of more than US$7.4 billion for the second straight year of
Panasonic looks like a sea of red ink.
During more than five years, we read about the decline of the consumer
electronics industry, but we never expected billions of dollars of losses due
to the fall of the sales of products like television devices, digital cameras,
Blu-Ray disc players.
Panasonic is not alone in this case… All the classic Japanese giants of the consumer electronics are on the border of the crater. . (2013/05/10)
Panasonic is not alone in this case… All the classic Japanese giants of the consumer electronics are on the border of the crater. . (2013/05/10)
Subject: Rumors from the technology market say Amazon.com is working in the
development of a new smart-phone with 3-D screen.
My Comment: Till
now, Amazon didn’t post official communication with details about the
development of a smart-phone with 3-D screen using a retina-tracking
technology.
All that we know - through the press - is not enough to measure the
possible impact of this initiative in a market crowded with digital gadgets.
The normal users of smart-phones don’t need to pay more for 3-D screen.
(2013/05/09)
Subject: Microsoft concedes that the sales of Windows 8 are under the
previous expectations.
My Comment:
Everybody agrees that till now Microsoft Windows 8 was more expectations than
results. It is good that Microsoft recognizes the facts.
About the 100 million copies of Windows 8 that Microsoft says it has
sold since October 2012, it is difficult to know if really these operating
systems are running on computers now or they are on the shelves of the
resellers and retail shops waiting for buyers. (2013/05/08)
Story: Dow Closes Above 15000
Subject: Historic: The famous Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped above
15000 points.
My Comment: The
first 15000 points of Dow Jones Industrial Average is making History despite
the slow signs of economic recovery of the country since 1999.
It is not a merit of the economic administration of the government. It is only a reflection of the euphoria of the investors. (2013/05/07) 4 Recommendations
Subject: Dell Inc. doesn’t find investors who want to pay its real value to
go private.
My Comment:
Definitively, Dell Inc. values more than $24.4 billion but the problem in any
deal is Michael Dell.
Michael wants to sell his company without losing his CEO position. (2013/05/07) 1 Recommendation
Michael wants to sell his company without losing his CEO position. (2013/05/07) 1 Recommendation
Subject: Adobe announces big changes in the way to market of its software.
My Comment: The
Adobe’s decision to stop making packaged software and to offer its tools only
through cloud services is not good for the customers who are not professionals
or use graphic software occasionally.
The company wants to push everybody to apply for a subscription and pay
to the last cent like a gasoline pump. Also it forces to work always linked to
Internet.
In the end, the small users and students will try to use alternative tools and its business will go down. (2013/05/06) 24 Recommendations
Subject: Japanese car makers are losing their midsize edge due to a hard
competition.
My Comment: The
decision about what is the best car depends on a lot of factors.
Some new cars are great and they have good prices, but you have to consider other points before you buy them.
For example, during the period that I was living in a small city in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, I learned the difference between a Jeep Cherokee and a Nissan Quest.
Every time that my Nissan had mechanical problems, I had to travel 80 miles to find mechanical service and wait for the supplies. In the case of the Jeep, the mechanic in my town fixed it immediately.
More, the postman of my town distributed the letters driving a Subaru, a good car for the snow and hilly areas. However, one day his Subaru stopped. The postman had to wait for the supplies for his car more than 45 days. Meanwhile, somebody rented him a Jeep.
I drove across all the United States thousands of miles on different grounds, from the south to the north and the east to the west. I always found mechanic shops to fix classic Ford, GM or Chrysler cars. (2013/05/06)
Some new cars are great and they have good prices, but you have to consider other points before you buy them.
For example, during the period that I was living in a small city in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, I learned the difference between a Jeep Cherokee and a Nissan Quest.
Every time that my Nissan had mechanical problems, I had to travel 80 miles to find mechanical service and wait for the supplies. In the case of the Jeep, the mechanic in my town fixed it immediately.
More, the postman of my town distributed the letters driving a Subaru, a good car for the snow and hilly areas. However, one day his Subaru stopped. The postman had to wait for the supplies for his car more than 45 days. Meanwhile, somebody rented him a Jeep.
I drove across all the United States thousands of miles on different grounds, from the south to the north and the east to the west. I always found mechanic shops to fix classic Ford, GM or Chrysler cars. (2013/05/06)
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