Dear
Friends:
I would like to
share with you some of the comments posted by myself in the WSJ Journal
Community during the last few days about important headlines.
The comments are
about politics, economy, business, health and other subjects linked with United States, Europe and
other lands.
The majority of
these comments generated a good interaction with other members of the Journal
Community.
Domingo Trassens
Analyst
World Rethink
December 3, 2014
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BLOG COMMENTS: 2014/11/24–
2014/12/03
Ashton Carter,
Ex-Pentagon No. 2, Emerges as Obama Favorite for Defense Secretary
President’s Final
Decision Not Set; Announcement Could Come Later This Week
Former Deputy
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, shown in 2011, is expected to be nominated
by President Obama to succeed Chuck Hagel as Defense secretary. - By Julian E. Barnes And Carol E. Lee Dec. 2,
2014 11:32 a.m. ET
My Comment: Ashton Carter has an extensive professional
background and he knows the Pentagon from inside. However, according to the
information that is public, he has not military experience.
From my humble point
of view, in war times, the best is that the Defense Secretary has previous
experience as soldier or a background direct linked with the battlefield. This
will help him to understand better the problematic of campaigns against
terrorist groups and enemy armies in the ground. 4 Recommendations 12/02/2014 12:20:48 PM
Basic Costs
Squeeze Families
Health Care,
Cellphones Eat Up Income, Leaving Less for Things Like Movies, Clothes - By Ryan Knutson and Theo Francis - Updated
Dec. 1, 2014 7:29 p.m. ET
My Comment: This story about “Basic Costs Squeeze
Families” shows us that we are going to the “slavery” of the health care
insurance and the mobile phones.
We need health care
insurance and mobile phones but in reasonable costs for our pocket. We cannot
be the “slaves” of the insurances and the digital technology because the
pleasure of being a consumer becomes very painful and it is not more a
pleasure.
Our incomes have to
cover all the necessities we have as normal human beings. For example, we
cannot walk with broken shoes because we have to pay the health care insurance.
We need also good shoes to feel healthy (Through the hole of the sole of a
shoe, we can catch illnesses that maybe the health care insurance will not
cover.). 3 Recommendations 12/02/2014 11:53:35 AM
My Comment: Why we will dream in a planet with the best
climate if all the people will be dead for hunger or terrorists attacks?
We have to save the
people who don’t have the basic incomes to make their living and fight in an
effective way against extremists who want to destroy our culture and human
roots before to dream in ideal programs for a better climate. 1 Recommendation 12/02/2014 04:41:30 AM
Suspected Islamic
Militants Attack Two Towns in Northern Nigeria
Witnesses Says
Blasts Hit Market in Maiduguri; Explosions and Gunfire in Damaturu - Associated Press - Updated Dec. 1,
2014 8:28 a.m. ET
My Comment: In Nigeria, the series of continuous attacks of the
Islamic militants put a question mark about the weakness of its authorities,
security forces and military troops. 12/01/2014 02:59:03 PM
Pope Caps Turkey
Trip with Refugee Meeting, Call for Christian Unity
Pontiff and
Patriarch of Orthodox Church Speak Out Against Plight of Persecuted Christians
in Mideast - By Deborah Ball - Updated Dec. 1, 2014 1:28 a.m. ET
My Comment: Pope Francis has the courage to face the
Islamist extremists, but he doesn't have the power, and who have the power,
they don’t have the courage. 1 Recommendation 12/01/2014 02:06:06 PM
U.S., Turkey Narrow Differences on Islamic State Fight
Recent Visit by
Biden Coincided With Islamic State Strategy Discussions - By Adam Entous - Updated Dec. 1,
2014 1:40 a.m. ET
My Comment: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a
dubious partner. He shakes hands with everybody including President Putin who
is partner of the Syrian leader.
Since the
air-strikes against ISIS started, the Turkish leader showed ambiguous
behavior. In my case, I will never trust in his complete support. 12/01/2014 12:43:11 PM
Why Everything
You Think About Aging May Be Wrong – PART 1
As We Get Older,
Friendships, Creativity and Satisfaction With Life Can Flourish - By Anne Tergesen - Nov.
30, 2014 11:27 p.m. ET
My Comment: If you continue mental and physical active,
and you manage your health carefully, your life can flourish after the 60s
because you have more experience than the youngsters and you are more stable in
your attitudes and behavior.
However, you will
find that the society and the companies will discriminate you. If you need to
work because you don't have a reasonable retirement or you need money for make
your living, you will have problem to find a decent job. 7 Recommendations
12/01/2014 12:28:19 PM
Why Everything
You Think About Aging May Be Wrong – PART 2
As We Get Older,
Friendships, Creativity and Satisfaction With Life Can Flourish - By Anne Tergesen - Nov.
30, 2014 11:27 p.m. ET
My Comment
answering to another member of the Journal Community who agree with my previous
observation: Thank you for
your comment. From my point of view, the mental and physical activities are the
best medicine to maintain you healthy. They are the elixir of a long life. You
must to work with your brains and your muscles and have goals. 2
Recommendations 12/01/2014 03:51:56 PM
Oil Slump Weighs
on Markets
Russian Ruble Falls to Record Low - By Tommy Stubbington - Updated Dec. 1,
2014 9:42 a.m. ET
My Comment: From my point of view, the fall of the ruble
will be a new whip against the political and military plans of President Putin.
The Putin’s
predecessors had serious problems when the economy of the Soviet Union collapsed. With hunger, the troops and tanks
do not go far. 1 Recommendation - 12/01/2014 10:54:58 AM
‘Black Friday’
Fades as Weekend Retail Sales Sink
Annual Four-Day
Shopping Bonanza May Be Losing Its Punch - By Shelly Banjo
Updated Nov.
30, 2014 7:50 p.m. ET
My Comment: In addition to the different technical
explanations of the analysts, we have to remark that today the pocket of the
middle-class people is smaller than some years ago.
After the financial
crisis of 2008-2009, a lot of workers have lower salaries and incomes than
before the big collapse. 16 Recommendations 11/30/2014 03:14:27 PM
My Comment: Moldova is another part of the European territory
that President Putin wants to have under the Russian control. 1 Recommendation 11/30/2014 12:41:19 PM
My Comment
answering to another member of the Journal Community who asked by President
Putin is interested in Moldova: The best person who can answer your question is Mr. Putin. He is
trying to rebuild the geography of the former Soviet Union. Moldova is part of his plan..
Something about the
recent history of Moldova: Like in Eastern Ukraine, in a sector of Moldova, the majority of the population is
Russian.
During the Stalin
era, a lot of Russians migrated to the satellite-countries that the Soviet Union occupied. It was a plan of the regime to
spread the Russian roots across all the territories to consolidate the Soviet
power. One of these countries was Moldova. 1 Recommendation 12/01/2014 01:40:49 AM
My Comment: Pope Francis wants to build a bridge between
Christians and Muslims, but the question is: Do the Muslims want the bridge
with Christians?
Before, other
Christian leaders looked for friendly relationships with Muslims with poor
results. 1 Recommendation 11/30/2014 12:37:18 PM
My Comment: Lower prices will decline the power of
countries – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela…- that use the oil as a political weapon. 4
Recommendations 11/29/2014 04:46:24 PM
My Comment: It is truth that when a country pays ransom,
it stimulates new kidnappings and more violence.
The money of the
ransoms is the main income of extremists and criminals and a key resource to
finance terror wars.
For this reason,
today countries like US need to expand its special forces and give
them all the resources needed to rescue prisoners and stop terrorist attacks
through command operations. 5 Recommendations 11/29/2014 03:24:34 PM
My Comment: Egypt is not a democratic country in the western
sense. Its institutions and justice are manipulated for who have are ruling the
country. With this frame, always is possible. For some Egyptians, Mubarak is
innocent. Others think different.
In political and
social issues, only the Egyptians can understand the Egyptians. 2
Recommendations 11/29/2014 01:14:57 PM
My Comment: We have to hope that the trip of Pope
Francis to Turkey helps to reduce the discrimination of Christians in this country.
Personally, I think
the differences between Christians and Muslims are difficult to overcome. 11/28/2014 03:04:24 PM
My Comment: Cameron never was happy with the EU, but if U.K. leaves the European Union, the British
citizens will have to past a border control when they travel to the Continent
and the British Prime Minister will lose influence across Europe. The decision has pros and cons. 11/28/2014 01:32:44 PM
My Comment: The Europeans like to put their noses in the
domestic problems of the United States and enjoy reading about racial riots.
During the last few
days important European newspapers like Frankfurter Allgemeine and Die Welt
posted cover stories with big headlines and dramatic images about the streets
of Ferguson.
However, the
Europeans have a lot of social problems and the panorama does not look clear
for the next years. The big cities of the rich European nations are full of
refugees from very poor countries of Africa and
immigrants from Middle
East who are
fleeing of the religious persecutions of Syria and Iraq. 3 Recommendations 11/27/2014 03:47:57 PM
Pilgrims and the
Roots of the American Thanksgiving
English settlers
of the 17th century were a diverse lot, and they became Americans despite
themselves - By Malcolm
Gaskill - Nov. 26, 2014 2:19 p.m. ET
My Comment: Since the times of the first European
settlers who arrived to America, the Thanksgiving Day is a special
celebration, when everyone expresses their thanks to God for the food that
every day have on their table.
Multiple stories
were written about the first settlers who built the United States with effort and strong resolution.
By the way, during
the last few years, since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, a lot of people
lost their jobs and they have lived painful moments like in the times of the
first European settlers.
Now, we can write
more stories about the effort of everybody to go ahead in difficult moments.
Very Important! With
high spirit and firm resolution, everybody can open new paths for
their lives.
Happy Thanksgiving!
6 Recommendations 11/27/2014 03:20:00 PM
Schumer’s
ObamaCare Mea Culpa
The Senator admits
the law has been disastrous for Democrats. Nov. 25, 2014 7:03 p.m. ET
My Comment: After the disaster of the mid-term election,
Senator Chuck Schumer is realizing that ObamaCare is a monument of the
anti-healthcare system.
Now, the question is
who in the Democrat Party will realize that Susan Rice with her negative
influence in the White House is demolishing the Pentagon. (According to
different sources, Mrs. Rice had communication problems with the 3 last
Secretaries of Defense, but nobody knows if she is able to kill a Syrian
mosquito.) 8 Recommendations
11/26/2014 01:22:17 PM
Pope Describes Europe as ‘Elderly and Haggard’
Pontiff Says
Continent Needs New Sense of Purpose - Deborah Ball
Nov. 25, 2014 6:33 a.m. ET
My Comment: The expression that Europe is “elderly and haggard” is probably
excessive hard.
The Europeans from Western Europe have their own problems plus a long series
of imported problems from Eastern Europe,
Africa, Middle East
and the Muslim countries.
And Europe can not solve alone the problems related to
the massive immigration from Africa and
the Middle East. 2 Recommendations 11/25/2014 03:08:15 PM
My Comment: The resignation of U.S. Secretary of Defense
was a natural reaction of Chuck Hagel against the White House for its
interferences in professional issues.
If the President and his advisers want to use to the Secretary of Defense against
his own mind, it is correct that the Chief of the Pentagon resigns. 5
Recommendations 11/25/2014 02:19:57 PM
My Comment: More free time for the Iranian scientists
who are building the nuclear bomb! In the end, the Atomic Club will greet Iran as a new member of the club.
Meanwhile, John
Kerry and the other western diplomats will spend long hours in the beautiful Vienna. 1 Recommendation 11/24/2014 12:49:02 PM
My Comment: Chuck Hagel was only a “fuse” of the
President Obama about defense issues of his government.
He started off on the wrong foot when he went to Congress for a hearing that
showed that he was not prepared to be a strong leader of the Pentagon.
His departure comes also in a gloomy environment. Till now the military
campaign against ISIS did not show good results and Afghanistan remains as “open ulcer” of the current White
House administration.
Personally, I don’t believe that the air-strikes against ISIS are Hagel’s plan. He is only following the
orders of White House. 2 Recommendations 11/24/2014 12:03:44 PM
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SOURCES:
1)
External Sources: Wall
Street Journal, The New York Times, Tweeter and PBS NewsHour.
2)
Own Sources: My
own research for previous publishing projects like TTT of Comlab Corp, Spanish
English Club online and others.
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