Friday News Roundup - International
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-06-29/friday-news-roundup-international
In Brussels European leaders agree to measures to help financially struggling euro zone members. Egyptian Mohamed Morsi is to be sworn in as the first Islamist head of state in the region since the Arab Spring democracy movement began. Tensions heighten after Syrian forces shoot down a Turkish military plane. And Russian President Vladimir Putin stops in on Israel for brief talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu. James Kitfield of National Journal, Courtney Kube of NBC and Warren Strobel of Reuters join Diane for analysis of the week's top international news stories.
Guests
James Kitfield
senior correspondent, National Journal.
Courtney Kube
national security producer for NBC News.
Warren Strobel
editor in charge, U.S. foreign policy and national security, Reuters.
Comments
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I notice that the domestic update generally spawns many posts, while international discussion has few. I find this to be indicative of my friends and family. They may be well versed and informed on matters nationally but are generally ignorant of the impact of issues in other parts of the world have on our country.
What is going on in Damascus?! Video posted today shows government helicopters shelling residential neighborhoods.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNGIhbEAbA0&feature=youtu.be
Funny how Main Stream Propaganda News never mention how the Bankers have re-hypothicated money @ 50 to 1 to bet on risky derivatives.....and are now blaming and forcing countries to account for their blatant betting. . . some say 90% of the debt is due to the bankers own risky investments...
Yep, the bankers hate for the public to hear what's really going on...and the puppets in the MainStreamMedia are more than happy to keep their dirty secret, secret...
Ouch! Today's guests in the international hour revealed real limits in their knowledge of international affairs by their pronounciation of key terms used in discussing contemporary politics of the Arab world. "Sunni" is pronounced "SUE-knee" and does not rhyme with "sunny"; "Shari'a" is closer to "Maria" (as in "I just met a girl named...") than to "Mariah" (as in Mariah Carey).
Nobody can expect all your guests to know all regions and issues, and I do not. However, your guests would do well to either bone up on key issues of the day, or admit they are beyond their comfort zone. When I hear people pontificate on issues they lack even the basic vocabulary to discuss, I tune out.
About the Saudis:
We are beholden to the Saudis b/c of their cooperation on oil.
In addition, we have a secretary of state whose husband received the largest foreign donation for his library from the Saudis. No coincidence here in the sec. state's behavior.
So both Saudi oil and money talk...most effectively in the US doing Saudi bidding. They hold the cards for our needs.
About Israel:
Obama escalated the settlements as a threshold issue, and thereby disrupted any opportunity for peace negotiations. There is no reason for Israel to stop settlements, until the Palestinians want to negotiate in good faith...and the American president supports a good faith effort on the part of the Palestinians.
After all, let's not forget that Israel halted settlements for six months at one point - how much peace did that get them?
Your international panel need to be corrected on two counts:
1) Wrong pronunciations
2) The continuous charade of calling the settlements in Judea & Samaria illegal, and the territories "occupied."
Judea & Samaria had no legal sovereign when Israel liberated them in 1967. Later, in the peace agreement between Israel and Jordan, Jordan relinquished all claims to these territories which until 1967 were occupied by her illegally.
The Balfour Declaration, the San Remo conference, the League of Nations, the US Congress and the United Nations by force of article 80 of its charter, all agreed that the Jews have the right to close settlement of the entire territory of the British Mandate, which until 1922 included all the territories east and west of the Jordan River, including Jordan.
Judea & Samaria are at best disputed territories and until the fate of these territories is determined by negotiations as required by UN242, Israelis have full rights to settle there on public lands. This is the only truth, and any guest or caller on the show who help perpetuate Arab propaganda are committing a sin.
As for "violating" international law, is there anyone who follows it - or rather, is real international law - the sword, convenience, and national interest.
What is happening in Syria, and the whole "Arab Spring" thing makes you think about the role of the state in society, and how that role evolved :
http://theoriginalamed.blogspot.com/2012/07/criteria-for-evaluation-of-s...
The "small business" caller concerned about the regulations affecting him and "his friends" deserved a more probing examination given the fact that the definition of "small business" excludes most businesses from the onerous regulations. Likely, the caller was not very well informed and repeating the current canard.