This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- U.S. snubs Pakistan with new drone strikes in Waziristan
- U.N. rejects Russian troops to replace Austrian peacekeepers
- Greece’s economy continues its collapse, as the IMF blames the EU
U.S. snubs Pakistan with new drone strikes in Waziristan
Drone strike
It was just two days ago that the brand new prime minister ofPakistan, Nawaz Sharif, said that the U.S. must call off its dronecampaign:
We respect the sovereignty of others and they shouldrespect our sovereignty and independence. This campaign must cometo an end now.
He has also criticized the drone strike that killed Waliur Rehman, thesecond in command in Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the PakistanTaliban, two weeks ago.
On Friday, the U.S. apparently snubbed Sharif’s call by launching adrone that fired two missiles at suspected militants in Waziristan inPakistan’s tribal region, killing seven and injuring three others.The new drone strike is sure to become a major political issue inPakistan and widen an existing fault line between the politicians,who oppose the drone strikes, and the Pakistan intelligence agencies,which favor them. Tribune (Pakistan) and VOA
U.N. rejects Russian troops to replace Austrian peacekeepers
There was a bit of humor on Friday, when Russia’s president VladimirPutin offered Russian troops to replace the Austrian troops that arepulling out of the peacekeeping force on the border between Syria andIsrael because it’s become too dangerous there, as we reported yesterday.
Having Russian troops on the border between Syria and Israelwould be such a great idea. They’re already in Syria helpingout president Bashar al-Assad massacre innocent civilians, andin their new role they could join Hezbollah in more slaughter.
Unfortunately for Putin, the United Nations rejected the offer becausean agreement between Israel and Syria bars permanent members of theSecurity Council from the peacekeeping mission. Reuters and Debka
Greece’s economy continues its collapse, as the IMF blames the EU
Greece’s economy contracted an astronomical 5.6% in the first quarterof 2013, in the 19th straight quarter of decline, according to areport issued on Friday. The entire Greece bailout program was basedon the assumption that Greece’s economy would have started to growlong before now, and there have been predictions of “growth next year”for several years. In fact, Greece’s prime minister Antonis Samarasis predicting growth in 2014, as part of his standard ritual.
The finger-pointing is in full gear. The International Monetary Fund(IMF) issued a report on Thursday blaming the European Union for notquestioning Greece’s lies about its economy when it joined the eurocurrency, and then mishandling the bailout. In response, EU Economicand Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn hit back, calling thatrevisionist history. He said: “I don’t think it’s fair and just that(the IMF) is trying to wash its hands and throw dirty water onEuropean shoulders,” saying that the IMF did not oppose any of thebailout steps that were taken. In fact, I said repeatedly thatthere was no solution to the Greece problem, and there wereothers who also expressed doubts. I pointed out misrepresentationsand outright lies by European officials during the variousmeetings to approve bailouts.
Now crunch time is getting closer. Greece needs another bailoutpayment by the end of this month to avoid bankruptcy, and the lies areworking that well any more. Euro News and Greek Reporter and IMF report on Greece (PDF)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Pakistan, Waziristan, Nawaz Sharif,Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, TTP, Waliur Rehman,Russia, Vladimir Putin, Hezbollah, Israel, Syria,Greece, International Monetary Foundation, IMF,Olli Rehn
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