World View: UN Calls Syria Conflict 'Civil War'

This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

• Russia sending helicopter gunships to al-Assad in Syria
• United Nations calls the Syria conflict a ‘civil war’
• Financial chaos as Europe continues rapid economic deterioration

Russia sending helicopter gunships to al-Assad in Syria

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. was “concerned about the latest information we have that there are attack helicopters on the way from Russia to Syria.” The use of the helicopter gunships by Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime to slaughter innocent Sunni Arabs represents a dangerous new turn in the conflict. Attack helicopters are heavily armored and can carry machine guns, rockets, missiles or other weapons capable of firing at ground targets. Russia claims that the military equipment they’re sending to Syria can’t be used against civilians, so I guess al-Assad will save them in case Damascus is attacked by Martians. AP

United Nations calls the Syria conflict a ‘civil war’

United Nations peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said on Tuesday that the Syria conflict is now a “civil war.” You can anything you want a “civil war,” but from the point of view of Generational Dynamics, a crisis civil war is impossible in Syria at this time, because Syria is in a generational Awakening era. Long-time readers will remember the farcical nature of politicians, journalists and analysts who didn’t have the vaguest idea what was going on calling the Iraq war a civil war. The pivotal moment came in November, 2006, when NBC news announced, for the sleaziest ideological reasons, that the Iraq war was a ‘civil war.’ (See “News as theatre: NBC announces it will call Iraq war a ‘civil war'”) Iraq was also in a generational Awakening era, and what was really ironic about that whole ridiculous NBC announcement was that it just preceded President George Bush’s “surge,” leading to a rapid collapse in sectarian violence. (See “Brookings Institution does a full reversal on Iraq war”) So, when a politician like Herve Ladsous calls something a “civil war,” then it’s going to be for ideological reasons, and it will probably have little to do with what’s actually going on. Bloomberg

Financial chaos as Europe continues rapid economic deterioration

The eurozone gave every appearance of rapid deterioration on Tuesday, as Spain’s bond yields (interest rates) soared past record levels, while Italy’s bond yields approached record levels. Spain’s 10-year bond yield reached 6.71%, meaning that investors are demanding 6.71% interest to loan Spain money for 10 years. An increase in Spain’s bond yields means that investors are betting that Spain will default. Bond yields above 6% are considered highly dangerous and unsustainable, and bond yields above 7% are considered a full-blown crisis — and Spain’s yields are close to 7%. As for Italy, 10-year bond yields reached 6.3% on Tuesday, settling at 6.17% by the end of the day. Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti said Italy doesn’t need a bailout, something worth a hearty laugh. For comparison purposes, America’s 10-year Treasury yields reached a historic low of 1.67% on Tuesday, indicating that investors are pouring their money into U.S. Treasuries for safety. Globe and Mail