World View: Iraq's Prime Minister Begs for Military Aid from Washington

This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

• Iraq’s prime minister begs for military aid from Washington
• Israel announced plans for 1,500 new West Bank settlements
• Vladimir Putin tops Obama as world’s most powerful man

Iraq’s prime minister begs for military aid from Washington

Vice President Joe Biden walks with Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday (AP)

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was in Washington on Wednesday,meeting with the vice president and congressional leaders, requestingmilitary aid in the form of Apache attack helicopters and otherweapons. When Americans withdrew from Iraq in December, 2001,al-Maliki was quite certain that no further American military aidwould be required, and that Iraq could take care of itself. However,since the American departure, violence from Sunni jihadists has beenincreasing every month, with more than 7,500 deaths so far this year,so now al-Maliki is singing a different tune. On Friday, al-Malikiwill meet with President Obama in the White House. Global Post and VOA

Israel announced plans for 1,500 new West Bank settlements

Israel announced plans on Wednesday to build more than 1,500 new homesin Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. As usual,there were expressions of condemnation from Palestinians and fromUnited Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon. In the past, Israel hasargued that new settlements are only being built in areas of the WestBank that would belong to Israel under any foreseeable peace deal withthe Palestinians. Wednesday’s announce settlements are particularlydivisive, however, several of the settlements are deep inside the WestBank and almost certainly would have to be dismantled as part of apeace deal. Some reports say that the announcement “deals a setback”to the ongoing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, butthose peace talks are considered to be a joke by most observers in theMideast anyway, incapable of being “set back” any further than theyalready are. Analysts are always offering various theories about aGenerational Dynamics there is one and only one “solution” thatsettles the Mideast problem: A major war. Either Israel will survivesuch a war or it won’t, but either way, the problem will be settled,and a “solution” will have been determined. AP

Vladimir Putin tops Obama as world’s most powerful man

For the first time in years, the Forbes Magazine list of the mostpowerful people in the world does not put the U.S. president in firstplace. That honor goes to Russia’s president Vladimir Putin:

“Putin has solidified his control over Russia andanyone watching the chess match over Syria has a clear idea of theshift in the power towards Putin on the global stage. The ex-KGBstrongman–who controls a nuclear-tipped army, a permanent seat onthe UN Security Council and some of the world’s largest oil andgas reserves–is allowed to serve another six-year term, whichcould keep him in office until 2024.”

President Obama is in second place:

“His signature legislation, Obamacare, is under fire,U.S. allies are outraged over NSA surveillance overseas and thegovernment shutdown for 16 days in October begs the question:who’s in control here? It appears that President Obama’s lame duckperiod has set in earlier than usual for a two-term president,causing him to drop one notch from the No. 1 spot. To be sure,though, Obama remains in charge of the the most powerful nation inthe world, with the largest, most innovative economy and thedeadliest military.”

The top ten names in the list are:

1. Vladimir Putin, President Russia (61)
2. Barack Obama, President United States (52)
3. Xi Jinping, General Secretary, Communist Party China (60)
4. Pope Francis, Pope Roman Catholic Church (76)
5. Angela Merkel, Chancellor Germany (59)
6. Bill Gates, Co-Chair Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (58)
7. Ben Bernanke, Chairman, Federal Reserve United States (59)
8. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King Saudi Arabia (89)
9. Mario Draghi, President European Central Bank (66)
10. Michael Duke, CEO Wal-Mart Stores (63)

Forbes and Australian Broadcasting

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