Geopolitical Tensions Rise, Again  

Posted Mar 06 2008, 09:45 AM
by Richard Schwartz


GLOBAL VIEW.  Tuesday, March 4th, 2008: Nothing good to talk about from overseas and other foreign markets.  ASIA, EUROPE and emerging markets are all down whilst big dog domestic China fell another -2.3%.  A report showed European growth slowing as exports & business investment declined while consumer spending fell.  Yuck!

 

Middle East.  I watched the very cordial greeting Iran’s president got visiting Iraq on the BBC news last night.  It sent a chill down my spine as its pretty obvious the current Iraqi government is very partial toward Iran.  Just the opposite of what America has been trying to establish and would like to see.  Schwartz View:  Just looks like America’s move into Iraq is going to go for naught, even worse than naught since if we withdraw Iraq is going to be greatly influenced by Iran, sort of linking up.  And if we stay in Iraq our troops, surge or no surge, remain in big danger.

 Latin America.  There’s trouble in South America as President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela continues to foster a socialist revolution.  He’s been supporting Colombian terrorists whom he now wants the world to call insurgents.  Thus when the Colombian government killed one of the terrorist leaders just across the border in Ecuador, where the terrorists shelter, both Ecuador, under Chavez’s influence and Venezuela had the opportunity to escalate the conflict and moved troops to both Colombian borders.  Schwartz View:  I watched the BBC (British Broadcasting) portray the story last night with Colombia being the bad guy.?  Very interesting.  The BBC sure takes positions; against the Bush administration, against Israel, now against Colombia (backed by the US).  And double interesting, backing Hillary Clinton and against Barack Obama.  Wonder who sets this editorial policy?  Anyway, war breaking out in South America can’t be good for anyone, except for Chavez who wants to become a hemispheric socialistic leader with close ties to Iran.