On the Way to a New Global Balance (Philip Stephens) from the Financial Times [of London]
"Predictions of the passing of US primacy are premature. For all its troubles, America remains the sole superpower – the only nation able to project power in every corner of the earth. … The world’s rising states are at a stage where they want to enjoy power without responsibility."
Stephens provides an excellent, concise look at the international situation right now.
The Redistribution of Hope from the Economist [of London]
"Optimism is on the move—with important consequences for both the hopeful and the hopeless"
European Report Cites Need to Regain Ground with US from the New York Times
"While the report broke no new ground, it was the first formal confirmation of what European leaders have been saying for months and an indication that Ms. Ashton considers regaining influence in Washington a priority. “Europe is no longer the main strategic preoccupation of U.S. foreign policy,” the document says. “The U.S. is increasingly looking to new partners to address old and new problems.”"
Iran in Secret Talks on Nuclear Swap in Bid to End Sanctions from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"Iran has begun secret negotiations on proposals to surrender a substantial part of its uranium stockpile and suspend enriching nuclear fuel in return for an end to sanctions that have crippled the country's economy."
Obama Scents Victory on Start Treaty from the Financial Times [of the UK]
"Barack Obama, US president, has closed in on one of his biggest foreign policy accomplishments by winning Republican support to move to the final phase of ratifying the Start arms control treaty with Russia."
US Remains Patient with North Korea from the Financial Times [of the UK]
"The US continues to see Tehran as a much bigger threat than North Korea. US officials say they are sticking to their current course of action. North Korea may be a bigger threat than it was – but not yet so big that Washington has altered its calculations."
The Moscow Mob: Rioting Exposes the Weakness of Russia's Political System from the Economist [of London]
"The tacky fountains and underground shopping malls that epitomise the oil-fuelled consumption of today's Russia can no longer disguise an inherent instability and a growing sense of injustice among different social groups."
Sorry, Hamas, I'm Wearing Blue Jeans (Ashley bates) from Mother Jones Magazine
"A defiant Palestinian feminist from Gaza reflects on being secular in a religious land.."
And the Winner of the Bout Over Wikileaks is … America (Editorial) from Le Figaro [of France in English]
"It's the greatest and least costly public relations campaign ever organized for American diplomats. Julian Assange has been hoisted by his own petard, and if he sought to make American diplomacy look ridiculous, he failed."
Bigger is Easier (David Brooks) from the New York Times
"Obama’s challenge in the State of the Union address is to give voice to the inchoate longing for change, and to chart a political path through the Washington minefield so that voters and bond markets have the sense that the country is at least beginning to grapple with its problems."
Tax Deal is Template for Obama Course Correction from the Wall Street Journal
"President Barack Obama's success in moving a compromise tax plan through Congress is the opening step on a new, more centrist course that White House officials hope will yield bipartisan results in cutting spending, simplifying the tax code, promoting trade and revamping federal education law. The president is also considering putting forth ideas to engage Republicans on Social Security's long-term finances, officials said."
Is ‘Triangulation’ Just Another Word for the Politics of the Possible? (Matt Bai) from the New York Times
"Had Mr. Obama held the line on principle and allowed all the cuts to expire, as some Democrats would have preferred, the public debate in January would most likely have come down to which of the two parties was responsible for letting middle-class taxes rise during a recession. It’s an argument that Democrats, historically vulnerable on taxes and already fending off charges of expanding government, would probably have lost. Such compromises, ideal or not, are the building blocks of responsible governance. If that makes Mr. Obama some kind of triangulator, then it could also make him a successful president."
Don't Ask Don't Tell Don't Look Now (Michael Tomasky) from the Guardian [of the UK]
"So don't look now, but don't ask don't tell repeal just might pass."
Vocal Bank Critic Gets Key US Consumer Bureau Post from Reuters
"The Obama administration has selected Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, a vocal critic of the banking industry, to head the enforcement division of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to a Treasury official."
Good. Warren's agency will be under a lot of fire next year and it's good to see she's not preemptively knuckling under.
California Adopts Cap And Trade from the Wall Street Journal
"California regulators late Thursday adopted the first large-scale cap-and-trade program in the U.S., in a move officials say will protect the environment without hurting the state's still-struggling economy."
The VERY Wide Open 2012 GOP Presidential Race (Ed Kilgore) from the Democratic Strategist
"…there's remarkably little evidence that conservative activists, the true rulers of the GOP, are converging behind any particular candidate. For a good indication of the landscape, check out the reader poll recently conducted at the highy influential right-wing site RedState."
Conservative Crosshairs (Ed Kilgore) from the Democratic Strategist
"Those with bulls-eyes on their backs presently include Dick Lugar of Indiana, Olympia Snowe of Maine, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, and John Ensign of Nevada--exactly half of the Republicans going before voters in 2012. … This year, the group of endangered senators is quite heterodox. Each can be said to represent a different grievance held by "true conservatives" against the Republican establishment:"
Palin vs. Obama: No She Can't (Jonathan Capehart) from the Washington Post
"When Barbara Walters asked Sarah Palin if she could beat President Obama in 2012, the half-term governor of Alaska confidently replied, "I believe so." Unfortunately for her, no one else does."
WHITE LION NUGGET!!
Pair of Rare Snow-white Cubs Spring a Surprise on Keepers at Wild Life Park from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"Two snow-white lions in winter were born in a Caesarian procedure at a German wild animal park after the pregnancy of their mother went unnoticed. Twins Niza and Nero are off the critical list after 15 days in intensive care following their birth at the Serengeti Park near Hanover."
A-HOLIDAY-TO-REMEMBER NUGGET!!
Holiday in Chernobyl, Book Now (Robert Mackey) from the New York Times
"Next year, as Ukraine marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the country will also officially open the area around the plant to tourists for the first time."
OH BOY! Sign me up!! Note: actually having just finished David Hoffman's excellent Pulitzer-prize winning book, The Dead Hand, I actually wouldn't mind going. The scenes of the heroic Soviet first-responders flying over the reactor are quite harrowing!
NATIVITY NUGGET!!
What IS Frankincense? And Where Does it Come From? from Slate
"Compelled in large part by childhood curiosity, I discarded the issue of the kings' provenance and set out instead in search of frankincense, or luban, as it is called in Arabic."
There is slide show showing how they make it HERE.
HOLLYWOOD NUGGET!!
Top 10 Greatest Movie Comebacks of the Year from the Daily Beast
"From Sylvester Stallone’s action-packed appearance in The Expendables to Nicole Kidman’s critically acclaimed turn in Rabbit Hole, 2010 gave many of Hollywood’s nearly washed up players another chance. See the top 10 best return performances of the year."
I am SO PATHETIC! Almost half the people on the list are stars I have never heard of! And here they're focusing on borderline has-beens! They were never-wases in my world.
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