The Political Drones Get Louder

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Ashfaq Yusufzai PESHAWAR, May 17, 2012 (IPS) – Growing numbers of activists are beginning to counter U.S. Drone attacks into Pakistani territory. The activists are confronting the U.S., but increasingly now the Pakistani government for allowing such attacks to continue. The Tehreek Insaf party led by former [...]


COLOMBIA-U.S.: Trade Deal "Throws Country into Jaws of Multinationals," Critics Say

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Helda Martínez* BOGOTÁ, May 16, 2012 (IPS) – The entry into force of Colombia’s free trade agreement with the United States was met by student protests and opposition from a segment of the business community, small farmers, and trade unionists. The trade deal, signed in 2006 after [...]


U.S.-Afghan Pact Won’t End War – Or SOF Night Raids

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS Analysis by Gareth Porter* WASHINGTON, May 2, 2012 (IPS) – The optics surrounding the Barack Obama administration’s "Enduring Strategic Partnership" agreement with Afghanistan and the Memorandums of Understanding accompanying it emphasise transition to Afghan responsibility and an end to U.S. war. But the only substantive agreement reached between [...]


U.S.-Mexico Border Build-Up Found Excessive

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, Apr 19, 2012 (IPS) – While Republican politicians and other "border hawks" call for ever-tougher measures to secure the U.S.-Mexican border against drug trafficking and illegal immigration, a one-year bi-national study released here Thursday suggests that current efforts may be excessive. The study, a [...]


First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit was Temporary Fix At Best

The credit led to an enormous transfer of wealth to sellers and lenders at the expense of buyers. For Immediate Release: April 18, 2012 Contact: Alan Barber, (202) 293-5380 x115 Washington, D.C.- In February of 2009, with the housing market in a free fall, Congress decided to add a first-time homebuyer tax credit to the [...]


Standing Down as Iran’s Power Struggle Unfolds

Republished on Global Geopolitics & Political Economy By Jen Alic of Oilprice.com A strike on Iran, however limited, would push the current internal power struggle to a premature end that would not be in the US’ best interests – that is the message, whether intentional or not, of the recent "intelligence leak" that has provided [...]


Afghanistan: The Quagmire of U.S. Occupation

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IDN By Nicole Colson* IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis CHICAGO (IDN) – The U.S. war and occupation of Afghanistan was supposed to bring stability and democracy. Instead, Afghanistan remains a country on the brink of disaster – one that has clearly been exacerbated by the U.S. presence. More than 10 years after [...]


OPENING-UP OF MYANMAR

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy B.RAMAN The three-day (Nov.30—Dec 2,2011) visit of Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, to Myanmar— the first by a US Secretary of State since the visit of Johan Foster Dulles in 1955— indicated the growing self-confidence of President Thein Sein that the cautious policy of domestic reforms and external opening-up [...]


USA and Europe Pushing World into Trouble

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IDN AddThis Social Bookmark Button Credit: UNBy J. C. Suresh IDN-InDepth NewsReport TORONTO (IDN) – The United Nations has painted a rather bleak picture of the global economy in 2012, which it says will be a make-or-break year in terms of proceeding with slow economic recovery or falling back [...]


Disastrous Friendly Fire Event in Pakistan Could Grind the U.S. Afghan Campaign to a Halt

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy By. John C.K. Daly of http://oilprice.com NATO recently literally shot itself in the foot, imperiling the resupply of International Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan by shooting up two Pakistani border posts in a “hot pursuit’ raid. Given that roughly 100 fuel tanker trucks along with 200 other trucks loaded with [...]