Can Russia (or Iran) Survive Without China?

Can Russia (or Iran) Survive Without China?

In a recent article entitled “China, Bolivia and Venezuela are proof that social democracy cannot thrive in the global capitalist order” my China-based friend and correspondent Jeff J. Brown asked me an exceedingly interesting and important question. He wrote: Russia is a social democracy, with a large, successful people owned industrial sector and many social…

Saudi Arabia is in Dire Straits

Saudi Arabia is in Dire Straits

Iran’s government spokesman, Ali Rabiei announced Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had sent a series of letters to the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in an effort to promote peace and stability in the region. Ali Rabiei emphasized all the Gulf states have their interests in the region. “Transregional countries, even a…

Sri Lanka: Return of Rajapaksa, Would Unleash Full Benefits of China’s BRI for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Return of Rajapaksa, Would Unleash Full Benefits of China’s BRI for Sri Lanka

Opposition leader and former Defense Minister Lieutenant Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the first round of elections and will become Sri Lanka’s next president, thus returning his family to power after his brother Mahinda’s 2005-2015 presidency. The latter was narrowly defeated in the January 2015 elections and attributed his surprise loss to foreign meddling, stating in…

Trump’s New Policy on Israeli Settlements Is Illegal & Self-Serving

Trump’s New Policy on Israeli Settlements Is Illegal & Self-Serving

Thumbing his nose at the Geneva Convention, the Rome Statute, the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice, President Donald Trump decided that Israel’s unlawful construction of Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territory is lawful. This policy change is part of Trump’s pattern of seeking to legalize illegal Israeli…

Iraq invasion ‘Godfather’ berates Trump for not thinking of NEXT WAR in Syria

Iraq invasion ‘Godfather’ berates Trump for not thinking of NEXT WAR in Syria

Unreconstructed neocon Paul Wolfowitz has slammed President Donald Trump for ‘abandoning’ the Kurds, insisting the US will need them next time there’s a war in Syria. Trump’s blunder, then, is thinking wars can “end.” The man once described by CNN as “the heart and soul of the Iraq war” points out in an op-ed in…

Australia’s China Wars

Australia’s China Wars

This year, China as Intimidating Monster has become the popular motif in Canberra circles. Australian government members Andrew Hastie and Senator James Paterson have become vigorous moral, if hollow enthusiasts. Their criticism of China has led to the revocation of visas to the country, something that has given reason to flash their plumage for the…