Georgy Arbatov, a foreign policy adviser to Soviet presidents who served as the country's top America-watcher during the Cold War, died Friday. He was 87.
Arbatov, who advised leaders from Leonid Brezhnev to Mikhail Gorbachev and was especially close to Yuri Andropov, was credited in the West and later in Russia for understanding the Soviet system was fundamentally untenable.
"He belonged to a group of reformers who believed that the Soviet system could be and had to be reformed," said Yevgeny Primakov, who served as prime minister under Boris Yeltsin, in comments to state news channel Rossiya-24.
"His name is associated with the entire epoch of the Soviet Union. ... He was part of the closest and best trusted consultants of Brezhnev and Andropov," Primakov said.
From 1967 to 1995 Arbatov ran the U.S. and Canada Institute, an advisory body to Soviet authorities that he founded and that had huge sway over policy toward the American continent at a time of heightened tensions for the Cold War adversaries.
Arbatov, who studied international law but started out as a journalist after fighting in World War II, penned speeches for leaders including Brezhnev.+
Arbatov was awarded the highest Soviet scientific distinction in 1974, named Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R.
Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the foreign affairs committee of the lower house of parliament, said Arbatov's legacy remains.
"He was a scientist, a politician, a diplomat, and everything that made our politics in recent decades politics of civic-mindedness, politics of effectiveness, and politics of creativity."
Arbatov remained honorary director of the think tank he created. He may have convinced Gorbachev that it was all over.
#1
Horse crap. The original "peace sign" didn't have the middle line in the bottom. It was a line from the top to the middle that branched to either side without the middle "toe" of the chicken foot.
#4
Sometimes Wikipedia is correct: The internationally recognized symbol for peace was originally designed for the British nuclear disarmament movement by Gerald Holtom in 1958. Holtom, an artist and designer, made it for a march from Trafalgar Square, London to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston in England, organised by the Direct Action Committee to take place in April and supported by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). Eric Austen adapted Holtom's designs to ceramic lapel badges.
The symbol is a combination of the semaphore signals for the letters "N" and "D," standing for Nuclear Disarmament
#8
Hard to believe that the peace movement would adopt the logo of a well known, successful (and capitalist!) automobile company as their symbol. Even a blind wikipedia finds an acorn sometimes.
#2
Seems that the eco-Nazis are in full on damage control mode with this video. They are getting it pulled off Youtube and other hosts. Guess it never occurred to them when they made it that murdering people in an ad looks bad.
Anyway, here's a link at Hotair that's working ATM:
#3
Here's a link to Tim Blair's site (the 2nd video is still working; 1st one is the original You-Tube one) - nice roundup by Tim. (For those who don't know him, he's hilarious, and a master of understatement.)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/01/2010 15:15 Comments ||
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#4
I can understand why "Damage Control" is in full cry, it makes the participants look like mass murderers to "Enforce" their rule.
And makes them look like tyrants of the worst kind, Our way or death.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/01/2010 21:11 Comments ||
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#5
Versus
THE OIL DRUM > THE "OIL PEAKS" HAS BEENR ECHED | THE ALARM AHS SOUNDED, THE SCARCITY OF OIL WILL AFFECT EVERYONE, SAYS ANALYST.
Every Human, Every Family + Community, Every Govt-Society around the World.
* FREEREPUBLIC > GLOBAL UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS WILL STIR SOCIAL UNREST, WARNS UN AGENCY [UN ILO].
#2
After reading this.... I'm seriously considering submitting a reclama for yesterday's removal of my Hal Lindsey, 'Gag Magog' final war and flying brimstone piece. (inside voice belly laugh fully enjoyed)
#4
A. This is desperately in need of a coffe warning.
B. I challenge anyone to cast this as a comedy bit without using Monty Python. I can't get past the picture of Terry Jones as Chrysler, John Cleese as the barrister and Graham Chapman as m'lud.
Posted by: Alan Cramer ||
10/01/2010 9:34 Comments ||
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#5
The best theater in London. The guards are very helpful in directing you to the court most likely to have an entertaining trial. Someone is always bringing a suit for libel over there.
In the meantime we have a Gulf drilling moratorium implemented by Champ. We lose, the Cubans win. It's almost as it was planned.
WASHINGTON -- Cuba is expected to begin drilling offshore for oil and gas as soon as next year with equipment that will go deeper than the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, industry experts say.
The Spanish energy company, Repsol, which drilled an exploratory well in 2004 off the coast near Havana, has contracted to drill the first of several exploratory wells with a semi-submersible rig that is expected to arrive in Cuba at the end of the year, said Jorge Piñon, an energy expert and visiting research fellow at the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. He said the rig is expected to drill down 5,600 feet in an area about 22 miles north of Havana and 65 miles south of the Marquesas Keys.
Luis Alberto Barreras Cañizo, who led the Cuban delegation as a representative of Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, confirmed the plans for exploration.
``Cuba needs to find its oil, it's a resource Cuba needs,'' he told the Bradenton Herald in an interview.
We need it too, as it turns out. Somebody tell Champ.
Environmentalists suggested the prospect of rigs just 45 miles from Florida's coastline could intensify pressure for the Obama administration to engage in talks with its Cold War antagonist to prevent ecological damage.
Why? We'll be buying the stuff. And why would the Cubans talk with us about shutting down the drill rigs when they obviously need the oil, for themselves and to sell? The environmentalists are, as usual, clueless about the real world.
``A policy of isolationism doesn't benefit anyone. We have a selfish interest in talking with Cuba,'' said David Guggenheim, a conference organizer and senior fellow at The Ocean Foundation in Washington. ``At a minimum, you need a good Rolodex.''
Guggenheim has been working on marine research and conservation issues with Cuba for nearly a decade and assisted the country with satellite images and models to track the trajectory of the Gulf spill. He said computer modeling shows that an oil spill off Cuba's coast could end up in U.S. waters -- chiefly the Florida Keys and the state's east coast.
Because, you know, they're only 50 miles away. Boy howdy, what would we do without experts?
``The Gulf isn't going to respect any boundaries when it comes to oil spills,'' he said.
Barreras said he's not worried about the ecological effects of offshore drilling, saying, ``the Cuban environmental framework is very progressive.''
It's almost Soviet in how progressive it is ...
A State Department spokeswoman said the United States expects that oil exploration companies would have ``adequate safeguards in place'' and that U.S. companies could get a license through the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to help with oil spill prevention efforts in Cuba.
But they can't get a license to drill in the Gulf ...
But FIU's Piñon, who argued in a paper in May that U.S.-Cuba policy would ``foreclose the ability to respond effectively'' to an oil disaster, said such permits could take weeks. ``You can't put a spill on hold to wander through the bureaucracy,'' he said.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, accused the Cuban regime of saying ``anything to attract investors and convince them to open their wallets.''
Correct. I don't blame Raul for that; he's in a tough situation with trying to keep his people happy and cut his own throat un-cut ...
``The regime is in tough economic straits and to keep itself afloat, is now looking at the oil industry, among others, to throw it a lifeline,'' she said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/01/2010 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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#2
Besoeker, since that name is so similar to the captive BP subsidiary company....
It would soon be absorbed via legal means and we would have BP drilling deep again.......
just something to ponder.....
Posted by: Water Modem ||
10/01/2010 9:43 Comments ||
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#4
SO, Castro is showing Obama as the Moron he is.
GOOD.
We can use Cuban Drilling as the reason to resume our own drilling, put OUR people back to work, and ignore Obama's Ban, sounds like a plan.
Then when the Saudi's cut off THEIR oil, it won't affect us.
(Not as badly anyway)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/01/2010 10:45 Comments ||
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#5
``A policy of isolationism doesn't benefit anyone. We have a selfish interest in talking with Cuba,'' said David Guggenheim, a conference organizer and senior fellow at The Ocean Foundation in Washington. ``At a minimum, you need a good Rolodex to be a conference organizer''
The Cubans will drill. The Russians will drill. The Chinese will drill. The Mexicans will drill.
The US will hold out for hope and change.
Posted by: Kelly ||
10/01/2010 18:35 Comments ||
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#7
Water Modem: I don't want BP drilling deep again. I'd rather the central government would stop holding BP's actions against people who aren't BP, such as Chevron, Shell, and all the others with better safety records. The whole drilling moratorium, in its twisted way, served to protect BP's relative position among its competitors, because everyone is busted back to the position of reselling Saudi and Russian (and etc.) oil at a very modest markup and taking the blame for whatever price fluctuations the various state-owned oil producers manage to inject into the process.
(Xinhua) -- Moody's, the third most important credit agency in the World Thursday took the decision to lower Spain's credit rating from a maximum AAA to the next level of Aa1.
That means the perspectives for Spain remain stable, but Moody' s expressed concern at the slow pace of Spain's economic recovery given that the construction industry will need several years to return to previous levels.
Moody's also highlighted the Spanish deficit and debts, commenting that interest payments mean that the country is still very vulnerable to future moments of volatility on the stock markets.
Moody's Spain analyst, Kathrin Muehlbronner calculates that Spain's GNP will rise at just 1 percent a year, lower than its EU counterparts Britain, Germany and France, where growth will be between 1.5 and 2 percent.
The Agency believes that the country has to address the double problem of low productivity and a lack of competitiveness, claiming the country suffered high labor costs and low workplace flexibility. It was, however, positive about the recent labor reforms passed by the Spanish government.
Those reforms which make it easier for employers to sack workers were the main reason for the general strike which was held in the country on Wednesday.
Muehlbronner highlighted that the Spanish government's policy of reducing the fiscal deficit, which fell by 42 percent in the first eight months of this year, was the main reason Spain's credit rating had only fallen by one point.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/01/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Is it as low as Greece's yet?
Who's going to "win" the race to the bottom (other than Zim-Bob or NorK)?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/01/2010 15:29 Comments ||
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#2
Ireland is in the running among functioning countries, Barbara. I just read that the cost of their bank bailouts will be something like a quarter of GDP, separate from any other problems they may have. link
[Al Jazeera] Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, has won a decisive victory in a confidence vote in the Italian parliament.
Berlusconi won 342 votes in favour of his government, with 275 opposed and three members abstaining.
The outcome came as little surprise after members of a breakaway group from Berlusconi's centre-right coalition said earlier on Wednesday that they would back the prime minister.
"We have different ideas from Berlusconi about the future of Italian politics, but we think now that Italy doesn't need a new election, Italy needs to be governed," Benedetto della Vedova, a member of the breakaway bloc, told Al Jazeera after the vote.
Berlusconi called on parliamentarians to back him to spare Italy political instability at a time of financial woe.
"It is absolutely in the interests of our country not to risk a period of instability in this moment where the crisis is not yet over," Berlusconi said.
He also outlined his government's goals for the remainder of its term, which include tax reforms, measures to fight organised crime and illegal immigration, and a politically delicate plan to overhaul the justice system.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/01/2010 00:00 ||
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Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf vowed Friday to return to politics as he launched a new party in London, where he has spent the past two years in self-imposed exile.
At a packed press conference, the retired general unveiled the All Pakistan Muslim League to contest the next elections in 2013 as a civilian -- although he promised to return home before then.
"The time has come to make Pakistan into a progressive, modern Islamic state," Musharraf said. He promised a "party of national salvation" to replace the country's current leaders who "do not show any signs of light in the darkness that prevails in Pakistan".
"I think I can give that light," he said.
Asked when he would return home, Musharraf said: "Whatever the dangers, whatever the pitfalls, I will be in Pakistan before the next election."
The 67-year-old former president brushed off suggestions that he would be arrested on treason charges as soon as he sets foot in Pakistan.
"Today there is no case against me in the courts of Pakistan. Whatever cases have been instituted have been done on political grounds. That, I am prepared to face when I get there," he said.
He vowed that if he returned to power, "we will launch a jihad against poverty, illiteracy, hunger and backwardness" and promised to rid the country of the "menace" of corruption and extremism.
"We have to fight terrorism and extremism until we defeat it," he said, speaking against a backdrop of the white and green Pakistan flag and the new party's logo of a crescent and star, a hawk's head and the words "Pakistan First" in Urdu.
Musharraf said he did not have a new approach for fighting the Taliban -- who launch attacks in Afghanistan from the Pakistan side of the border -- but argued the current strategy was not being properly executed.
"It is not really going to be a new strategy, but the implementation of an existing strategy that is not being fully implemented," he said.
Musharraf warned earlier this week that Pakistan was at risk of a new coup against Zardari, who is struggling with rampant militancy, a crumbling economy and recent devastating floods.
In a BBC interview Friday, Musharraf said the military were the only resort for Pakistani people frustrated with their government.
"We cannot allow Pakistan to disintegrate, that cannot be allowed. No Pakistani will allow that, no Pakistani wants that. So who's the saviour?. The army can do it. Can anyone else do it? No, nobody else can do it," he said.
The USS Independence (LCS 2) is a small transport vessel designed to undertake multiple missions, which due to its trimaran design can reach speeds of more than 40 knots (46mph).
The 419-foot vessel was built at the Austal shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, has a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) and can also operate in water less than 20 feet deep.
The Independence's mission bay is 15,2000 square feet and takes up most of the lower deck. It can support the operation of two Seahawk helicopters, multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or one CH-53 Sea Stallion-class helicopter.
#4
The development of the Independence has experienced a number of problems in recent years with the total projected cost of the ship now standing at $704 million - compared to the original prediction of $200 million.
I am shocked, shocked to find that defense contractors are defrauding the government here!
#5
It's not always fraud, gromky. How many times do you think the project's been jerked around by Congress? How many times do you think the design and requirements had to be changed?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
10/01/2010 13:39 Comments ||
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#6
Ah, you're right. A Navy ship costing 4x the amount budgeted? Nah, couldn't be fraud. Not from a defense contractor, of all companies! I withdraw my statement in the face of your withering, accurate criticism.
#7
Projects rarely cost what they are predicted. Why? Because the customer (Us) add on goodies during the R&D, testing, and production phase. I would bet that they didn't think of a UAV component until late in the game.
#8
For the sort of money these could we could have bought something like a Nansen class frigate to replace the Perrys with. Now we have this but it's going to be sent to do the Perry's job, without a decent area air defense.
#9
Wow, that thing looks pretty bad-ass. What kind of gun is that up front on the bow? Phanlanx or some kinda standard 3-inch cannon or something else?
#10
57mm cannon. It also has a CIWS missile launcher on top of the hanger. Besides that, its weapons consist of whatever is on the helicopter, and whatever is on the "mission modules." It has a large empty space below the hanger that isn't really usable for offensive weapons (unlike the Absalom class they got the idea from, where a large bit of the module space can be used for VL-ESSM or other missiles).
They spent a whole lot of money and capability getting those extra five knots out of the ship. Norway paid this much money for a small (and admittedly slightly underarmed) Aegis frigate.
The newest White House rule: No long shirt, no pants, no dice!
A 10-year-old boy who had just attended the burial of his grandfather -- a historic Medal of Honor recipient -- at Arlington National Cemetery was refused a West Wing tour because he was wearing a T-shirt and shorts.
Vernon Pawlik's grandfather, Vernon Baker, had been the last surviving black Medal of Honor recipient from World War II and was buried Friday after dying in July of brain cancer at age 90.
On Saturday, his family, who live in Idaho, tried to take a VIP tour of the West Wing, which includes the Oval Office. But Vernon Pawlik was turned away for his supposedly inappropriate attire -- shorts and a T-shirt bearing his grandfather's picture. The staffer who was to lead the family wasn't sure whether Vernon Pawlik's attire was considered appropriate, officials said.
Then you ask before turning someone away. That's standard underling behaviour. Showing initiative is unwise in such circumstances.
Another Medal of Honor recipient, Thomas Norris, also of Idaho, was refused because he hadn't been cleared for the tour.
Somebody dropped the ball.
John Dunlap, who had helped organize the family's tour from his American Legion Post 25 in Idaho, was outraged. "Here's a young man, 10 years old, and our government is like a complete fool turning him away," he said. "No one told us about a dress code."
Dunlap said he doesn't think the family has the resources to come back to DC.
A key point.
The American Legion and the National Guard had raised $22,000 to help the family attend the funeral at Arlington and is helping fix the roof of the family house and do other repairs.
"We were appalled by the way they were treated," said Susan Wheeler, a spokeswoman for Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho).
The snub left the White House embarrassed and apologetic.
Rightfully so. There are a number of idioms that describe what a cock-up they created.
"This is an unfortunate misunderstanding," said White House spokesman Adam Abrams.
No. Y'all confirmed to those who were suspicious exactly how out of touch you are with the common folk of the country you're supposed to be running. The ripples from this will spread wide and far.
"We would have loved to have hosted 10-year-old Vernon and his family at the White House, and we have reached out to the Baker family and Lieutenant Norris to communicate our deep regret and invite them back to the White House."
Remember that bit above about not having the resources to return? Unless you offer to pay their fares, your invitation is yet another slap in the face. Perhaps a useful exercise would be to start listing the idioms for the kind of cock-up this is. "Stepped on your dick," should be in there somewhere.
Vernon Baker's widow, Heidy, wasn't available for comment.
She is Baker's third wife. A daughter she had before marrying Baker gave birth to Vernon Pawlik and named him after Vernon Baker.
Baker received the medal in 1997 from President Bill Clinton after an Army review determined that, because of racism, no black soldier from that era had received a Medal of Honor.
What? The White House ejected people of colour who had recently received one of the nation's highest honours, an honour vastly overdue because of previous discrimination?? Black support for President Obama has already dropped to something like 75%; perhaps you ought to change that idiom to, "danced the Tarantella on your dick," and tap the petty cash fund to pay for the family's airplane tickets and hotel. A per diem would be wise, as well, or we'll hear about them eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the hotel room they can't afford to leave.
Serving in a segregated unit in Italy, Baker charged a mountain fortress after his white commander deserted. He took out an enemy observation post and machine-gun nest, raided a bunker and helped his men retreat after getting shot in the hand.
He was also awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Our thanks to Mr. Baker and all his comrades for their service. We know to whom we owe our freedom.
#1
Funny, nobody banned the Northwestern women's lacrosse team from the White House when they showed up in flip-flops. Anyone think that maybe, just maybe, liberals in the White House were just aching to stick it in the eye of MoH recipients and their families in any way possible? Nah.
PS never search for "White House flip-flop"...really difficult to wade through all the results about changing positions instead of the lacrosse team!
#2
Sorry. Much as I would like to take any side opposing this Administration, I think the boy should have been dressed appropriately for the occasion. Or occasions? Did he wear shorts and a t-shirt to the funeral too?
#3
For the in-line commenter (tw?)
may I suggest that your idiom was incomplete.
that should be "danced the Tarantella on your dick," with golf shoes on!
Posted by: Alan Cramer ||
10/01/2010 15:21 Comments ||
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#4
Alan Cramer, lavender periwinkle is indeed tw.
Her comments are always worth reading (though some of these surprised me!).
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/01/2010 15:26 Comments ||
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#5
may I suggest that your idiom was incomplete.
I've lead a sheltered life, Alan, so I am unfamiliar with the more colourful idioms. To tell the truth, almost all of what I know about colourful language I discovered here at Rantburg.
Glenmore, I suspect the boy wore exactly that outfit to the funeral. I've seen boys in t-shirt/shorts/flip-flops headed for the freshman formal, matched with girls in full prom regalia (long gown, heeled sandals with coordinated dress clutch, formal make-up and hair). Given that the family was there for a VIP tour, someone should have loaned the lad a jacket and tie for the duration, thus simultaneously allowing the excursion and driving home the idea of appropriate attire. It's the White House -- there should be plenty of suit coats and ties on the backs of occupied desk chairs.
#6
tw, I agree the guests should have been informed of requirements and/or substitutes provided, however, it remains a sad commentary on the state of our society that such should be necessary for either of these occassions.
#8
No. If the kid was respectful and was lawfully dressed then fuck it. We don't do dress-up for the big house, ever. If we think, perhaps there will be a picture, then maybe Mom and Dad gets a coat on the kid. Otherwise no.... I would point out the lack of serious sprockets on successful armies.
Posted by: Goldies Every Damn Where ||
10/01/2010 20:51 Comments ||
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#9
I think the boy should have been dressed appropriately for the occasion.
So whose picture should have been on the tee-shirt, if not his Medal of Honor grandfather? Reverend Wright? He's a kid. Give him a break. Or a jacket, if you want a dress code, like at Eddie Mars'.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
