Foreign News and Analysis Since April 2005 -- formerly China Confidential -- What's Really Happening in the WorldForeign Confidential ™
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Why Anti-Austerity Protests are Rare in Portugal
When Grandola Stood for Freedom Romania's Leftist Government Poised to Win Local Elections
French Voting Today for Lower House of Parliament
Syrian Opposition: Regime Killed at Least 52 Civilians Saturday
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday's highest death toll was in Daraa, with 20 people killed in a pre-dawn bombardment of the southern town where a pro-democracy uprising began 15 months ago.
Activists said more people were killed in government shelling of the rebellious central city of Homs, and early-morning gun battles between government and rebel forces in central Damascus. The casualties could not be independently confirmed.
Members of the opposition Syrian National Council who were meeting in Istanbul said the front-runner to become their new leader is Abdulbaset Sieda, a Kurdish human rights activist. The exiled group was expected to meet again Sunday to try to name the successor to Burhan Ghalioun, who agreed step down last month under criticism of his leadership.
SNC Plagued by Infighting
The SNC has been plagued by infighting since it was formed last year to try to present a credible alternative to the autocratic government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Ghalioun's critics complained that he gave Syrian Islamists too powerful a role in the SNC and did not do enough to coordinate with committees of youth activists organizing protests inside Syria.
Speaking at Saturday's meeting, Sieda said the SNC should continue to reform itself to better connect with the domestic opposition and serve as the "real representative" of the Syrian people.
In other developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that Moscow would support Assad's departure from power if the Syrian people agree on it. Russia has been a longtime ally of Assad and has repeatedly blocked Western and Arab efforts to impose UN sanctions on his government.
It was not clear if Lavrov's comment marked a softening of Russia's support for the Assad government. Speaking at a Moscow news conference, Lavrov also reiterated Russia's rejection of any foreign military intervention in the Syrian conflict and repeated his call for nations supporting and opposing Assad to join an international conference to salvage a Syria peace plan drafted by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.US Stock Lift Likely on Spain News
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Sure Enough, Spain Seeking Bailout for Failed Banks
No surprise. Spain confirmed today that it will seek a big bailout--100 billion euros seems to be the amount--to rescue its failed banking sector. The money will supposedly not be tied to further spending cuts--that is, to more austerity--and flow only into the country's broken banks. Read more.
The euro was a bad idea; austerity during depression/recession, an even worse idea. But the EU and the IMF are obsessed with saving the euro and sticking with austerity. Like lunatics, or fanatics bent on carrying out some mad scheme, they stick with their blinders and stay the course.
Related: Spaniards Seem Resigned to Bleak Future Greek Elections Threatened by Possible Strike
Two North Korean Spies Sentenced to Eight Years by Ukrainian Court for Failed Theft of Secret, Long-Range Rocket Technology
IMF Pressuring Spain to Accept Money Tied to More Austerity
Lagarde Strikes Again!
Click here and here for the news reports.
Related: Lagarde Hails Fascist-Loving Latvia as Euro Zone Model
Kinder, Gentler Austerity? Don't Expect the German Left to Help
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Where a rightwing dictatorship ruled for more than four decades, the once-powerful Communist Party is feeble, and the Socialists actually back austerity measures--against a background of traditional Catholic conservatism and rural resignation and fatalism. Urban radicalism is practically nonexistent. Even in Grandola, the cradle of the 1974 revolution, it's hard to find a spark of revolt against austerity measures that have basically reversed decades of socioeconomic progress. Read more. Click below.
UPDATE: EUROZONE AGREES TO LEND SPAIN UP TO 100 BILLION EUROS
Greek elections, scheduled for June 17, are suddenly threatened by a possible municipal workers strike, called for June 16-17. The workers are essential for the running of the elections. They set up the ballot boxes, transport the used ballots, etc.
In related news, mass unemployment in Greece is dramatically higher than last year at this time and apparently rising every month. Austerity has failed, utterly--forced harsh spending cuts have plunged the country deeper into depression. Democracy hangs on by a thread.
Two North Korean spies were sentenced to eight years in prison by a Ukrainian court for tying to steal secret technology that could have extended the reach of North Korean rockets to the United States. Read more.
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