Please don't misunderstand, I'm not knocking quiet times, I like them - boring is good in my book, especially when it applies to international affairs. But still, somehow, in some way, it don't feel right!
Take Europe for example. Nothing has changed fundamentally, half of them are flat broke, they haven't managed to take even faltering steps towards unification, and yet the markets seem supine. Sky News are running some adverts for a forthcoming report on conditions in Spain and the other 'Mediterranean' countries and they are truly appalling. Whole families sitting linked arm to arm round their homes in an effort to thwart the bailiffs coming to repossess them. I do realise that it is necessary to take statistics from such places with due caution but on the other hand all reports indicate massive youth unemployment of the sort that set off revolutions in countries on the southern side of the Med. And yet ... and yet ... I read somewhere in the last few (for me, hectic!) days a report based on polling evidence that although the populations concerned - Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Irish - are on the rack, support for remaining inside Europe and the euro is still strong. Apparently they are all terrified of reverting back to their own currencies which is, of course, their only real chance of prospering again reasonably quickly. They might not like the German boot on their necks but they are prepared to shut their eyes and kiss it!
Meanwhile, over on the other side of the globe - thank God! - the North Koreans are proving yet again that the loonies are in charge of the asylum, first firing an ICBM and then letting off a nuclear firework. Happily, for the moment at any rate, this seems to be more of a Chinese problem than anyone else's - although South Koreans and Japanese might think differently! It is now crystal clear that either China is unable to control N. Korea, or, is secretly quite happy for them to kick sand in the face of their opponents who are mostly China's opponents as well. My trusty 'intel operators' at NightWatch sum it up thus:
US and Allied deterrence measures have prevented war for six decades, but lately have had no measurable influence in deterring North Korean provocations, preventing the development of nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems or in stopping sales of North Korean missiles and conventional weapons to Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Libya. The US also has shown itself recently to be slow or unable to respond to provocations in a timely fashion. As a result, the new North Korean leader seems less intimidated by the US than were his forbears.
China cannot or will not restrain North Korea. [My emphasis]
What is even more worrying is that the pompous, ignorant and arrogant dimwit in the White House appears to have no concerns and instead concentrates what passes for his mind on how to spend more and yet more dollars he does not possess on utter futilities like so-called 'green industries'. Even if 'sequestration' does not occur in a few weeks, he still intends to slash and burn defence spending whilst he diverts funds towards the Democrat voters of America. In the meantime, North Korea either sells to, or advises on, nuclear weaponry and delivery systems to every enemy of the USA, Iran being one of the first in the queue. Back in Washington, 'Mr. Smug 'n' Mighty', with his nose raised, concentrates on delivering ponderous speeches concerned almost totally with American domestic politics. He is Wilson and Roosevelt combined.
See what I mean? It's all just too damned quiet!
"... although South Koreans and Japanese might think differently"
And Israel. NK is selling its technology to Iran, whose leader is a bigger nitwit than NK's nitwit, and has the worse sort of vendetta against Israel -- a religious vendetta.
Posted by: Dom | Thursday, 14 February 2013 at 22:07
I'm thinking you've missed posting the important bits David, looks like the South Koreans will be deploying cruise missiles.
If I was a Chink of the higher-up variety in Beijing I'd be figuring... Well maybe right about now would be a good time to find out if our rabid front-porch dog's collar hasn't rusted through!
Posted by: JK | Thursday, 14 February 2013 at 22:57
JK
If the front door dog is rabid, whats with back door dog.
Posted by: Hank | Friday, 15 February 2013 at 01:59
David
He is Wilson and Roosevelt combined.
I am no fan of Mr. Roosevelt and even less of Mr. Wilson; but I think you owe them an apology for that comparison.
http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/
Hank’s Eclectic Meanderings
Posted by: Hank | Friday, 15 February 2013 at 02:03
True, life is quiet right now, almost everyone is staring at their credit card bills and muttering 'oh shit'.
Think of having a big military as an expensive golf club membership - nice green, nice bars, lovely people. The Europeans cannot afford the subscription and sit in the corner making their 1/2 pint last all night. Other members manage with a handful of cheap putters and seldom buy a round. One inscrutable member sits quietly by the door and occasionally nods politely to the rest.
The Yanks have always had the very best golf clubs, carts etc, but the Yanks have seen that all that expensive kit counts for nothing against folks who ignore the rules of golf. In effect this expensive golf club now has only one full member - pretty boring play - but the club stewards keep bitching that standards and fees must be kept up.
As for NK, just an annoying bug China keeps alive to annoy the neighbours. Bad news for the bug - in this role it will not evolve into a major industrial player competing with - er - China. But who is bankrolling Iran?
Posted by: rogerh | Friday, 15 February 2013 at 07:18
Dom, yes, indeed. I'm not sure if Netanyahu has finalised his new government coalition yet but from what one reads it can only be a matter of months before it is 'put up or shut up' time for the Israelis.
Yes, JK, I read about the South Korean cruise missiles. As for China, action, or inaction, speaks louder than words - and they have failed to control their rabid dog.
Hank, perhaps you are half right and so I apologise to Mr. Roosevelt.
Nice analogy with the golf club, Roger, but I would stretch it further. Yes, the Americans have the biggest club with the biggest facilities and the biggest bar but today they can't afford the fees and so beneath the glitter things are looking scruffy, the greens are uncared for and there are squatters encroaching onto the fairways, but above all, the club owes - big time - Mr. Fu Manchu, the Chinese 'Boss of Bosses' demands his 'vig' be paid on time! Meantime, the club chairman spends all his time designing an expensive memorial statue to celebrate his tenure.
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 15 February 2013 at 09:05
Quiet except for the asteroids, Duffers.
Posted by: dearieme | Friday, 15 February 2013 at 17:06
Honestly, DM, sometimes I haven't a clue what you're . . . Christ! What was that?
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 15 February 2013 at 17:18