Category Archives: China

Who Won the Republican Primary Debate?

Because I live on the West Coast and I work modern American hours, I missed the Republican Primary debate by about two hours. I mean, who the heck other than government employees gets home from work before 5 pm? So … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Central Asia, China, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Crime, Defense, Education, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Food Security, General, Healthcare, International Security, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Predictions, Science, Social Security, Taxes, Terrorism, Unions, War | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Warming up to Huntsman

In the absence of any more compelling Republican candidates, I am finding myself warming up to Jon Huntsman. Why?

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Posted in Business, China, Climate Change, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Decision Points: Good Read, Bad Style

Source: ©2011 Reflections of a Rational Republican Decision Points is President George W. Bush’s personal account of the most consequential decisions that impacted his controversial presidency. Whether one likes President Bush or detests him, this book is a must read … Continue reading

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Posted in Book Reviews, Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Media, Middle East, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Great Famine of 2011: Food, Fossil Fuels, and Fragmentation

“Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation” — High-level North Korean official on Kim Jong Un succession Poor Weather Reduces Crop Yields; Reduced Crop Yields Lead to Increased Prices… … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Climate Chain Reaction: From Egypt to North Korea

With poor harvests last year in Russia, Canada, and Ukraine, a recent heat wave in Argentina, and floods in Australia that destroyed much of that nation’s wheat crop, agricultural commodity prices have sharply increased over the past year. The rising … Continue reading

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Posted in China, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Food Fight: Instability May Beget Instability

In prior articles, I mentioned that one reason Egypt’s revolution happened now rather than in 2003 may have been due to a rapid increase in the price of food. Last week’s edition of The Economist cited a Goldman Sachs report … Continue reading

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Posted in China, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Deal = No Deal: Framing Energy Policy Matters

Michael Kanellos at greentechmedia published an article today arguing that the President’s comparison to Sputnik with America’s dependence on fossil fuels is an imperfect one. He later suggests that the New Deal better fits the clean energy narrative. I think … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Energy Security, International Security, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part III)

Blame Bush In its recent edition, The Economist credits former President George W. Bush for encouraging Arab democracy. I think he deserves blame. Given the volatility inherent in radical Sunni Islam, it is not in America’s interest to encourage a … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part II)

Shortly after the ignominious French 1954 defeat at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam, President Eisenhower introduced the concept of Domino Theory to describe the significance of Vietnam falling under Communist influence. He warned that one Communist victory could initiate a … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part I)

Arab Discontent Abounds… Since unrest began in Tunisia in early 2011, news outlets have reported unrest or threats of unrest in eight Arab nations including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, comprising a combined population of over … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments