The European economic crisis has moved off the front page of most global media and that reflects a sense that there is no imminent threat to the Union. That may be true, but the underlying problems remain and it does not appear as if the Union is making any substantial progress. The most recent European summit ended without an agreement on the unification of the banking system. Muddling along is not necessarily a bad strategy if one believes that, over time, the situation will improve. There is no reason to believe that economic growth will return to Europe any time soon.
The US is sending 400 troops and Patriot missiles to Turkey in an effort to beef up Turkish defenses against spillover from the Syrian civil war. This escalation of the US presence in the region will only be interpreted negatively by the states that continue to support President Assad, Russia and Iran.
The horrific shooting in Newtown, CT is not something I would normally post on this blog. But President Obama’s statement on the tragedy is an impressive example of something that moves world politics all the time: leadership. Listen carefully to his words and examine how those words resonate with your own sense of community and common purpose. Such is the rhetoric of a person with incredible power that one hopes will always be used for good.
World Politics News 
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