The Chinese reported that their economy grew by 7.5% last quarter–an enviable rate given that the US is likely to grow at less than 1%. Nonetheless, the Chinese economy has slowed in 11 out of the last 13 quarters, and many are beginning to become apprehensive about whether the Chinese economy might be beginning to stall–a consequence that would shake the global economy. The Washington Post ran a short essay on how to interpret the Chinese data. It is not doom and gloom, but it is definitely cautious.
I generally post articles on current events, but I recently read an essay in Salon written by Andrew O’Hehir which offered a great deal of food for thought about the direction of American society. It takes a wide-lens view and uses President Dwight Eisenhower, George Orwell, and Aldous Huxley as foils for thought. It is a highly intelligent and perceptive read, and in the light of the long-term effects of the misbegotten “war on terror” it is a sobering read. If you wish to read Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex speech, you can access it here. For a quick insight into Orwell’s view of politics:
The Israeli strike against Russian-made anti-ship missiles in the Syrian port of Latakia has finally made it to the pages of the New York Times. But the story continues to get limited coverage. RT (formerly the Russian Times) is reporting that the strike was carried out by the Israelis using a Turkish military base. Using the base in Turkey, the Israelis were able to attack the port city without going through Syrian airspace. The Israeli press is reporting that the attack was carried out by Israeli submarines. The idea that the US and Turkey might be coordinating attacks against Syria is highly explosive. But right now, we know virtually nothing about what actually happened.
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