Pressed for time, so here’s a quick LinkSwarm:
Archive for the ‘Foreign Policy’ Category
LinkSwarm for April 25, 2014
Friday, April 25th, 2014Russia’s Pogromatic Behavior
Thursday, April 17th, 2014Today was a day spent doing a lot of piddling stuff I let slide while I was doing my taxes. And the sad news of Russia’s slow-motion invasion of Ukraine hasn’t left me a lot to say that others haven’t already said in greater depth, and at greater length.
But I can hardly let news that Russian thugs in eastern Ukraine (the part that Russia wants to slowly annex) have asked Jews to start “registering” pass in silence.
Eh. A little registration. What’s the worst that could happen?
Oh yeah. That.
Of course, Ukraine under communism had a lot of experience with such things.
Marillion’s “White Russian” seems particularly apropos today:
Venezuela: A Ray of Light Amidst the Encroaching Darkness?
Wednesday, April 9th, 2014When last we checked, Venezuela had come down with a case of Terminal Socialism. Here’s an update.
Faced with crippling inflation and a shortage of basic goods due to endemic cronyism, horrible mismanagement and laughable official exchange rates, Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government has finally thrown in the towel and instituted floating exchange rates… sort of:
A dollar will cost you 6.3 bolívares if you are the government, or if you can persuade Cencoex (the government’s foreign-trade body) that you intend to import vital goods such as food or medicine. Then there’s the Sicad I rate, currently just over 10 bolívares to the dollar, but contingent on irregular, “auctions” (which are nothing of the sort). The new Sicad II process, which is as close to a free market as the government will allow, opened at a whopping 50 bolívares to the dollar. But even that is a bargain compared with the unofficial exchange rate, which at the time of writing stands at almost 68 bolívares.
Meanwhile, shortages of basic goods mean Venezuelans get to enjoy that classic staple of late stage socialism: waiting in line to get food:
Food lines in Venezuela , 16 hours to buy something , Welcome to socialism !! pic.twitter.com/zptCEKABAV
— Peter Perez (@cubamaniak) April 9, 2014
Glory to Socialism! Food lines in Venezuela #BackInTheUSSR via @theresa_beh @Conservative_VW pic.twitter.com/spoOfFHS9o
— bangkokdave (@bangkokdave) March 31, 2014
This is one of the MANY lines being form in Venezuela to get food… Smfh man. #SOSVenezuela pic.twitter.com/PQayOpE1Gj
— Whitney (@__WXMD) March 12, 2014
And the violent crackdown against opposition protesters continues:
Naturally, as a prelude to cracking down on the opposition, they followed the old socialist playbook by outlawing private ownership of guns. It’s always so much easier to oppress people once they’ve been disarmed. Even so, as the following video (via Legal Insurrection) shows, police don’t always get the upper hand:
Security forces have also committed dozens of documented instances of torture.
Are there any rays of home in the grim situation? Yes, Maduro’s government and opposition leaders have agreed to talks. Whether these can actually accomplish anything remains to be seen, but the fact that Maduro “ruled out any changes to the course of what he calls the Bolivarian revolution, the distinct brand of socialism created by his predecessor in office, Hugo Chavez,” tends to indicate that the prognosis is still grim.
Other Venezuela news:
LinkSwarm for March 31, 2014
Monday, March 31st, 2014Before the LinkSwarm itself, an observation: On the drive home from Houston to Austin this weekend, I saw a Prius with a “Repeal ObamaCare” sticker. Truly the tide has turned…
LinkSwarm for March 21, 2014
Friday, March 21st, 2014Enjoy your complimentary Friday LinkSwarm, and be sure to tip your waitress!
LinkSwarm for March 10, 2014
Monday, March 10th, 2014Time for another LinkSwarm, sweeping up all the news that was happening while I was churning out Texas primary news:
“The exchanges are based on layers upon layers of bad software, run by shady characters,” he writes. “The Bitcoin masses, judging by their behavior on forums, have no actual interest in science, technology or even objective reality when it interferes with their market position. They believe that holding a Bitcoin somehow makes them an active participant in a bold new future, even as they passively get fleeced in the bolder current present.”
On Barack Obama’s “Flexibility” With Russia
Tuesday, March 4th, 2014
The Return of Johnny Nuance
Sunday, March 2nd, 2014So Russia is conducting a piecemeal invasion of Ukraine.
And the American state department’s response?
President Obama made it clear we are prepared to work with #Russia to help people of #Ukraine. There are many alternatives to invasion.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) March 2, 2014
Ah, yes, “working with Russia.” I’m sure that has Putin quaking in his boots. How are we supposed to “work with” them? By helping them carry the loot back to Russia? Can you imagine George H. W. Bush threatening to “work with Iraq on Kuwait” after Saddam invaded?
If Russia invades another country, will we work with them some more?
We're going to continue to engage diplomatically. It's the time for diplomacy. Nobody wants this to spiral in a worse direction.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) March 2, 2014
I’m sure at this point, Putin must be quaking in his boots in fear at the thought of Kerry deploying more diplomacy to his tanks. Likewise, I’m sure the people of Ukraine are deeply grateful for those C-130s filled to the brim with diplomacy we’re sending…
Given Kerry’s repeated threats of deploying yet more diplomacy to stop Putin, it’s time to break out Iowahawk’s classic Johnny Nuance, the story of a man fighting outlaws in the old west using only diplomacy:
Johnny Nuance! Johnny Nuance!
From the shores of Martha’s Vineyard he rode his horse out West,
With a treaty in his holster and a medal on his chest,
Bringing law and justice to a wild and violent land,
Talking was his creed and sanctions were his brand!
It goes about as well as you would expect…
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Ukrainian Dictators
Saturday, February 22nd, 2014First word came that Yanukovich had left Ukraine for various rumored destinations from Russia to Dubai. Then came word that Yanukovich was denied exit from the country.
But the delight of the day was ordinary Ukrainians touring the abandoned Presidential vacation palace, which such amenities as:
Some Tweets on the theme:
Look at the size of that boat! Was #Yanukovich staging performances of The Pirates of Penzance? #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/jJ4wub55tr @nycjim
— BattleSwarm (@BattleSwarmBlog) February 22, 2014
People of #Kyiv swarm over President’s estate, learn he has a boat there. A big one. http://t.co/1DSJHprqrJ pic.twitter.com/sFLNeVlnIz
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 22, 2014
Bemused sheep. They're just not used to seeing so many people pic.twitter.com/SKDvCLSi76
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
Also, Russia has a sad.
Yanukovych Flees Kiev (Ukraine/Euromaidan Update for February 21, 2014)
Friday, February 21st, 2014Yanukovych’s “compromise” looks more and more like a complete rout, with reports of him fleeing Kiev for his political base in Kharkiv, where reports have security forces burning documents:
Security Service in Kharkiv is burning documents
#Euromaidan #Kharkiv pic.twitter.com/9Mv8zYFc5r
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) February 21, 2014
There are dark, unconfirmed mutterings of pro-Russian forces preparing “provocations” or for a partition of Ukraine. But even in Kharkiv, Euromaidan is marching.
Tweets:
Andriy Parubiy announces the agreement of #Euromaidan leaders includes sticking to the demand Yanukovych must resign #Ukraine
— Laura Walker (@LauraWalkerKC) February 22, 2014
Ruslana Lyzhychko asked to send all information&photos that prove horrible #Yanukovych crime at ukraineindsndenger@gmail.com |PR News
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) February 22, 2014
Victory #awesome RT @MaximEristavi: 16 Lenin monuments went down just today all around Ukraine
via @ukrpravda_news pic.twitter.com/OZ08jRY1KN
— Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) February 21, 2014
And via Michelle Malkin’s twitter feed, here’s video of happy Ukrainians toppling statues of Lenin: