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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Jun-2012
5-Jun-12 World View -- U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan

Web Log - June, 2012

5-Jun-12 World View -- U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan

Jerome Kerviel appeals prison term for Societe Generale fraud

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Huge Hong Kong candlelight rally commemorates 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre
Today's Humor: Paranoid China blocks reporting the Shanghai Stock Exchange index
Syria's Houla massacre puts focus on the the ghoulish 'Shabiha' murderers
Jerome Kerviel appeals prison term for Societe Generale fraud
Spain under EU pressure to accept bailout money for its banks
U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan

Huge Hong Kong candlelight rally commemorates 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre

Monday's Tiananmen Square massacre vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park

Monday's Tiananmen Square massacre vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park

There's only one place in China where mentioning the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre doesn't get you arrested -- and that's Hong Kong. Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997, and as part of the deal of turning HK back to China, China was forced to agree to allow free speech in Hong Kong. On Monday, tens of thousands attended a Victoria Park candlelight vigil, chanting, "Don't forget to remember." Hong Kong Standard

Today's Humor: Paranoid China blocks reporting the Shanghai Stock Exchange index

This is really hilarious. On Monday, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 64.89 points, and China's paranoid internet censors blocked reporting of it. Why? Because it looks like 6/4/89, which is the date of China's Tiananmen Square massacre. It's an incredible coincidence that it occurred on Monday -- exactly 23 years after the massacre. And here's another coincidence: The index opened on Monday at 2346.98 -- the last four digits being 89.64 backwards. This has led to all sorts of conspiracy theories in China about stock market manipulation. There may be more to come on this story. Hong Kong Standard

Syria's Houla massacre puts focus on the the ghoulish 'Shabiha' murderers

Last week's horrific massacre in Houla, Syria, killing 108 people, half of them children, has focused attention on how the regime of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad perpetrated the massacre, and in particular, the role of the "Shabiha," a population of thousands of thugs and murderers. The term "shabiha" initially referred to shadowy gangs of smugglers around the seaside city of Latakia, the home of the Assad clan, in the 1970s. The ruling Assad family has used the gangs to engage in criminal activities for decades, paying them with government funds and providing them immunity from prosecution. The Shabiha are used as part 3 of a murderous pattern that has occurred repeatedly since Syria's demonstrations began, early last year:

First, the target neighborhood is bombarded with tanks and artillery from a great distance.
Then the regular troops move in and drive out or shoot the last remaining rebels.
Finally, the regime sends in its helpers, the Shabiha ("ghosts"), to conduct house to house searches for people slaughtered, raped and massacred, including children.

The Shabiha are criminals and day laborers, mostly Alawites, but also Kurds with the PKK terrorist group, members of Sunni clans from Aleppo loyal to the regime, and some Christians. The Shabiha are the shadow force of a regime that no longer trusts its own army, but instead has created a monster that is taking on a life of its own. VOA and Spiegel

Jerome Kerviel appeals prison term for Societe Generale fraud

Jérôme Kerviel arrives in court on Monday (Reuters)

Jérôme Kerviel arrives in court on Monday (Reuters)

Thousands of banksters defrauded the public of trillions of dollars, and none of them are being investigated or prosecuted. But in 2008, regulators found the perfect scapegoat: Jérôme Kerviel, a young employee Société Générale (SocGen), a rogue trader who lost money -- not for investors -- but for the bank itself. ( "Historic Société Générale fraud shocks world financial system" from 2008.) SocGen's managers claimed they had no idea what he was doing, but like all good bank managers, they made a point of not asking questions as long as they were making money, even illegally. On Monday, Kerviel appeared in court to appeal his sentence. The court is going to review all the evidence, and Kerviel hopes to put SocGen on trial rather than himself. At any rate, it's always good to know that the person who caused the financial crisis has been identified, and is no longer at large. Reuters

Spain under EU pressure to accept bailout money for its banks

JP Morgan has estimated that Spain will need a bailout costing as much as €350 billion, but Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy has repeatedly said that Spain won't need a rescue for itself or for its banks. We've seen this game played in Greece, Ireland and Portugal -- national leaders swear that no bailout is needed or will be accepted, and they vehemently stick to that pledge up until the very second when the bailout is announced. This type of outright fraud is typical of politicians these days, as well as bankers. The difference this time is that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble are in favor of forcing Spain to accept bailout money. The reason, as far as I can tell, is that they believe that the reason that the euro currency is in so much trouble these days is because nobody believes that Rajoy is telling the truth, and so investors are losing faith not only in Spain, but in the entire eurozone. You can tell that the world is coming to an end if it's really true that investors no longer believe the crap coming out of politicians' mouths. Spiegel and Bloomberg

U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan

From November, the scene in Karachi as supplies are backed up after Pakistani authorities shut down supply routes. (CNN)

From November, the scene in Karachi as supplies are backed up after Pakistani authorities shut down supply routes. (CNN)

U.S. and NATO equipment will have a guaranteed route out of Afghanistan after an agreement with Central Asian countries allowing the alliance to completely cut out the shorter Pakistani access routes NATO has used for years. A deal had been struck with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to allow the alliance's equipment to be moved through their territories. A deal already set with Russia will allow the equipment to be moved directly though land into Europe, and to air bases to fly the U.S. equipment home. .The deal with the Central Asian countries seems to indicate a deal with Pakistan may not happen or will be indefinitely delayed. CNN

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 5-Jun-12 World View -- U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (5-Jun-2012) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Jun-2012 5-Jun-12 World View -- U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan

Huge Hong Kong candlelight rally commemorates 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre

Today's Humor: Paranoid China blocks reporting the Shanghai Stock Exchange index

Syria's Houla massacre puts focus on the the ghoulish 'Shabiha' murderers

Jerome Kerviel appeals prison term for Societe Generale fraud

Spain under EU pressure to accept bailout money for its banks

U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Jun-2012
5-Jun-12 World View -- U.S. and Nato secure guaranteed route out of Afghanistan