Togo Prepares To Get A New Constitution

 

Togo is set to get another constitution. The 1992 constitution has been in place with revisions made in 2007. The controversy about a new constitution is that it might expand the powers of the presidency. It also empowers the parliament to elect the president directly. The political opposition claims this is an attempt to extend President Faure Gnassingbe's rule. Many African heads of state have used new constitutions to either extend term limits or abolish them completely. Lawmakers in Togo passed this measure and President Gnassingbe will give approval to it. What the government looks like is one in transition to a parliamentary system . That would mean Faure Gnassingbe would be more of a prime minister. The actual motivation is to make him president for life. The term limits are extended to six years. Under these conditions, Gnassingbe would be in power to 2031. His father passed away in office and Faure will not simply retire from Togolese politics. Modern dynasties are found in Syria, North Korea, Azerbaijan, and formerly Gabon. These governments are not hereditary monarchies, but the office of head of state is inherited. The Bongos of Gabon fell because the population could no longer tolerate their rule. Ultimately, it was the military that ended their regime. President Faure Gnassingbe was cognizant of the possible desire to have is administration removed. Under the new constitution it would allow him to undermine opposition and further expand the powers of the executive branch. As long as the Union for the Republic Party has most of the seats in the National Assembly, the president will have no serious threat. Togo with the new constitution indirectly encourages rule of decree.   

Terrorist Attack In Moscow

 

Russia has experienced a terrorist attack. Reports state that the culprits are connected to ISIS. The Russian government has reported that 137 people were killed in the attack. The Crocus City Hall concert venue was the target of the culprits. The four gunmen have been arrested and are on trial. President Putin when addressing the Russian Federation asserted that the gunmen were trying to flee to Ukraine. There is not enough information to know the exact plans of the terrorists. Making a connection to Ukraine would be premature. Ukraine has conducted strikes into Russian territory. This has been done with missiles and drones. The only reason that ISIS would attack Russia is due to its support of Syria. The reason ISIS and other terrorist organizations could not takeover was due to Russian intervention in the country. The suspects are from Tajikistan. The Central Asian countries have been fighting terrorist organizations for decades. The reason people join them is due to the anger at authoritarian regimes in the region. More people are being detained which has reached a total of 11 suspects. This might indicate a wider criminal conspiracy and possible interference from other countries. The US claims it shared information of a possible attack with Russia. This seems uncharacteristic of the US. due to the fact relations have been poor since 2014.The sanctions were designed to harm the Russian population, not its government. The EU using terrorist organizations to destabilize a country remains policy. This occurred in both Syria and Libya. The process could be replicated in Russia. At the moment this would be mere speculation. The FSB 's investigation is ongoing.    

The Nuclear Energy Summit

 

The Nuclear Energy Summit has opened in Brussels. The summit is the first of its kind seeking to expand nuclear power. Europe was for a time focusing on the expansion of renewable energy. This comes as a reversal of policies that were proposed a decade ago. Demonstrations against the summit expressed concerns from environmentalists. Nuclear power does produce waste, which must be stored in other areas. Unless there is a serious discussion about fusion reactors, the summit will not be effective. Nuclear fusion reactors could generate power and reduce waste. Environmentalists note that more nuclear reactors will not protect the climate. The expansion of nuclear power plants is about energy independence for Europe. The Russia-Ukraine War made EU countries realize how vital this is. Another aspect is that nuclear energy business sector wants to remain relevant. Solar, hydropower,  and wind power technology could get much cheaper, which means it would be more difficult for nuclear to compete. The move away from nuclear power was sparked by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.According to IAEA nuclear energy accounts for less than 10 % of global energy generation. France remains the leader in nuclear energy. An estimated 66.66 % accounts for its energy generation. A total of 30 countries are attending the summit in Belgium. The proposals are designed to phase out fossil fuels, which using nuclear energy as a substitute. The objective is to triple nuclear energy. This is dependent on the amount of uranium available. Countries such as Kazakhstan, Canada, and Namibia are going to have more importance to the nuclear energy industry. Those countries have uranium mines, but it is not clear if the can keep up with a surge in demand. The goal is to reduce emissions by 2050 , but certain factors could prevent this summit target. The Nuclear Energy Summit has been controversial with activists concern about negative effects to public health and the environment.    

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez's Criminal Conviction

 

Juan Orlando Hernandez has been convicted in a New York criminal drug trafficking trial. Hernandez is not the first Latin American leader to be subject to a US court. Manuel Noriega the military dictator of Panama  was deposed by the United States and imprisoned. Hernandez's circumstances follow a similar pattern. The former president faces up to 40 years in prison. The contradiction is that Juan Orlando Hernandez was considered an ally of the US in their war on drugs. The new York trial only exposes that the United States uses the excuse of gang violence and the war on drugs to control Central America. The US will never go after those who are connected to drug trafficking in the region. The CIA has profited directly from its involvement in the illegal drug trade. The trial demonstrates a violation of Honduras' national sovereignty. If Juan Orlando Hernandez committed most of his crimes in Honduras that is where he should face justice. Since the US backed coup in 2009, Honduras has been unstable. The blowback in the 2020s was a wave of migration from Central America. President Juan Orlando Hernandez also allowed the extradition of drug traffickers. Drug trafficking was not President Hernandez's only offense. He violated the constitution by running for reelection. Accusations of electoral fraud were made, but the United States recognized the government. When his second term was complete, he was arrested in 2022. Once extradited to the United States, the trial got delayed. Juan Orlando Hernandez became a scapegoat for America's failing Central America policy. President Juan Orlando Hernandez's error was that he thought that the US would protect him. Imprisoning South America leaders is not going to stop migration or end the power of drug cartels. Further destabilization only caused more discontent among the Central America population. President Juan Orlando Hernandez was only supported by the United States as a counter to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. When he was no longer useful the support dissipated. The trial got little press coverage in the US, because it connects the American government to a corrupt regime.      

The Global Rise In Excess Deaths

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a spike in excess deaths. Even when the vaccines were made available the morality rate did not go back to pre-pandemic levels. Excess morality is a public health concern, but is not discussed. Excess morality was high in 2023. This was a time when COVID-19 vaccines were available and the World Health Organization declared the emergency over. The people who are dying from the virus are those with comorbidities and the elderly. The excess death  pattern has been seen in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, UK, Israel,  the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland,   and Iceland. The  excess death are not a product of the COVID-19 virus in 2023. Some speculate that the portion of those deaths occurred due to unanticipated side effects of particular vaccines. Blood clots and myocarditis occurred in some people who were vaccinated. There is not enough data to support certain brands of the COVID-19 vaccines were responsible.  Another  probable explanation is that global healthcare systems are not equipped for a large world population. Fewer hospitals and a large population increases the likelihood of more excess deaths. Countries with aging populations should make sure that healthcare and hospitals are able to handle demographic changes. Governments refuse to do any investigation into the 2023 spike of excess deaths. The main reason is that it would show that most governments failed to produce effective public health policy. If excess deaths  do not decrease in 2024, then it is a concern governments cannot ignore. 

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry Resigns

 

Ariel Henry announced he will resign as prime minister  of  Haiti. This was not so much of a resignation, but an overthrow of an unpopular government . When visiting Kenya about deploying police to Haiti, gang violence escalated. Henry was not elected and was appointed prime minister after the Moise assassination. Haiti has not had elections since 2016. The country might have democratic institutions, but it functions as an authoritarian system in practice. Ariel Henry refused to step down when his term of service expired. Henry currently is in Puerto  Rico. Haiti has been destabilized by US interreference and United Nations missions. The jail break of 4,000 gang members caused a spike in violence. What these gangs could transform into are organized militias and armed groups. Certain gangs are not focused on violent crime, rather aspire to seize power. The G9 Family and Allies might be seeking higher political objectives. Using the term gang would no longer be correct. The United Nations is now planning to sent another mission into Haiti. Presented as a multinational security support mission it is another invasion of the country. Kenya will lead this mission with a force of 1,000 police officers. What it amounts to is police officers acting a substitutes for soldiers. Police are not trained to fight wars or armed groups. Law enforcement differs from peacekeeping missions and military combat. If President William Ruto gets Kenya to commit to this operation it will be a major humanitarian crisis. The involvement of  multiple countries and the UN to stop gangs is puzzling. The United Nations never did missions against MS-13.  Haiti is of interest to US policy for influence in the Caribbean. This explains why the Biden administration did not condemn Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Ariel Henry was denied entry back into the country and by definition exiled. Resignation was not what occurred in reality. The official policy of the transitional government has not been made public. If they do allow for another occupation by the United Nations, public discord will grow.    

Victoria Nuland Curses The European Union (2014)

 

Victoria Nuland one of America's prominent diplomats will be leaving her post. The circumstances are not clear, but it indicates that there is a problem with the direction of US foreign policy. Nuland worked under the Bush, Obama, and Biden administrations. Her goal was to get aggressive with the Russian Federation. The policy related to Ukraine was interference. Victoria Nuland back in 2014 cursed the European Union. The reason was that it was not following an anti-Russian policy. The United States under a neoconservative framework should have more influence in Europe. The European Union is viewed more like an obstacle to making the continent subordinate. Seeing as she was the US ambassador to NATO, Nuland wanted to see the military alliance expand. Ukraine was going to be a testing ground for further expansion. The phone call been the US ambassador and Nuland indicates an attempt to select Ukrainian leadership. Nuland is a reminder that no matter who is elected, the foreign policy mechanisms remain the same. Victoria Nuland leaves a legacy of destabilizing Eastern Europe.  

Nikki Haley Ends Her Presidential Campaign

 

Nikki Haley has ended her presidential campaign. This means Donald Trump does not have an obstacle to the Republican presidential nomination. Haley's poor performance in Iowa and South Carolina indicated  the getting the Republican nomination was out of reach. The US in its 247 year history has never had a female president. It is unlikely that one would come from the Republican Party. The laws banning abortion and a general attack on women's rights has alienated women voters. Nikki Haley entering the presidential race was tainted by the fact she served as UN ambassador under the Trump administration. She attempted to present herself as an alternative to Biden and Trump. However, Nikki Haley's convictions are in alignment with the neoconservative political ideology. Haley insisted on staying in the race when the path to the nomination was not possible. Some Democrats voted for Nikki Haley. The strategy of reaching out to Democrats and independents has been done before. Donald Trump was able to get Democrats who previously voted for Obama in 2016. Nikki Haley could not replicate this method with success. Nikki Haley has not revealed whether or not she will endorse Donald Trump. President Biden responded by praising Nikki Haley. The reason for that statement is the political establishment does not want to see another Trump presidency. Political centrists of the Democratic Party would be satisfied with a Haley as long it was not Trump. Nikki Haley's loss demonstrates female politicians have little opportunities for advancement in the Republican Party.  

The War On The Houthi Rebels

 

The Houthi movement has been active in Yemen since the 1990s. Only when the Arab Spring occurred in 2011 did they get more international exposure. Saudi Arabia waged war against the movement and its fighters. As the years past, the US began to condemn the military actions that it supported. The reason for the support of Saudi Arabia was to counter Iran's influence in Yemen. The reversal of US policy demonstrates the contradictory nature of foreign affairs. The Houthi rebels in response to Israel's actions in Gaza began targeting ships in the Red Sea. This forces Israel and its European allies to take more expensive shipping routes. The Israel-Gaza War is causing other insurgencies, armed movements, and terrorist organizations to merge into a larger conflict. The UK and the United Arab Emirates have also played a role in creating violence in Yemen. West Asia could be getting closer to a larger regional war, similar to the Six Day War in 1967. Much of the frustration stems from US military presence in the Middle East and being ally of Israel. Some observers see a new formation of groups in response to attempts at nation building and occupation. The axis of resistance includes a coalition of countries and armed groups. Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthi movement, and Hamas are fighting a against European influence, Israel, and the Gulf monarchies. If shipping continues to be disrupted, the West will respond with more military strikes. The civil war in Yemen has now become a war against the Houthi rebels.  

The Influence of Jacob Rothschild

 

The founder of RIT Capital Management  Jacob Rothschild passed away at age 87. Part of the prominent banking family that has influenced governments for centuries, the press presented him as a humanitarian philanthropist. The billionaire class only performs charity for the sake of tax cuts. Most of the time funds are given to influence politics or business practices on their behalf. Jacob Rothschild was an advocate for Israel and financed many projects in the country. While Israel pushes forward in plans of annexation of Arab lands, the Zionist state has a powerful backer. Jacob Rothschild explained in an interview that the Zionist movement started in Eastern Europe. His family played a major role in the establishment of Israel. The Balfour Declaration was the basis for the establishment of a future Zionist state in West Asia. This explains why Jacob Rothschild for most of his life invested in Israel. This was not about Jewish identity or culture. The support for Israel was a financial project. The country survives by being backed by the West and a upper class elite. Now that Jacob Rothschild is no longer living, legal challenges are emerging among his family members for control of his investments and estate. Hannah  Rothschild might end up getting most of Jacob's assets. The daughter of the billionaire also is the chair of the Israeli organization Yad Hanadiv. This demonstrates how British imperialism never left West Asia. Hannah and her late father are citizens of the UK, but their wealth has immense influence in Israel. The degree in which Jacob Rothschild was influencing the UK's policy related to the Middle East remains a mystery.