President James Carter Praises Shah Mohammad Pahlavi (1978)

 

President James Carter wanted to make human rights a priority in his administration. This was more of a sentiment, rather than actual policy. The US supported Shah Mohammad Pahlavi. Iran was engaging in oppression of its own citizens. The CIA helped train Savak. This was a secret police force that was designed to crush dissent and gather intelligence. President Carter during his administration praised the Shah as being a stabilizing force. There was a growing political opposition to the monarchy in Iran. The Iranian Revolution would occur in 1979 and the Iranian hostage crisis became a major concern. US support for Iran was part of a Cold War strategy directed at the Soviet Union. Russia having access to Iranian oil was not acceptable to Washington. President Carter stated that Iran was " an island  of stability in one of the more  troubled areas of the world." Protests were beginning in 1978. The difference was that the US did not expect the Shah to be deposed. He was placed back in power in 1953 by both the UK and the US. The Carter administration could not resolve the hostage crisis and the take over of the US embassy. The hostages did get their freedom, but the poor management of the crisis cost President Carter the presidency. 

The Hasbro Layoffs

 

Toy companies are a large part of business. Children and adults are consumers of various toys and games. Adults are getting collectors items and children wants toys for general play. Hasbro did layoffs in 2023 which was an estimated 20% of the workforce. A total of 1,100 workers were left unemployed. The reason for this was the decline in sales. A total of 800 jobs were cut in 2023. This was a significant spike. Sales were doing better during the pandemic. Children were not in school and spending more time at home. Parents purchased more toys to keep children occupied. When the lockdowns were over, the purchase of Hasbro products decreased. The layoffs are expected to continue into 2025. Decline in sales cannot solely be blamed for layoffs. The CEO and management never offer to take pay cuts to retain employees. The reduction in workforce means those remaining will have to be more productive. There is no promise of an increase in pay. Layoffs are not an indication of a strong economy. Despite what politicians state, the data shows possible economic downturn. Hasbro, like other companies is experiencing the challenge of inflation. The rise in cost related to materials is going to increase prices of toys. Waves of layoffs are going to continue. Hasbro might not survive under these conditions. Hasbro did not make significant financial gains from lending its intellectual property to film. The only solution is to create better products or explore possibilities of electronic entertainment. CEO Chris Cocks is going to have to make adjustments and find a way to retain employees. Otherwise Hasbro will have to be sold or cease operations. 

President Salome Zourabichvili Refuses To Acknowledge Election Results

 

President Salome Zourabichvili does not recognize the elections results. This was because the outcome was not to her liking. As demonstrations continue throughout the country, there are concerns that the newly elected government will not be able to enter office. President Zourabichvili has accused the political opposition of electoral fraud and the outcome being the result of Russian interference. None of these claims have evidence. Much of the current crisis relates to Georgia being part of the European Union or being closer to the  Eastern European  sphere. The change in the Georgian Constitution from a presidential to parliamentary system also has divided the public. The citizens can no longer vote directly for their head of state. Now it is done by electors. A constitutional crisis is underway and  President Salome Zourabichvili has stated that she will not step down. Her demand is to have another round of parliamentary elections. The pro-EU demonstrations also parallel Ukraine in 2014. Violence has not escalated to the point of civil war, but unrest can be used as an excuse for authoritarian rule. While the Georgian Dream Party is a more conservative aligned,   President Salome Zourabichvili's action of undermining the process indicates a desire to increase power of the state. Georgia does have oil, but is not the biggest energy producer in Europe. This explains why the European Union  has interest in the country. The location of Georgia is also geopolitically significant. Georgia is not part of NATO, but President Salome Zourabichvili  aspires to get the country into the alliance. There is not legal pathway for President Salome Zourabichvil to overturn election results. She might try to convince the European Union to intervene on her behalf. Elected president in 2018, President Salome Zourabichvili appears more focused on European integration, rather than Georgia's domestic concerns. 

Iceberg A23a Is Moving

 

The world's largest iceberg is moving. The direction it is going appears to going to the Southern Ocean. Iceberg A23a's movements have been tracked since 1986. Ocean currents are an explanation for the recent movements. There is speculation about climate change and  the relation to iceberg movement. Increased temperature could be causing certain icebergs to break off. Icebergs moving is not harmful. The concern is if large icebergs melt along with an increase  in sea levels. The benefit of the erosion can  contribute to ecosystems in which the iceberg travels. Iceberg A23a could have lifeforms on it. Samples of water from Iceberg A23a need to be examined to confirm this. New knowledge regarding icebergs could revolutionize understanding about the world's coldest regions. Prior to this move Iceberg A23a was spinning in one location. Stuck in the Weddel Sea, is was part of the Filchner- Ronne ice Shelf. The examination of icebergs could be an indirect means of monitoring climate. Icebergs breaking or coming loose is an indication that temperatures are melting some ice. Icebergs of a certain size could be a threat when they melt. Going to warmer waters can result in flooding. If 10,000 A23a sized icebergs were moving, South Africa , Argentina, and Chile would have flooding. The rate in which Iceberg A23a melts gives a proxy measurement of  the rate of climate change. 

Revolutionary Dreams (1974) by Nikki Giovanni

 

Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024)  was a writer, poet, activist, and educator. Revolutionary Dreams was one of her notable poems. This poem discusses a process of developing political consciousness. The first step is recognizing a problem. Then there is a desire to fight against an oppressive system. Beyond this is the development of  ideology. A revolution requires political and social change in society. Giovanni in the poem insists that revolution also is internal. A change in political philosophy or general convictions is only one step. Revolutionary Dreams sounds more like an  argument for reform. The reason the civil rights and feminist movement was incomplete was because reform was emphasized over revolution. The baby boom generation went from being leftist in their youth to political centrism or neoconservative aligned. Self criticism and being open to new ideas is not the issue. Avoiding ideological contradictions should be part of a disciplined movement. A true revolution understands certain systems have to be dismantled and certain groups cannot be negotiated with. Advocates of a racial caste system could not be tolerated. This is why the Supreme Court had to force the south to integrate. Women were denied equal rights, which meant that the traditional views of gender roles had to be discarded. Nikki Giovanni's Revolutionary Dreams sound more like accommodation. Change at times needs to be imposed, otherwise the reactionary forces of society will hinder advancement.    

The End of The Bashar al-Assad Presidency

 

Syria's government has been deposed by a combination of terrorist organizations, domestic armed groups, and foreign powers. When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham entered Damascus, President Assad was nowhere to be found. Assad and his family prior to the rebel invasion fled to the Russian Federation. So far, there has not been an announcement from Bashar al-Assad about the situation. A possible bloodless coup occurred, which forced him into a type of self imposed exile. Russia did not come to his aid like in 2015. Iran's current military skirmishes with Israel is the focus of their energies. Israel with President Assad removed launched an invasion into Syrian territory. Syria is not going to become a liberal democracy. The Baath Party was just replaced with HTS. Now it appears that Abu Mohammad al-Jolani will have control of Syria. This depends on how HTS will fight its competitors. Assad's exile to Russia is puzzling. Iran and Oman are likely places in which the Assad family would flee to. Turkey remains in the north of Syria and Iraq will be effected by the change of the Syrian government. Syria now has tranfomed into what Lebanon was during the 1975 to 1990 civil war. The United States now is conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Syria. A fear is that when the Russo-Ukraine War is over, there will be attempt reinstall Bashar al-Assad. Russia has two bases in Syria, which could launch an operation. Although unlikely it might explain why Assad chose to get asylum in Russia. There could be discussions about a military operation to clear terrorist organizations and armed groups from Syria. As long as Bashar al-Assad is alive and politically active this could happen. Considering the amount of political instability, the Assad era is over. Ethnic and religious hatreds are growing with escalating violence. The loyalists to President Bashar al-Assad will never accept a new government.  

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Elected President of Namibia

 

Namibia has elected its first female president. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. According to the electoral commission  Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah got 57% of the vote. Accusations of electoral irregularities have been made by the political opposition. The Independent Patriots for Change are attempting to challenge the results in court. It is unlikely that the ICP will overturn the election results. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is a veteran of the liberation struggle against Apartheid South Africa's occupation of Namibia. Active in SWAPO's  youth league, she dreamed of the day of Namibia being free from white minority rule. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has held a number of government posts related to foreign affairs and information. She has been a women's rights advocate and getting the Combating of Domestic Violence Act legislation passed. Her credentials and experience indicate a leader who is going to be capable. Yet, there still are pressing economic concerns. Namibia is classified as an upper  middle income country. This is based on data from the World Bank. The promises of economic transformation have been made, but never materialize. Growing youth unemployment is another concern.  Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and SWAPO must address this, or else voter support will be reduced. Discussion of a run off election has surfaced. The Namibian Supreme Court could make the determination about the legitimacy of ICP claims. SWAPO cannot afford to rest on past deeds, when a younger population was not yet born to witness them. Maintaining political support requires change in  strategy.  

Lucy Parsons on The Upper Class Elite and Voting

 

Renewed Escalation In The Syrian Civil War

 

The Syrian Civil War has been fought for 13 years. Now there is a renewed escalation. The conflict has morphed into a war of proxy, with multiple countries arming terrorists organizations. Armed groups like the Free Syria Army and the Syrian  Democratic Forces  were prominent during the 2010s. ISIS operated between the borders of Iraq and Syria. The country is going through a balkanization process similar to Yugoslavia during the 1990s. Turkey, the United States, and the UAE are providing weapons to these armed groups and terrorist organizations. The sudden resurgence is connected to Israel's aggression in both Gaza and Lebanon. Israel conducted a number of airstrikes in Syria during the long civil war. Removing the Assad government would weaken Hezbollah and Iran. The Syrian Civil War now has transformed into a regime change operation. The Al-Nusra Front  has  done rebrand of its organization. Although still terrorists, they  are no longer collaborating with al-Qaeda. The new name of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Now Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seeks to establish a theocratic government. The last Baathist government in the Middle East is facing threats from old rivals and recent ones. The Gulf monarchies and radical political Islamism are two major enemies to the Bashar Al-Assad presidency. If the Bashar Al-Assad government falls that means Syrian refugees will either go to Europe or Turkey. Israel could use the opportunity to take more territory. Russia and Iran are going to intervene on the behalf of Syria. Russia's war in Ukraine remains a priority, but Syria is a place in which the UK, US, France, and Germany can be undermined. Iran realizes that it is in a state of war with Israel and that Syria is too important to lose. The rebels have taken Aleppo and continue to push further south. If the Baathist government loses Damascus, the war to keep Syria whole is lost.  

South Korea's Political Instability

 

South Korea is experiencing political instability. President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to institute martial law. This caused alarm and concern among the South Korean public. For six hours the country was in turmoil with the army being mobilized. Soldiers blocked protesters from entering the National Assembly building. The decision was reversed after much objection. President Yoon Suk Yeol did this only because his own political party did not approve of declaring martial law. The People's Power Party is trying to distance themselves from a president that is becoming unpopular. The conservative government has been in power since 2022 and discord among the public has grown. President Yoon Suk Yeol accused the political opposition of obstruction and collaborating with North Korea. No evidence has been presented to show that other political parties are working with North Korea. Law makers then responded by introducing legislation to nullify the martial law declaration. The Defense Ministry rejected this and said it would only follow the orders of President Yeol. Martial law was last declared in 1980. The fear is the return to an authoritarian system. The Yeol administration has accumulated a number of scandals and controversies. The declaration of martial law was a way to undermine the South Korean Democratic Party. President Yoon Suk Yeol could face impeachment and other criminal charges. A South Korean constitutional crisis could be the result of his resistance to the rule of law. As demonstrations increase the chances of Yoon Suk Yeol getting re-elected are reduced.   

Hunter Biden Gets A Presidential Pardon

 

Hunter Biden has gotten a presidential pardon from the Biden administration. President Joseph Biden claimed that he would not give one to his son. The argument was that administration wants to respect the rule of law. This conviction does not apply to members of the Biden family. Hunter Biden has gun charges and has been accused of tax evasion. The criminal justice system favors the powerful, white, and elite class. The reversal was done most likely because of the incoming Trump administration. If Biden remained in the presidential race and won, Hunter Biden would not have faced punishment. Getting a pardon now ensures that Hunter would not face retaliation from the next administration. Hunter Biden might have information related to business operations in Ukraine, which President Biden does not want public. The Democratic Party has attempted to create an image of a humanitarian organization and those who believe in justice. Pardoning Hunter Biden shows a level corruption, white privilege, and criminality similar to that of the Trump administration. Political figures are above the law, but it also includes their families. The presidential pardon is gradually evolving to let criminals go free. The drug charges are the least egregious offense. The War on Drugs criminalized addiction, which is a psychological disorder. Hunter Biden not paying his taxes and business dealings in Ukraine are serious crimes. The US government has grown more corrupt from the presidency to the courts. Few  Democratic senators and congressional representatives have condemned the Hunter Biden pardon. Speculation has circulated that the pardon was done as an expression of anger for the Democratic Party removing Biden as the nominee. President Biden doing the pardon for his son puts the Democratic Party in an awkward  position. The contradiction is one that the Democratic Party will have to confront beyond 2024.   

Chad and Senegal Want To Break Military Ties With France

 

Chad has announced it will no longer be part of the defense cooperation agreement with France. Senegal also announced it intends to expel French soldiers from its territory. An estimated 1,000 troops are present in Chad. Senegal does have French military bases. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed the change in position as Senegal asserting its national sovereignty. The Senegalese president was elected to office with the goal drastic political change. President Mahamat Deby being the strongman of Chad, no longer wants to follow the dictates of France. His ambition could be to have more influence in Sudan and South Sudan. Breaking military ties with France shows that President Mahamat Deby is not a puppet to a foreign power. President Deby is showing that he  is going to be a longtime authoritarian leader in the region. France was forced out of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Military coups were the reaction to rage regarding France's occupation and being a destabilizing force. France could either attempted to undermine Chad or Senegal through armed groups or terrorist organizations. Another alternative would be to try to create a sphere of influence between Algeria and Morocco. This would be halted due to the fact both Algeria and Morocco disagree with the status of the Western Sahara. Algeria tends to favor its independence and most of the African continent is moving to that political position. Chad and Senegal could align closer to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The developments might not be a rise of Pan-African consciousness, but a repudiation of French interference in the affairs of the Sahel region.