H/T to Matt Wilson at 1913Intel for the link.

Washington, D.C. — In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s little terrier, Toto, pulls aside a curtain to reveal that the awesome “wizard” is really a little man frantically pulling levers to create an illusion of power. Moscow is not quite the “Emerald City,” but Vladimir Putin is certainly acting like the wizard — and seems intent on trying to re-create the “Iron Curtain.” Worse still, leaders here in the United States and in Western Europe appear to be as fearful as Dorothy’s craven lion in looking at what is really going on behind the curtain.

More>

I encourage everybody to watch this video that Matt posted over at 1913Intell HERE.

The audio is weak, so you may have to adjust your hearing aids or speakers somewhat. Niall Ferguson is right on target in the geopolitical sense, he makes some points that should be common knowledge, but are never heard by most.

Oh, while we’re on the subject check this out:

The Stale Fortune Cookie Of U.S./ Red China Foreign Policy

The Taiwan issue is going to come up in the near future whether we like it or not. Remember that and vote accordingly. Your life may be in the balance of it all….

Well the vacation was nice while it lasted. I’m still not sure why they call it a vacation though. Hmmmm? What’s up with that?

Anyhow, here’s a few links for ya while I try to re-adjust to my normal life cycle
Log. On. Fire……….

Cycles of History, Boom and Bust
by J. R. Nyquist

“When the economic situation changes, when peak oil has its say, when the Middle East crisis cannot be solved, when American politics reduces to a sharp ideological division, when the real estate bubble continues to burst, what will happen? What will the Russians and Chinese do? For thousands of years the world was about war and dominance, the power of oligarchies and the exploitation of peasants. Does anyone believe that the world cannot revert back? Does anyone think that the fall of modern capitalism will result in any other outcome?”

Read it here

H/T to 1913 Intell for the following links.

A Pearl Harbor without War

By Gabor Steingart in Washington, D.C.

“The dollar crisis has politicians alarmed worldwide. The US currency has lost 24 percent of its value since the introduction of the euro, and now there is even a chance that China could abandon its policy of pegging its currency to the dollar — a problem the United States should take very seriously.”

” Translated into Texan, what the Chinese politely told the Americans last week simply means: Unless something happens, all hell will break loose.”

Read the rest……….

IS CHINA BLACKMAILING AMERICA?

Geopolitics at $100 a Barrel