Geopolitics and the U.S. Spoiling Attack
March 29, 2007
This week's special edition Outside the Box is what I would call one of the more "philosophical" pieces by Stratfor President George Friedman...let me explain. In his article "Geopolitics and the U.S. Spoiling Attack," George looks through the lens of history at the US involvement in Iraq by comparing the outcomes with past US military encounters. While he goes on to show the result of each situation, the most interesting part, at least to me, has been the intended or unintended consequences that have developed as a result.
For example, George hypothesizes that victory may not be or have been the optimal outcome for all of the past US military endeavors, but rather the strategy (or unintended consequence) of only using a fraction of the country's military might to disrupt an imposing enemy's agenda. This is what he calls a "spoiling attack."
George's company Stratfor provides some insightful and comprehensive research on geopolitical events and global affairs. He continues to be generous by offering my readers a discount to his normal subscription rates which can be obtained by clicking here.
My desire is that you continue to find these special editions of Outside the Box to be valuable and, at the very least, thought provoking.
Two Busted Flushes: The U.S. and Iranian Negotiations
March 15, 2007
This week's special edition of Outside the Box touches on the strained relationship between the U.S. and Iran as the war in Iraq continues to loom. Bush is nearing the end of his tenure as President and is (as well as has been) seeking a solution for America's involvement in the Middle East. Diplomats from each country recently met up to begin discussion on the subject.
In his article "Two Busted Flushes: The U.S. and Iranian Negotiations," Stratfor President George Friedman discusses the U.S. / Iran relationship as well as the potential roles of other major world powers like Russia. He goes on to explain the agendas of both governments followed by some possible scenarios that may begin to play out soon.
For those of you unfamiliar with George's company Stratfor, they are a leading information and analytics agency on geopolitical affairs. Kind of what I like to label as a "private CIA" of sorts. George has continued to offer my readers a special discount on his service that can be obtained by clicking through the following link: https://www.stratfor.com/offers/061130-50OFFa/?ref=061130-50OFFa
My hope is that you will continue to find these special editions of Outside the Box to be both a comprehensive and enlightening view on global affairs and geopolitical events.
Life after Debt - Russia’s New Millennium
February 26, 2007
I got a lot of response from my recent letter on South Africa. Today we turn to another emerging market country. Since the late 90's, what country's equity market has performed the best? At first thought, many might say China or India due to the robust economic growth that has taken place. Still others might weigh in with countries such as Brazil or Dubai because of their booming commodities and tourism sectors, respectively. The answer is Russia with it boasting a 37 fold increase since 1998!
Every few months I get a lengthy but very thorough and enlightening newsletter from Eric Kraus called "Truth and Beauty" about the Russian economy and markets. Eric works in the finance industry and is an accomplished money manager. His writing reflects his positive views of the Russian markets along with a candid appraisal of the problems. But his writing on Russia is quite different from the views we get in the Western press. I asked him to give me a brief synopsis of his views for my readers. This is truly Outside the Box, and a balance to what we normally read.
If you want to subscribe to his letter, you can write Nadia@nikitsky.com and she will add you to his list.
Russia’s Great-Power Strategy
February 15, 2007
Today's special edition Outside the Box discusses the long-term strategy that Russian President Vladimir Putin is setting in place. Stratfor President George Friedman has written an intriguing article on what he sees as some motives, opportunities and scenarios that the Russian leadership faces in a complex set of maneuvers involving the United States and the Middle East.
For those of you unfamiliar with Stratfor, it is the closest thing to a "private CIA" as the organization provides in-depth analysis on geopolitical events spanning the globe. George has continued to offer my readers a special 50% discount off his normal subscription rate. You can receive the offer by clicking here. I have used his service for my views on emerging markets as well as my personal curiosity of global affairs.
I hope you continue to find Stratfor's analysis to be both thought provoking and "outside the box."
China’s Concerns in 2007: Fears of a Perfect Storm
February 1, 2007
Today's special edition Outside the Box covers the looming political concerns of China in the new year. Leading China expert at Stratfor, Rodger Baker, has written an excellent analysis on the issues faced by the current and future leadership of the country, as well as the potential reactions of the United States.
Stratfor is the closest thing to a "private CIA" as the organization provides in-depth analysis on geopolitical events spanning the globe. As always, George has decided to give my readers a special 50% discount off his normal subscription rate. You can receive the offer by clicking here. Whether you are an emerging markets fund manager or just a person curious about global affairs, Stratfor provides news and analysis that I'm sure you will find to be valuable.
I trust that you will find Rodger's report to be a comprehensive view on some important geopolitical concerns.
Rhetoric and Reality: The View from Iran
January 18, 2007
Today's Special Edition of "Outside the Box" by my friends at Stratfor gives us a very insightful analysis of the difference between the rhetoric of Iran and the reality of the world they face. George Friedman, President of Stratfor, dispassionately gives us a look at the world from Iran's point of view. Given the reality of today's political climate, it is important to understand what is going on inside a nation that is giving much of the world so many concerns.
Stratfor is the closest thing to a "private CIA" as the organization provides in-depth analysis on geopolitical events spanning the globe. As always, George has decided to give my readers a special 50% discount off his normal subscription rate. You can receive the offer by clicking here. Current readers will soon be getting their 2007 forecast. New subscribers will get it as well.
If you're interested in the mindset of Iran or maybe just want to stay up-to-date on current events of the world, I believe that you will find George's article to be both very insightful and thought provoking.
Israel’s Options Against Iran
January 4, 2007
As a set-up to this week's special edition of Outside the Box from Stratfor, let's take a look at a blog from the Middle East Media Research Institute which discusses some recent allegations from the Iranian leadership that the Holocaust did not occur. Quoting:
In a December 28, 2006 interview with the Iranian website Baztab, which is affiliated with Iranian Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezai, Iranian Presidential Advisor Mohammad Ali Ramin said that Hitler was Jewish, and that Hitler's policies were aimed at bringing about the establishment of a Jewish state. Ramin added that Hitler acted under the influence of his powerful Jewish associates and in cooperation with Britain, since the latter shared his desire to force the Jews out of Europe.(1)
Ramin was recently appointed secretary-general of the new "world foundation for Holocaust Studies" established at the Iranian Holocaust Denial Conference inDecember.(2)
The following are excerpts from the interview :(3)
Adolf Hitler... Developed an Aversion to Judaism Because His Mother Was a Jewish Whore
"The Bolshevik Soviet government in Lenin's time, and later, in Stalin's - both of whom were Jewish, though they presented themselves as Marxists and atheists... - was one of the forces that, until the Second World War, cooperated with Hitler in promoting the idea of establishing the State of Israel. A book that was published about this... - titled Adolf Hitler, Founder of Israel by Hennecke Kardel, a German born in 1922 - proves that Hitler was Jewish, and that his grandmother was a Jewish prostitute. [Hitler's] father went by his mother's Jewish name until he was 40, and later changed his surname to Hitler.
"Adolf Hitler himself developed an aversion to Judaism because his mother was a Jewish whore. He first received [negative] information about the Jews in an Austrian monastery, (the book presents details and pictures of it), and from then on, he [tried] to escape his Judaism.
"Thus... Hitler simultaneously developed both feelings of solidarity with Judaism and feelings of hatred towards it, and this emotional ambivalence shaped his behavior towards the Jews. On the one hand, his entire family, the people who shared his views, and his associates who brought him into power and stood by him to the last - including his lovers and his personal doctor - were [all] Jewish. On the other hand, he welcomed the policy of expelling the Jews from Central Europe for two other reasons: Firstly, the establishment of a Jewish government in Palestine was an aspiration of the rich and influential Jews who surrounded him. Secondly, exiling the Jews from Europe and Germany was a general and historical demand of the Western Christian nations. With the full support of the British, and in coordination with them, Hitler addressed this general demand and [thereby] managed to gain widespread popularity in Europe. Obviously, publishing writings and information of this sort is forbidden in Germany and in the West...
"The Zionists recently... destroyed many documents and papers pertaining to the period before the war, which contained authentic statistics and figures regarding the Jews, such as how many Jews there were, where they [lived] and how they operated. One of the places that was destroyed completely and burned [to the ground] - and which... contained the most valuable documents pertaining to this matter - was the [building of] the newspaper Pravda, which had been published in Moscow for 80 years. On February 10, 2006, the building was set ablaze, and its entire archive, with all its back issues and photographs, was burned and destroyed, and not a trace of it was left. Nobody - not a single news agency anywhere in the world - investigated this historical crime or discussed it extensively..."Source: http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD140807
Iran is truly being led by madmen, and not just madmen but irrational madmen completely capable of seeing the world through a distorted lens of their own making. They believe what they want to believe. Damn the facts. Full speed ahead. These are the same people who say they want to destroy Israel. If you are the leadership in Israel, all this has to make you uncomfortable with the potential for Iran to have nuclear weapons. Not to mention their Muslim neighbors. This puts into context the following essay.
George Friedman, President of Stratfor, writes about the growing tension between Iran and Israel. In "Israel's Options Against Iran," he discusses how uneasy Israel would be if Iran were to emerge as a nuclear power. George further goes on to highlight the potential courses of action that Israel may or may not be forced to take.
If you are a money manager active in foreign markets or perhaps just a person interested in global affairs, I would recommend that you check out George's service at Stratfor. He generously offers my readers a special discount that you can get here.
I hope that you are enjoying and finding value in these special geopolitical reports.
Thailand’s Rash ‘Lock-Up’ Move
December 21, 2006
Today's Special Edition "Outside the Box" is presented by Stratfor and covers the effects spawning from the recent coup in Thailand. Upon the removal of the Prime Minister back in September, the country saw a retreat in the investment sector of its economy. But it did not take long for the speculation to arise as net investment inflows surged upwards to unsustainable highs. In response, the government took ill-advised actions only to later have them reversed. I believe that we should pay particular attention to this because of the fact that Thailand was the original source of the 1998 currency crisis.
Stratfor specializes in providing situational awareness, focused insight and actionable intelligence in the areas of geopolitics, security and public policy. The President, George Friedman, has been a long time friend of mine and, because of so, has decided to continue offering a special discount of 50% off the normal subscription price to his service. In order to receive the discount, you must click here. I trust that you will enjoy this breaking analysis on the current geopolitical event.
On a side note, there will not be another "Outside the Box" until January 8, 2007, as the following two Monday's are Christmas and New Year's.
Russia’s Interest in Litvinenko
December 7, 2006
Today's Special Edition of "Outside the Box" by my friends at Stratfor gives us a very insightful analysis or Russia, using the recent poisoning of a former Russian as a jumping off point. George Friedman, President of Stratfor, gives us an insider's view of what this means in light of historical Russian events and its current leadership. I must admit that I was initially expecting to be somewhat bored (yet another commentary on the spy poisoning?) but came away fascinated as George takes us inside the mindset of the leaders of Russia and how their system has evolved over time.
Stratfor is the closest thing to a "private CIA" as the organization provides in-depth analysis on geopolitical events spanning the globe. As always, George has decided to give my readers a special 50% discount off his normal subscription rate. You can receive the offer by clicking here. Current readers have just gotten his rather lengthy analysis of the current situation in Iraq as a special report. If you subscribe you will get that report as well.
If you're interested in the geopolitical status of Russia or maybe just want to stay up-to-date on current events of the world, I believe that you will find George's article to be both very insightful and thought provoking.
Back to Iraq
November 9, 2006
The past couple of days have been filled with anticipation over the outcome of which party will emerge victorious during this year's elections. Adding to the flurry of activity, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield unexpectedly announced his resignation raising further questions about the future of American policy. Both the parties and individuals newly appointed to government positions will have an impact on both fiscal policy for the markets (dividend and taxes) and on our foreign involvement (the war in Iraq).
My good friend, George Friedman, has written an excellent analysis of the situation and has allowed me to freely send it to you, my readers. In his article, he provides a good review of the key events of the past several days and then directs his attention towards what decisions will be faced by the new representatives.
George has decided to continue offering a special discount of 50% off the normal subscription price to his service. In order to receive the discount, you must click here. I trust that you will enjoy this special edition of "Outside the Box."