Daily Archives: February 15, 2011

by | February 15, 2011 · 8:47 PM

Independent Internationalist Radio Show Feb. 15

Here is my radio show for this week.  I will not be publishing a “Morning Memo” for tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 16).

Part 1

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjE0MDcxMjg3O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTQwNzEyODctOTQ5IjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToyMjA5MDQ4O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk3ODAyNDAyO30=&autoplay=default

Part 2

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjE0MDcxMjg5O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTQwNzEyODktYWRiIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToyMjA5MDQ4O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk3ODAyNDMxO30=&autoplay=default

Part 3

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjE0MDcxMjkyO3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTQwNzEyOTItYWM4IjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToyMjA5MDQ4O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk3ODAyNDQ4O30=&autoplay=default

Part 4

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjE0MDcxMjk0O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTQwNzEyOTQtNDZmIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToyMjA5MDQ4O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk3ODAyNDY1O30=&autoplay=default

Part 5

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjE0MDcxMjk3O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTQwNzEyOTctNzY3IjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToyMjA5MDQ4O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk3ODAyNDg2O30=&autoplay=default

Part 6

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjE0MDcxMzAwO3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTQwNzEzMDAtODJiIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToyMjA5MDQ4O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk3ODAyNTAwO30=&autoplay=default

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Filed under Democrats, Egypt, GOP, independent internationalist, Obama, politics, radio show

by | · 11:30 AM

Morning Memo: Tuesday, February 15

Good Morning!

It’s the day after Valentines Day, you fill in the blank.

Top Topics:

Protesters Line The Streets Of Tehran

The Rest of the Middle East Faces Scores of Protests

Bahrain Protesters Vow To Fight Another Day

Palestinian Cabinet Will Be Reshuffled

Country-by-Country Look At The Protests

Egypt Will Freeze Some Of Mubarak’s Assets

Egypt Military Calls Public Holiday To End Labor Protests

President Obama Announces Newest Budget

Turkey and Iran To Increase Trade and Political Relations

Figures of Note:

2000-2011 Trend: Perceptions of World's Leading Economic Power Today

Opinions of Note:

Paul Krugman on Spending Cuts

Lexington on America and Israel’s Relationship

My First Thought: Power Perceptions

The latest Gallup survey above shows most Americans see China as the top economic power.  That is definitely not a good thing for U.S. power.  If the American base sees their country as weak, you know something is wrong.  Part of the president’s plan is to “Win the Future” with breakthrough programs to expand infrastructure and increase U.S. exports.  That plan is fine and dandy, but power is much more than economic strength.  It is about the perception of power on the global stage.  Right now with the Egypt protests, the U.S. can make its presence known.  As a democracy, we can encourage other democracies to reform.  China on the other hand, cannot.  In fact, China will probably be censoring its own media for a fear that their people will start to protest as well.

In the developing world, there was a reason that China was gaining as a world leader.  It was because their model of economic and political development fit the mold of the Arab and African world.  Utilizing state capitalism was the road to development for most.  Now that Egypt and Tunisia might be finding a new path towards democracy, the U.S. can be the guiding force in that direction.  Thus, we can reassert our dominance in the world by example and encouragement.  After the end of the Cold War, the U.S. exerted a source of dominance because its model for domestic politics won over the Soviets.  Now is the time for that to happen again.

Photo Credit: The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Figures from Gallup and the Economist 

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Filed under independent internationalist, Morning Memo