The USa is a wonderful nation but when it comes to foreign policy it is dangerous and crazy.

No other nation has done more for the arms race to be perpetual than the USA.

Now it wants to contain China. This need to confront other nations in a dramatic environment rather than one that is cool, calm and collected characterises the USA. How would the US react if other nations decided that the US had to be surrounded by hostile treaties. It would regard such behaviour as intolerable and yet it is forever seeking to dominate world politics and the agendas of other nations.

The US has to be introspective. It is obsessed with telling other nations what they can do or cannot do and of interfering with their sovereignty. I want the US to back-off. I am amazed at how blind the US is to its own actions. How many Americans appreciate that millions of people have fled Iraq and settled in Syria and Jordan? What kind of disruption should these neighbours have to accept as a consequence of the Us invasion of Iraq?

And now, the US seems to think that the only agenda that Iran can have is one that is sympathetic to the US agenda. Of course,Iran wants the US out of the Middle East just as the US wanted Russia out of Cuba and Russia wants the US out of its neighbours, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Double Standards apply to US policy which is forever irrational and inconsistent.

The US is a trouble maker and it causes disruptions to world peace and stability.

The US is unable to be introspective because it has no practice in so doing.

Russia, since the mid 1990s ... for a matter of correction ... is finishing Nuclear Power Contracts for Iran that the US started under the Shah of Iran in the 1970s. These contracts for Russian companies are worth billions of Rubles and USD. So suspend the nonsense on who began what and when. CIA blowback took place in Iran and Afghanistan and yes when Putin says the demise of the Soviet Union, ala CIS and now just certain members of the CIS, called CSTO was disasterous (he is absolutely right) - its important to recognize the US and NATO cannot bring stability to Eurasia just as the British Empire could not. This is Russia and China's domain - we need to mind our own business unless some great human tragedy takes place and the only one I currently see is 10s of 1000s of dead in China and Burma from Earthquakes and Typhoons (and the West, as in the US/Nato, did very little to help, except extend condolences) - so talk and walk the same hypocrisy! We would be well advised to take care of the Americas and make friends with Chavez and the new left-center in politics in Latin America!

So if you want to see what they did to this surge in Arizona, His credit demolished, 2 falsified foreclosures and forced out of business just to name a couple. Chase Manhattan bank gains as soon as they bury him back in 2003-2004. If you don't believe me look search the ineternet all the loeflers like Jan, Jen and many more. Plenty of proof how they have been ruining Scott Allen West's life along with a prostitution ring to be announced this week with more proof all the way through brittain. Nothing out of the norm for Bushe's friend's

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i find it ironic and insulting, but especially ignorant, that Afghan President Karzai would be blaming coalition forces, and their supposed lack of strategy, for a resurgent Taliban in his nation.... if not for coalition forces, the
Taliban would quite well have toppled his government many moons ago, and beheaded Mr. Karzai and his chief ministers in public at the local football stadium, just like the Taliban used to execute their opponents in public when they were in power.... me thinks that Mr. Karzai is one extremely ungrateful cuss.....

sexvilla
hedieh

Buying A Sauna? Read This Before You Buy Your First Sauna

This is the most ludicrous thing I've ever seen.

Does the Wash Post think we are going to take them seriously?

At best this is sophisticated hucksterism -- but its not even that.

Why is McCain included in scenarios where America leaves Iraq without a victory? McCain has stated unequivocally that should he become president America will leave Iraq in the year 2013 with a clear cut victory in Iraq.

What are the signs of senility or Alzheimer’s disease forgetfulness, lack of cognizance? McCain has no intentions of ending the war in Iraq and should be removed from any discussion that suggests such a scenario. END THE WAR IN IRAQ

the continual propensity of the bush administration to play the "divide and conquer" game will most certainly lead to a level of violence heretofore unknown in iraq. if codi rice believes that the wise thing to do is to fly to iraq and taunt al-sadr, she should think again. while exhibiting all the narcissistic tendencies of an inbred roman emperor, george bush has once again proven that his personal level of delusional thinking has reached an all-time high. in a war which can never be won, he continues to believe that his grandiose scheme of world energy domination still has a chance of success. how much further from the blue skies of reality can an individual get? but, when a "bunker mentality" and "petrophsycosis" begin to get a firm grip on the rational portion of a persons brain (especially small brains) the cancer soon spreads. unfortunately for those at 1600 pennsylvania avenue, the prognosis is terminal

I respectfully request you remove the 3 comments of March, 2008 by 'kinkykouples' and 'swingers' Thank you.

Thank you for this site. I had just read about the international increases in the costs of rice and the severe shortages of all food in Egypt and Haiti, Some of the Iranian and other Mid-Eastern crisis' and what various government leader's proposals are for resolutions. I came to your Post Global Site hoping to get better understanding and an overview of causes and effects And the information is truly here with the extremely complex situations being pieced together by all of you. Thank you to Laura, your producer, as well. Thank You All, once again

Respectfully

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It is a serious mistake to assume that leftist governments in Latin America are inherently Anti-American. That is simply not the case, or doesn’t need to be. To the extent that the U.S. policies promote generalized economic growth in the region, we can find common ground with Latin American states. The left-wing governments in Latin America, with the exceptions of Venezuela and Cuba, are not inherently anti-American, they are pro-wealth and are eager to do business with the US as long as they too become more prosperous societies. They are pro-growth, pro-trade, and pro-democracy, by and large, so there is definitely the opportunity to preserve and expand on these common goals. And in the case of Venezuela, the stock of its unstable and theatrical leader is in rapid decline as people tire of his empty and antagonistic rhetoric…just as Americans have tired of their own bombastic and empty leadership.

It is a grave mistake to assume that leftist governments in Latin America are inherently Anti-American. That is simply not the case, or doesn’t need to be. To the extent that the U.S. policies promote generalized economic growth in the region, it can find common ground with Latin American states. The left-wing governments in Latin America, with the exceptions of Venezuela and Cuba, are not inherently anti-American, they are pro-wealth and are eager to do business with the US as long as they too become more prosperous societies. They are pro-growth, pro-trade, and pro-democracy, by and large, so there is definitely the opportunity to preserve and expand on these common goals. And in the case of Venezuela, the stock of its unstable and theatrical leader is in rapid decline as people tire of his empty and antagonistic rhetoric…just as Americans have tired of their own bombastic and empty leadership.

Yonkers, New York
20 March 2008

So Condoleezza Ride is back in Moscow, this time probably to try to convince Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev that those planned US anti-missiles systems in the Czech Republic and Poland are not intended against Russian missiles, but really against Iranian missiles.

Condi Rice must realize that Putin, Medvedev and the whole world know that with only nine months to go as secretary of state, she is already a lame duck like her boss George W. Bush.

Putin and Medvedev may give her the traditional courtesy she deserves, and humor her, but on the issue of those
anti-missiles system they will very likely remind her that Russia has already registered its strong
opposition to them and that the U.S. would unnecessarily be risking a cooling in US-Russian relations if the U.S. insists on installing them in the Czech Republic and in Poland.

Putin may remind her that the Czech Republic and Poland are in fact already close to opposing the installation of those systems--if they not already.

Mariano Patalinjug
MarPatalinjug@aol.com

'This is the first time I've noticed this feature. Did I accidentally go to ESPN's website? Sheesh, it's like I'm browsing the latest interactive on various columnists projections for the BCS Championship. You know, who's got the strongest offensive line, best third-down conversion rate, etc. The world hangs in the balance, put in graphic form for sports fans.'
-mike D

Mike, you've got to understand that Americans don't actually understand politics, they subscribe to ideologies and allow their opinions to be manipulated by that....this graphic representation, while a little elementary, is so that those people can understand what's actually happening in the world.

luckily, GPB also provides very well done articles on current power relations throughout the world

'This is the first time I've noticed this feature. Did I accidentally go to ESPN's website? Sheesh, it's like I'm browsing the latest interactive on various columnists projections for the BCS Championship. You know, who's got the strongest offensive line, best third-down conversion rate, etc. The world hangs in the balance, put in graphic form for sports fans.'
-mike D

Mike, you've got to understand that Americans don't actually understand politics, they subscribe to ideologies and allow their opinions to be manipulated by that....this graphic representation, while a little elementary, is so that those people can understand what's actually happening in the world.

luckily, GPB also provides very well done articles on current power relations throughout the world

The GPB seems to underweigh economic and financial elements of national power or security. The dollar is in a dive, the credit markets in paralysis, the fiscal skeleton of the bailouts is enormous, the Iraq boondoggle an acute drain on the armed forces, and yet the GPB presents the US situation as "neutral."

Something looks a bit crackpot. Alternatively, the GPB is four years out of sync with the smart money.

The focus and wording of this GPB is western-centric and biased.

How crazy is this administartion? Whya are we fighting to protect ME oil? The ME neighbors of Iraq are making Billions and can well afford to protect themselves! The ME oil all goes to Europe, and they are not worried about it, why are we? Why are we building a missle system that does not workj on the Russian border? Why do we still have "troops" in Europe and Japan? Why are we killing our economy for no gain at all? Why are we without jobs, but spending our dollars for jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan? Why are we sending "military advisors" to Pakistan...remind you of Vietnam?

Whay does McCain want to continue doing the same damn thing?

"A common theme in current crop of books about Islamists: The West needs to tone done its rhetoric...arrogance and hubris just feeds the movement."

A very large number of us were saying this 6 or seven years ago, too. Remember when a few weeks bombing the Middle East was gonna make them all Americans?

The suicide bombers were not only female, but had Down Syndrome. That should be in the headline.

For an analysis of the Gaza situation see the article in http://www.politicalislam.org on the dangerous situation in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood is benefiting from the Gaza debacle.

Article: How Did Egypt Get Trapped
http://www.politicalislam.org/Articles/Pi%20538%20-%20How%20did%20Egypt%20get%20trapped%202.pdf

This statement surprised me:
"Czech Republic admits that the radar base it is allowing the US to build is intended for spying on Russia... thus validating Moscow's take on the proposed US missile defense shield..."

I didn't know about this (though I certainly knew the system was really aimed at Russia not Iran). Maybe I'm reading the wrong newspaper.

A search of the Post's news articles reveals nothing about this Czech admission. Should I seek my news elsewhere?

Canada considers an exit from the NATO mission in Afghanistan... a potential blow to the US-led mission there

What analysis was perfromed that led to this as the resulting headline?

Oh right, a blow to the US is the headline not the content of the Canadain Panels recommendations.

I forgot, it's the Washington post....

A cursory study of world history will show that the locus of political and economic power has moved westward through the north temperate zone of the world. Once it was Cairo, Egypt, then Masadonia, Turky, Greece, Rome, Spain and Portugal, Western Europe, the British Empire, and then the United States. NOTE WHO IS WEST OF US. When Japan- with its technology, joins China- with a potential huge army and Asia's raw materials, they will be in a position to rule the world... and they probably will try, too.

If we had diplomats- instead of politicians, in Washington, this would have been obvious long ago. It's called seeing the big picture.

A CRISE AMERICANA ESTÁ MESMO É NOS BANCOS QUE NÃO QUEREM DEVOLVER O QUE
GANHARAM COM OS FINANCIAMENTO PODRES

O sistema financeiro sempre manipulou e controlou a seu favor, a economia dos EUA e com reflexos na economia mundial.

Agora ficou claro, que depois de décadas, os cartéis financeiros já não terão mais os Bancos Centrais como os seus principais aliados. Os americanos descobriram tarde, mas conheceram os males que quase todos Bancos Centrais estão causando à economia mundial, em beneficio da maior concentração de riquesas.

E o Tesouro americano deixou bem claro, no pacote que deu publicidade, que não vai injetar recursos do Povo americano para a manutenção dos abusivos Lucros que os Bancos tiveram com os créditos podres. Se os Bancos criaram e ainda alimentam a crise, que não foi contida por incompetencia ou conivencia dos Bancos Centrais, que eles resolvam os problemas que criaram e com os seus próprios recursos.

E o espaço para ganhos fáceis com o Capital especulativo, está se estreitando cada vez mais na Europa, Ásia e Americana do Norte.

Não sei porque o Brasil, como a décima economia mundial, não está seguindo a mesma tendencia e continua pagando ágio de 160% acima da inflação ( talvez o maior do mundo) para a rolagem de sua dívida.

Se o G-20 se unisse, como se uniram a OPEP, os Cartéis Financeiros e outros mais, determinando, através de um Tratado, que o ágio sobre a inflação de qualquer um desses países não pode passar de 3%. O montante da economia, com essas simples providencias, passaria tranquilamente de US$ 1 trilhão e esses recursos que estão indo para a improdutividade, passariam a ser melhor aproveitados e alocados em educação, saúde, transportes rodoviários, ferroviários e urbano ( de qualidade)e em
em saneamento básico. E o mais importante é que reduziria expressivamente a concentração de riquesas. São sugestões factíveis de se concretizarem em curto prazo.

A redefinição da importancia dos bancos centrais e no modelo atual de ação, é absolutamente necessária. Que esses Bancos passem, de fato, a defender o Tesouro de seus países e não o Tesouro dos Cartéis Financeiros.É um tema que deve ser amplamente discutido. Querem porque querem ampliar a crise americana. Mas não será fácil enfrentar a realidade de uma economia que responde por mais de 25% do PIB Mundial e financia o seu deficit com ágio próximo de zero. Aonde mesmo está a recessão? Só mesmo na redução dos abusivos Lucros dos Bancos ?. Porque no Estado americano, não está. E é lamentável o Brasil continuar como um Paraíso para a especulação financeira mundial

It's seems a little arrogant to believe that the main driving global forces can exclude the entire European Common Market and NATO.

Yonkers, New York
22 December 2007

It is full objective recognition of Russian president Vladimir Putin's rise on the world stage that Time magazine has chosen him "Person of the Year."

In both the domestic and international arena, Vladimir Putin has been a phenomenal success.

He brought order out of the anarchy and chaos that was Russia under his predecessor Boris Yeltsin. Helped by huge and mounting (nationalized) oil revenues over the years, Mr. Putin has brought hope and a measure of financial security and prosperity to tens of millions of Russian people on the lower rungs of the Russian economic totem pole.

That primarily explains why his most recent approval rating with his people is at a historic stratospheric high of 80%. (The comparison with his friend George W's national approval rating which is now in the vicinity of 30%--and still plummeting--can only be odious.)

But Vladimir Putin's successes on the domestic front are also paralelled by his successes on the international front.

The overall consensus is that under Vladimir Putin, Russia is resurgent on the world stage. It is now a major player, able to wield its influence successfully in the solution of several of the world's vexing geopolitical problems.

Vladimir Putin is a compleat politician. The Russian constitution does not allow him to run for a third term as President. And so what does he do? He does not suspend or amend the constitution.

He picks a close friend, Dmitri Medvedev, known for his democratic and populist leanings, to succeed him as President.

And what does Mr. Medvedev do in turn? He picks no other than his friend (mentor and benefector?) Vladimir Putin to be the next Prime Minister of Russia.

In all likelihood, Vladimir Putin will be the real power in Russia for still a long, long time. Under his able and proven leadership, Russia will continue to prosper economically and financially.

With his hold on Russia strengthened, and a Russia that will continue to enjoy prosperity and domestic tranquility, there is a very good chance that Mr. Putin will be more tolerant toward the opposition and allow the Russian people to enjoy a good measure of freedom and civil liberties under a progressively democratic regime.

Vladimir Putin has all the makings of another Alexander the Great.

Mariano Patalinjug
MarPatalinjug@aol.com

How bizarre is the term islamo-Fascism...there is nothing Fascist about Islamic actions or philosophies! On the contrary, it is the American alliance between the Neo-Con Corporatism of George/Dick with the so-called Christian Right that has fascist overtones! We are the Christian Fascsist with the emphasis on the Fascist not Christian!

An outfit that was not congenitally anti-Israel would have had the headline WILL THE PALESTINIAN ARAB TERRORISTS IN GAZA STOP THEIR DAILY ROCKET ATTACKS ON PRE-1967 ISRAEL? [or a shorter version thereof]. But then, these cats don't even deem that worth mentioning in the article at all.

Hello! Good site!

Thank you!

i can only laugh ,he seems to be totaly different personality here,if Mr mushraf you ever went through reading this,just to let you i was your biggest fan when you came in power you seemed to be honest you took steps which were right for pakistan,but with the passage of time you realise that either you can be honest or you can lie and stay in power.i may be abit exagurating things here but you once said"i tried to change the political system of pakistan but its imposible"you were explaning your achivments ..sad to here that.i can belive that you are not a thief but you sure not stopping thief either,so what should i call you?its for people what do you think of a police officer who never took bribe but never stop fellow police officer from doing it,did you really gifted an island?what happened in steal mill case?from some who has know you and been with you,treating the people staying in the hotel,well that must be sure in pakistan's interest not yours,yes you could say as compared to other politician in the past you just give out parties not filling your own bank accounts but as you must know thief is a thief dosnt matter if its one million or just a penny.
i somtimes think how could some one be so ignorant,but then may be when you get there its makes you ignorant,why do you think that you are the only pakistani with brains?why do you think that you are the only leader in pakistan?why do you think that there is no one in pakistan tackle the issue you did?one of the biggest problems with you is that you think you are the only one?

you started with kicking the currupt politicians out of the country too good,well doen and thankyou for bring them back as well i mean that explains all,you started honestly and now a full politicians just like others.

why should we listen to any english or american who should be our prime minister.talking to one of the beggers in pakistan few years back he said,if i ask for money from you i am a begger if our country ask money from others its an aid.well said by him and i had to give him all the money in my pocket,
amazing,reading one of the comments it says bush has spend 10 billion pounds on us,well you are not wronge mate,he did and we have nothing to say for this,where does that money go,well Mr musharaf you should better have an idea about it,
all politicians with you are currupt you know that and so does every pakistani out there,
you said asia best grown rate , well what should we do of the growth rate Mr president when the quality of life is not there,
you will have foreign investment if you have a true and independent judicary,well atlast we were reaching that point and you blew it,
ok i wont say he wouldnt have ever done curruption cause you are the one who brought him to this stage,being chief of army staff i know you guys have deep knowladge of every thing,my father was an amry oficers and i will never dis respect any army men,as there are good and bad people ever where,what you have done is destroyed pakistan army's reputation just for your own sake,previouly when people used to say army is very honest and not currupt well this remark is hard to get by now,
Emergency and PCO was just to remove CJP and all the honest judges of pakistan,well the good thing is erlier i was in doubt who is currupt and who is not but now everything is clear and you have skimmed and retain the currupt judges,i mean if you are lieing and the judge says hey you lied well then that judge needs to go cause he cant say an army officer is a liar?
one of the most furstrating thing is you are not a king you are not our ruler,you are not god even you will be answerable to god,
and there will be a day of judgmenet,
when people were getting killed in karachi then you said you will get this if you go against me,
and then 6 months latter you said i declare emergency cause i cant let any one to come out protest and safty reasons and the only thing you did is suspend judges and house arrest politicians and lawyers,
i mean there are thousands of questions like that,
just one more thing in the end,
you do have an idea about stock markets,every time there was a news of stock market people lost millions,but there were people who agained millions as well,this is what we call inside dealing one of the biggest crime in london,which is not even worth mentioning in pakistan,when you oppose emergency very good ,in the interest of pakistan it will be bring alot of foreign investment in pakistan
punjab cheif minister did it buying land and selling it well its his business ,,,but he only bought land in places where he knew there are development plans,

i would like to thank you for all your hard work and throwing pakistan behind from where you took over,

Hello! Good site!

Thank you!

Hello! Good site!

Thank you!

Musharraf is the new Pinochet and Marcos. Reviled and hated by Pakistanis, he is loved and adored by Bushies and neo cons. It will cost US a lot both in puclic image and security risks

musharraf you are the biggest con-man in the history of our country. You cant fool everyone forever. Pathetic shameless man. go away leave our country alone before you break it up for a few extra bucks in your bank account.

US is making the Pakistani Military Richer. Most corrupt Military in the world. Out of the 12 Billion Dollars Aid that has flowed to Pakistan, 10 Billion Dollars has gone to the Military. 6 Billion In hardware and 4 Billion in Military Brass' pockets. Musharraf is a shame.
Zubair USA

A US Senator recently said that all US aid given to Pak has been diverted by Pakis to arm itself against India. So basically lying and cheating to achieve what you eventually want- get Kashmir and perhaps more at any cost. Stop this facade of trying to catch terrorists for USA. You need them and can not live without them. That is your culture.

Worst kind of dictator pakistan have ever had. You can also call him Champion of Liars. After ruling for over 8 years, he says pakistan is in great danger externally and internally. Well, democratic governments after 1988 were never given a chance to complete thier 5 years tenure to put Pakistan on a track to prosperity and still Pakistan was not in such a bad condition as it is now.

I read the President Parveez Musharaf’s column, Being a Pakistani I agree with him to some extant but my views are as under.
If we see the past history the main issues not touched by military rollers and public representative both divided us in different ethnic, and religious groups even we lost half country during the tussle between public and military ruler. The both groups take dictation from USA and they dictate us for there own interest not the interest of common Pakistani.
Mr.Prisident said that literacy rate is low in Pakistan but I ask who is responsible.
After sixty years we have not decided what type of education our people need? We have divided a religious education and worldly education what a concept on one hand our religious scholars saying that scientific knowledge give by God so how can we separate the Education?
I know western democracy well organized and every body answerable they build institutions not personalities but in Pakistan we built personalities even in our political parties not developed the culture of democracy with in there parties after father son or daughter or brother become the head of party they all are not sincere to built institutions there for after 8 to 10 years the establishment change the face.
Election’s are coming near day by day but no party have any election manifesto for the benefit of common man no future planning and even the Musharaf’s own Muslim lege (Q) don’t know what they want?
On the other hand we all agree that we need new Pakistan, we enlighten moderate Pakistan, educated Pakistan, and all pillars of the country should independent responsible accountable. We need independent parliament, independent judiciary independent media and independent establishment.
We need free and fair election’s not selection.
I think President Musharaf done some very good things for the country but he also started mistakes from 9th March it was not his duty to call C.J and then his done another mistake on 3rd Nov 2007 suspended country’s constitution, put country under emergency com martial law and dismissed the judges. After theses action he lost his popularity among the peoples.
I think he should go to reconciliation with media, with judges than he can rule the country for another five years other wise we linger on as nation.

I read the President Parveez Musharaf’s column, Being a Pakistani I agree with him to some extant but my views are as under.
If we see the past history the main issues not touched by military rollers and public representative both divided us in different ethnic, and religious groups even we lost half country during the tussle between public and military ruler. The both groups take dictation from USA and they dictate us for there own interest not the interest of common Pakistani.
Mr.Prisident said that literacy rate is low in Pakistan but I ask who is responsible.
After sixty years we have not decided what type of education our people need? We have divided a religious education and worldly education what a concept on one hand our religious scholars saying that scientific knowledge give by God so how can we separate the Education?
I know western democracy well organized and every body answerable they build institutions not personalities but in Pakistan we built personalities even in our political parties not developed the culture of democracy with in there parties after father son or daughter or brother become the head of party they all are not sincere to built institutions there for after 8 to 10 years the establishment change the face.
Election’s are coming near day by day but no party have any election manifesto for the benefit of common man no future planning and even the Musharaf’s own Muslim lege (Q) don’t know what they want?
On the other hand we all agree that we need new Pakistan, we enlighten moderate Pakistan, educated Pakistan, and all pillars of the country should independent responsible accountable. We need independent parliament, independent judiciary independent media and independent establishment.
We need free and fair election’s not selection.
I think President Musharaf done some very good things for the country but he also started mistakes from 9th March it was not his duty to call C.J and then his done another mistake on 3rd Nov 2007 suspended country’s constitution, put country under emergency com martial law and dismissed the judges. After theses action he lost his popularity among the peoples.
I think he should go to reconciliation with media, with judges than he can rule the country for another five years other wise we linger on as nation.

I read the President Parveez Musharaf’s column, Being a Pakistani I agree with him to some extant but my views are as under.
If we see the past history the main issues not touched by military rollers and public representative both divided us in different ethnic, and religious groups even we lost half country during the tussle between public and military ruler. The both groups take dictation from USA and they dictate us for there own interest not the interest of common Pakistani.
Mr.Prisident said that literacy rate is low in Pakistan but I ask who is responsible.
After sixty years we have not decided what type of education our people need? We have divided a religious education and worldly education what a concept on one hand our religious scholars saying that scientific knowledge give by God so how can we separate the Education?
I know western democracy well organized and every body answerable they build institutions not personalities but in Pakistan we built personalities even in our political parties not developed the culture of democracy with in there parties after father son or daughter or brother become the head of party they all are not sincere to built institutions there for after 8 to 10 years the establishment change the face.
Election’s are coming near day by day but no party have any election manifesto for the benefit of common man no future planning and even the Musharaf’s own Muslim lege (Q) don’t know what they want?
On the other hand we all agree that we need new Pakistan, we enlighten moderate Pakistan, educated Pakistan, and all pillars of the country should independent responsible accountable. We need independent parliament, independent judiciary independent media and independent establishment.
We need free and fair election’s not selection.
I think President Musharaf done some very good things for the country but he also started mistakes from 9th March it was not his duty to call C.J and then his done another mistake on 3rd Nov 2007 suspended country’s constitution, put country under emergency com martial law and dismissed the judges. After theses action he lost his popularity among the peoples.
I think he should go to reconciliation with media, with judges than he can rule the country for another five years other wise we linger on as nation.

I read the President Parveez Musharaf’s column, Being a Pakistani I agree with him to some extant but my views are as under.
If we see the past history the main issues not touched by military rollers and public representative both divided us in different ethnic, and religious groups even we lost half country during the tussle between public and military ruler. The both groups take dictation from USA and they dictate us for there own interest not the interest of common Pakistani.
Mr.Prisident said that literacy rate is low in Pakistan but I ask who is responsible.
After sixty years we have not decided what type of education our people need? We have divided a religious education and worldly education what a concept on one hand our religious scholars saying that scientific knowledge give by God so how can we separate the Education?
I know western democracy well organized and every body answerable they build institutions not personalities but in Pakistan we built personalities even in our political parties not developed the culture of democracy with in there parties after father son or daughter or brother become the head of party they all are not sincere to built institutions there for after 8 to 10 years the establishment change the face.
Election’s are coming near day by day but no party have any election manifesto for the benefit of common man no future planning and even the Musharaf’s own Muslim lege (Q) don’t know what they want?
On the other hand we all agree that we need new Pakistan, we enlighten moderate Pakistan, educated Pakistan, and all pillars of the country should independent responsible accountable. We need independent parliament, independent judiciary independent media and independent establishment.
We need free and fair election’s not selection.
I think President Musharaf done some very good things for the country but he also started mistakes from 9th March it was not his duty to call C.J and then his done another mistake on 3rd Nov 2007 suspended country’s constitution, put country under emergency com martial law and dismissed the judges. After theses action he lost his popularity among the peoples.
I think he should go to reconciliation with media, with judges than he can rule the country for another five years other wise we linger on as nation.

MR. Mush
No more non-sense. Try to quit as early as possipble to avoid chaos in the country.
For me Pakistan is not first for you but personal
intersts first.Traitor means who abrogates the
constitution of his own country for the lust of
power.

Mr.Mush,
No more non sense.You are a traitor.

Mr Musharraf, You are not the legal president of Pakistan. Please quit this job and before leaving kindly restore the Judiciary. You are doing all this to gain and retain power. The executive was not paralised but they had a regard of rule of law. You can not fool at least the educated class of Pakistan. Please go.

Mr Musharraf, You are not the legal president of Pakistan. Please quit this job and before leaving kindly restore the Judiciary. You are doing all this to gain and retain power. The executive was not paralised but they had a regard of rule of law. You can not fool at least the educated class of Pakistan. Please go.

Mr. Musharraf, I will not call you a president because in my view the way you are elected is totally illegal. You violated the constitution and become so called president after contempt of court. The fact is that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the judiciary protected the rule of law. The executive were not actually paralised but they stopped doing wrongs. The government department become scared of Supreme Court. Mr. Musharraf please quit this position and restore the judiciary. History will never forgive you, you still have time, please restore the judiciary and beleive me doing this will restore your image, not completely but atleast the level of hatred will minimise. Dont be greedy for power, everyone knows you are power hungry. The people of Pakistan dont care anymore about the president or prime minister. They do care for the Chief Jusitce of Pakistan...Ch. Iftikhar Chuadary.

Mr. Musharraf, I will not call you a president because in my view the way you are elected is totally illegal. You violated the constitution and become so called president after contempt of court. The fact is that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the judiciary protected the rule of law. The executive were not actually paralised but they stopped doing wrongs. The government department become scared of Supreme Court. Mr. Musharraf please quit this position and restore the judiciary. History will never forgive you, you still have time, please restore the judiciary and beleive me doing this will restore your image, not completely but atleast the level of hatred will minimise. Dont be greedy for power, everyone knows you are power hungry. The people of Pakistan dont care anymore about the president or prime minister. They do care for the Chief Jusitce of Pakistan...Ch. Iftikhar Chuadary.

dear unconstitutional president,

thanks for all you did. just pl. quit.i would like to see other face at this office.pl. leave this office as soon as possible.Mr. zia,& you only the immigrant generals we had.we want to see only son of soil now.
just fly to boston where your brother & son is settled.neither pakistan nor pakistanees need you.yes you can't live without pakistan but pakistan can live ,& long live with out you.

long live pakistan in full spirit.

dear unconstitutional president,

thanks for all you did. just pl. quit.i would like to see other face at this office.pl. leave this office as soon as possible.Mr. zia,& you only the immigrant generals we had.we want to see only son of soil now.
just fly to boston where your brother & son is settled.neither pakistan nor pakistanees need you.yes you can't live without pakistan but pakistan can live ,& long live with out you.

long live pakistan in full spirit.

what i saw late today as opposed to what most americans saw is this: 1. the palestinian government represented at the talks is an illegitimate government not recognized by the majority of the palestinian people. therefore, for our good king chickenheart to speak of democratic values at this conference is an absolute farce. 2. no issues at all were settled or discussed which in any way deviates from anything we have heard in the past. all statements made represented a simple refresher course as to the failures of the past and the intransigence of both sides, especially the israelis. 3. bush made his statement, then cut and ran leaving condileeza rice holding the bag so to say. 4. did anyone notice how seemingly "happy" condileeza rice was during her statement? to me, she appeared entirely distraut and devoid of any real sense of commitment. she acted as though she had just seen a ghost. or had she just spoken to the president who was relaying a message from dick cheney? 5. and finally did anyone notice that there were any palestinians in the west bank and gaza demonstrating for the peace conference? i thought not. what does this say about king chickenhearts "roadmap" to democracy and peace in the middle east? good luck on that and another foreign policy nightmare left behind for the next unfortunate occupier at 1600 pennsylvania.

What about the EU? It is the largest economy on earth after all.

What about the EU? It is the largest economy on earth after all.

What about the EU? It is the largest economy on earth after all.

your section on what the world is thinking about israel is so biased. what are the palestinians saying? a lot of articles in the palestine chronicle. how come some of them are not in your selection?

because wopo is a neocon rag.

This is the first time I've noticed this feature. Did I accidentally go to ESPN's website? Sheesh, it's like I'm browsing the latest interactive on various columnists projections for the BCS Championship. You know, who's got the strongest offensive line, best third-down conversion rate, etc. The world hangs in the balance, put in graphic form for sports fans.

O Fórum do G-20 que está acontecendo na África do Sul, com a participação de países que representam mais de 90% do PIB mundial, pode trazer resultados positivos para o mundo capitalista.Os Bancos Centrais Mundiais e as Comissões de Valores Mobiliários, com a crise das Letras Hipotecárias americanas,maturada por mais de dois anos, essas instituições mostraram incompetencia preventiva de ação e que realmente estão carentes e precisam de uma reformulação total e imediata no monitoramento do sistema financeiro internacional.Em plena éra da cibernética, da comunicação On - Line, o mundo de hoje não é o mundo da realidade do Banco Mundial, criado em 1994 e que também precisa de uma reformulação profunda, fazendo reflexões sobre o que fez e o que deixou de fazer para os países das americas e do caribe.O fórum do G -20 deve também discutir a importancia da Trasparencia das atividades dos Bancos Centrais e das Comissões de Valores Mobiliários e como conter a desenvoltura da volatilidade do capital especulativo. Por falta de um correto monitoramento e mesmo por incompetencia, os Bancos Centrais e as CVMs deixaram que os maiores grupos financeiros americanos chegassem ao ponto de maquiar balanços, para enganar investidores e auferir lucros fácies nas intermediações. E as multinacionais, serão que tambem estão no mesmo caminho. Da reunião do G-20 deve surgir, com certeza, normas e regulamentos que não tornem os Bancos Centrais Escravos da especulação financeira mundial. A planta mundial está mudando de eixo,político, economico, financeiro e social, quando sabemos que os americanos dependem impressindivelmente dos recursos da China, do Japão, de Taiwan,de Hong Kong, Coreia do Sul, Russia, Índia Singapura e até do Brasil, para a rolagem das dívidas do Tesouro. E a desconcentração de riquesas será muito importante para que se acelere a redução do índice de pobreza e de indigência nos países pobres e em desenvolvimento. A china ajudaria muito se deslocasse uns 400 bilhões de dólares de suas aplicações em títulos do tesouro america, para aplicar em Letras do Tesouro de outros países, inclusive o Brasil, nas mesmas condições de Prazos e Juros. A pobreza absoluta só existe por anuências dos governantes. Os americanos, com certeza, nesse fórum do G -20, poderão trazer à luz, grandes soluções para a aprimoração do capitalismo. Afinal,os americanos não estão em recessão mediata ou imediata, quando destacam , em planejamento para até 2017, gastos de mais de 3 trilhões de dólares somente com a Guerra.

Yonkers, New York
17 November 2007

MEDDLING PURE AND SIMPLE

There was a time, not long ago, when independent and sovereign states were precisely that--independent and sovereign.

As independent and sovereign states, they brooked no interference or meddling in any shape or form in their internal affairs from other independent and sovereign states.

Any such interference or meddling from an outsider state would routinely result in a "note verbale" to the offeder, which would denounce in no uncertain terms the interference or meddling as "unacceptable."

Routinely, the next step would be a rupture in diplomatic relations.

In the extreme case where the offeder does not stop, offender and offended would go to war.

But that was long ago.

Now the United States of America, in its apparetly self-assumed role as policeman of the world and also as "Leader of the Free World," routinely pressures, intervenes and meddles in the internal affairs of independent and sovereign states.

It is as if the United States were driven by a divine mission to remake the world in its own "democratic" image, and that it felt that nothing stood in the way of its economic and military power to impose its will on other independent and sovereign states.

What the United Sttes is as of this moment doing in Pakistan, through its Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, is interfering and meddling in the affairs of bn independent and sovereign state.

Pure and simple, that is.

MarPatalinjug@aol.com

Yonkers, New York
17 November 2007

MEDDLING PURE AND SIMPLE

There was a time, not long ago, when independent and sovereign states were precisely that--independent and sovereign.

As independent and sovereign states, they brooked no interference or meddling in any shape or form in their internal affairs from other independent and sovereign states.

Any such interference or meddling from an outsider state would routinely result in a "note verbale" to the offeder, which would denounce in no uncertain terms the interference or meddling as "unacceptable."

Routinely, the next step would be a rupture in diplomatic relations.

In the extreme case where the offeder does not stop, offender and offended would go to war.

But that was long ago.

Now the United States of America, in its apparetly self-assumed role as policeman of the world and also as "Leader of the Free World," routinely pressures, intervenes and meddles in the internal affairs of independent and sovereign states.

It is as if the United States were driven by a divine mission to remake the world in its own "democratic" image, and that it felt that nothing stood in the way of its economic and military power to impose its will on other independent and sovereign states.

What the United Sttes is as of this moment doing in Pakistan, through its Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, is interfering and meddling in the affairs of bn independent and sovereign state.

Pure and simple, that is.

MarPatalinjug@aol.com

I don't understand how the world is able to stand bye while George Bush and the neo-cons rattle the saber swords over something that is continuously proven to be a nonthreat.

Other than it being complete incompetency, what could be the motive and goal of such a foreign policy?

It won't be long before Sean Penn, Danny Glover, and Jimmy Carter rush to Hugo Chavez's defense.

Yes I was wondering about the Guatemala election. That sounds like very good, and surprising, news to me. The U.S. has a heavy burden of blame for what has happened in Guatemala since the CIA led coup of 1954.

After reading the barometer, the folloeing points can be in mind
1 The changing power equation of the shows that America couldnot hold the mastery of the world like Britian.In britian policy during the prime days of world dominiation there was power of morality.That is not in American policy being a super power.
2 the new block formation is in cource due to American invasion of Iraq.This step of America frightened both friends and allies.The saudian-russian relation,pakistan russia relation,Iran china relation,Britian cold attitide towards washington.
3 israel -india relation,india usa relation ,india Austarlia relation indian japan relation all depends upon how is the relation between india and usa .as all other relation based on secondary level .
4 Indian would not join the Usa block as the people of india much indebted towards russia.the living memory of people about the indo-russian relation and usa support to pakistan is main hindrance.only NRI indian wants a good relation and only for the international support and a permannat seat in UNo.India cannot side the hegemonic power of Russian and china in Asia and will never come in support of Usa as usa got in europe during world war1 and wrold war 2.
5 The middle east crisis and recent congress approval of geonocide of Armenian aking diifcult situation for America.Saudia is worrying about $8oo billion investment not American friendship as the case of iraq forced the saudian to have nuclear strategic friendship with pakistan.Israel is alone and cannot be a vital economic prosperit for usa.or israel is a liability of deficit to American economy.the case of iran is different as both usa worked out the anti taliban instant in afghanistan,iraq but once iraq went in hand of Iran,usa is no more required by Iran.egypt already fed up with israel attitude towards palestine and usa style of working with israel.so here the usa policy of use and through created problem.
6 There is thinking in Moscow that why Russia cannot be next washington in world politics after Ussr?this bringing russian to have friendship with china,improved relation with saudia,iran and have a relation with india.once it will have a good relation with japan,the whole of Asia will be in hand of russia.
More left to right.but one in nutcell is that Usa under bush destroyed all those friendly power who made America a great player in Asian example iraq,pakistan and Afghanistan.

What a freaking waste of money and resources this stupid missile shield is. It's practically an open admission by Bush that he won't put any effort into diplomacy. The whole idea has been and always will be based on marching orders from large military contractors given to U.S. politicians. Guess we know for sure who they're listening to first and foremost. I hope Dems will change this unhealthy arrangement and stop this preparation for war that is occurring all around us.

This power barometer doesn't seem to pass the sniff test. What is power in the era of nuclear weapons and suicide bombers and how on earth are you going to measure it? And isn't there a more germane question about the ability of nations/institutions to maintain global stability and promote justice instead of countries meeting their policy goals (How can you even know what the policy goals are for countries with no transparency)? Power for power's sake (ie my euphism for policy goals in the absence of global transparency)is pointless because those who seek only power will ultimately be internally incohesive and either implode or collapse because of outside pressure. Why is the Washington Post glorifying such a profane venture by checking the "week by week" punches? That just seems like a game meant for neo-conservatives and 19th Century classical international theorists.

Bin Laden tapes only come out when the White House needs to put Americans in fear or to use the troops to get money for White House pet projects. The last fake tape was to funny as Bin Laden looked like different man dressed to look like Osama with a fake beard. Don't worry Bush has many more fake tapes he'll use before his term is up.

Putin knows Bush is a liar and stupid. Cheney is busy with the business deals for Halliburton. Any world leader that joins Bush/Cheney fail.

I look forward to the Middle East countries joining together and kicking the US out. I hope the new President can make peace with all the countries Bush has lied too. We have lost so much respect as the President has caused so much chaos and has tortured innocent people it's so sad. The GOP Law Makers act like KKK members while using God's name but doing Satan's work.

I've just read it attentively. Very good, to the point analyses. I agree with most of it. All in all, everything was crystal clear to me and what I read made sense to me, thus, it is a piece for later reference.

I didnt like the word "usurping", and there were some other adjectives that I found a little misplaced or somehow exaggerated (I would need to get back to the long text to find where they are located and explain in context why I disagree with them sometimes). Does that matter? To me yes. The use of the word is very important as they have an immediate and direct impact on the listener/reader. It is subtle one, psychological, but undeniable.

It is the first time I read this Global Parameter and the trends it detected. It is clear...strange is that there are a group of such "Thought Leaders" and though they have devised things so clearly, and though they are leaders, it looks like they have little, or no power to influence the trends.

Anyway, I am not here to criticise. Just would like to add two points that these trends did not detect or talk about: the environment (not exactly the energy supplies (one of the points above) but the economic, social and political impact of climate change, and most of all, the water issue! Perhaps what is written here is just about mid-trend...and perhaps water availability is a long-term one...but is one, no doubt, the most pressing. Just remember one thing: we can do without oil, without allies, without wars, without this and that, but we cannot do without water! Food security and natural disasters will just follow.

I am not good at my writing kills in English..(English is not my first language anyway) For taht matter, I am rather fan of Eduardo de Bono style! He knows, but doesn't show off by writing things that no one can read,, relate to or understand, just to raise his profile...he doesn't need it!

Hopefully, the analyses I just read are in good, clear-cut English. On complex issues, but still in a way that anyone can understand and make sense of what he or she is reading.

All the world's energy sources belong to the USA.
She needs them more than any other nation on the planet. The USA counts for 5% of the world's population but she needs 25% of the planet's energy sources. This means that 95% of the planet's population has access to 75% of the energy sources left. The USA is living beyond her means and she shows disregards for the needs of others.
The ratio mentioned is way out of bounds and America
should change her life style. If America wants more oil, she invades you-Irak!

Ok this sort of bums me out. I wanted to comment on the actual Barometer, not it's contents.

I'd like to see different chart forms than what's being done now. I'd also like to see charting and factoring of some of the subjects too. It would be interesting to see how some of that looked on issues with well established ideas.

Dear Friends:

So Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, Idaho,
Utah, Indiana, West Virginia. How many of you have hero's in and or from the military?
Oh and let's vote for some unkown like Thompson.
Or let's look at the portion of our dollar we were able to keep at the beginning of the Bill Clinton era, at the beginning of the Bush.
Now let's look at how much of that dollar went to wet the chops of China, Mexico, Viet Nam, Korea, Tiawan, Japan.

At the beginning of this now look at New York, how many have left. Where are they? Oh the twin towers gone, part of the white house rebuilt.
Our farms lost, American auto down, Mortgages down. Hil a ry ( beans) what happened in New York? OH Terror. Floods, Jobs, what did you get for them. China power!!!! Our economy over there.

Hurricanes, how many in each administration in the USA alone? How many tornadoes?

Now that same dollar look at the portion gone to China because the present Democratic congress did not put limits on the imports to the USA. How much in the Clinton went to China? Remember his dinner and meetings for trade!!! Yes he traded you and your futures into their palms. Nafta another group. But what was increased for exice tax on foreign trade. Were our taxes increased during these times to the present?

Sales, weather or whether you are looking on the other persons sales vs and or ours and the purchase side. What is purchased in the USA from foreign trade and or the products to make are sales. The more that goes to another country the less amount that is paid into our national income sales tax or federal taxes, and state. This is lowered by the dollars and or sales that go to a foreign market.

The more that goes over there the less here.
The more likely you will be on the street, you things lost from storage and begging.
The more likely the increase of the foreclosures
and this impacts lenders, whether first, second, combined or what ever. This then impacts income and amount of investors. Which then creates statgnation, recession and then depression and then fold up and go some place someone else will own this nation.

Now the Al Quida wanted this to happen!
We do not need to impact more than they did.
Corporations can be opened up by Wall Mart,
Sams Club and combination of investors here.
They pay taxes on the bottom line. So do the individuals after allowable tax deductions.

Accountants challenge you wisdom from Harvard, Yale, Stanford, ASU, Texas A &M,Illinois State, Washington State, Oregon, and every other state and private. California do I need to ask this in how many languages?

A one percentage federal sales tax or international sales tax, international purchase tax alone would result in how much money into our federal government. The American corporation etc can deduct this from what is charged and pay it for the foreign country. China is communist like many others in South America. Their government get the money honey!!!!!

A central purchase outlet from our government can pass through and collect these as they are charged also. Do you know that goods purchased by foreign are not always charged a fee as you are when you visit islands and countries and brought or shipped here?

Do you know that when parts, fabric, etc are purchased cheap here,(shipping charges) sent to another country ( shipping charges ) for when it is made and sold here, ()shipping charges here comes the vessels into our ports, then they go by truck, additional charges gasoline, ( then they go to distributors ( another shipping and sorting), then to the store, Oh Christmas ship it out again to the person. What is the added cost?

What would it cost caos free? Bought, made and sold in the USA? Oh there are places where people work for less and we can automate????

Now accountants think reserves on those P/L and Balance statements. WE are automated not by hand any more in most cases. Adjustments for the person or Amerian Corporation for our products here so there are not double taxation.

Variety spreads the economics around the world.
Right now too much has gone to China. They cannot breath in Shanghi and their adding more industry.
That is our economic going up in smoke!!!!!
They do not have the same clean air acts and go to the Olympics. Request and take with you workable oxygen tanks. Theirs might be contaminated or blow up.

Our farmland is one of the most valuable in the world, so is our economy. Hilary you failed to provide health care. So did Bill.
Now iron it out Republicans. The dollar bill in the USA is not being kept at home and pennies do we still have those, dimes, quarters, dollars and sense.

Thompson you are a nice guy but I want experience and I want someone who has the know how on operations of our ports, who has what , who has traded what, economic advisers you missed the boat. I have been telling Hillary and a few things for a long time. Like the mortgage industry is in trouble long before it started.

I suggest meals all over the world because this is the basics of human needs. The variety helps ours and all economies and can when eaten in nice and correct amounts make your budget, satisfy hunger, good communication and stimulate the economy, farms who also have to pay the mortgage or rent, the equipment and the corporation and or proprieties. Moore cooking is fun for men, women and children. It invites purchases of linens, pans, dinning ware and you still can go out.

Kriskringle was a German man who went and saved and collected fresh fruit, dried fruit, candy and nuts all types for the poor. He would go out, he had a beard and would put little packages on the door steps, sometimes bread, potatoes and a meal. This merged in with the Christian holiday due to the longest day of the year near this time. Latterns and candles were put in the windows for him to be able to see their home as he delivered these in the snow. He drove a sleigh!

Christmas is a religious holiday of the celebration of the Birth of a Saviour.
Books in the library will help to educate all faiths of this. Krisgringle Day or celebration can occur in all nations and all faiths. They are not the same the celebration and sharing of small gifts to children , big and small.

Share Bread and give today to the poor.

Chimmichangas one of my favorite, rice, beans, bread ( hot garlic), Salad, desert flan or a flavored ice. Margaretas if you are old enough!
Milk. Coffee ( columbian and realistic )
Tea.

Terriyaki and you fill in the trimmings.

Scampi or shrimp florentine, Please the sauce home made not from a jar.

Get the crock pot out if you do not have time and bring the family and guests home for dinner.
Beef Stew all your favorites. Spinach in a bread bowl for snacks. Lots and Lots of all shapes and sizes and color of vegetables. Flowers on the table.

Bring the Children unto the Lord!
Baptise, holy communion, confirmation.
All faiths bring your children unto the Lord!

Amen.

Oppressed are the monks and freedom

Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence,
and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of [b]destruction....[/b]

The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken,
or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Mayanmar authority of dealing with the monks might learn a lesson from the Chinese Tiananmen Square and the American occupation of Iran with Abu Ghraib. If you use such a heavy hand the people of it's region and the world will turn on you and your agenda will suffer greatly.

I wanted to read the article on Israel's midnight raid and can not open it. This page is too difficult to navigate for ordinary people.

Comment on the Blackwater story: This is movie quality. I think the observation pinned the effects well with the most important being the effect this will have on the terrorist recruitment. Just like Abu Ghraib, Guantanemo, the murders of Iraqi citizens, the deaths of civilians in air raids, when even just wars go on too long mistakes are made that turn those wars against the instigator. In this case a disastrous war executed incompetently by ideologues has just gotten worse because no one regulated the mercenaries. It seems like no matter how bad things are, with this crew you can never lose in betting things will get worse.

I completely disagree with John, the previous commenter, John. I think the GPB has it just right. This Administration has been so incredibly incompetent from foreign relations (see Vincente Fox's book coming out October 4) to the economy (see Alan Greenspan's book coming out today or tomorrow) that it has almost relegated the US to a the diplomatic equivalent of a Venezuela (except with much bigger guns). It makes no difference what bad things the other guys do, they're controlling the global agenda in all things other than blowing things up far better than the US. Iran will be the 800 pound gorilla in the Middle East thanks to the US. We are powerless on this. The Iraq war will end up costing at least $1.5-2 trillion by current estimates. War with Iran would cost the US about $3-4 trillion, would destroy our military and likely require a draft. Does anyone who isn't on drugs think the US can afford this at least without a massive tax increase. I'm a center right person, not a neocon, and I have no interest at a time when my house just fell in value having to pay a huge tax increase for this Administration's incompetence. Yes, John, the GPB is right on target in comparing the US to Iran or China, except that they're doing a lot better than we are of moving the international political agenda.

What planet is this Denver Research Group living on? Comparing the US to China and Iran - and unfavorably? US influence in the world has suffered because of Abu Garhaib? Um, Iran still executes people in public...hangs them from a crane, on the bed of a truck. Its own people.

How many Chinese citizens are rotting in prison at this very moment-for crimes of conscience? And I suspect that the prisoners in Guantanamo are the best-treated prisoners in Cuba.

This Denver Research Group only analyzes what it wants to analyze - and poorly at that. Cows.

"It's a pity that the article has such an error. Its error leads me to be skeptical of how informed its conclusions are."

Actually it's a punctuation error, not a grammatical error. It's a pity you made that mistake because now I am skeptical of how informed you are... :(

The average of crap is.........crap.

Dottijo, with Bush's approval ratings in the 20's your opinions are clearly not shared by most Americans. US has already spent nearly $1 TRILLION on the Iraq fiasco (biggest military blunder in US history). With the national debt approaching $10 TRILLION, I don't think taxpayers can afford to follow the Bush/neocon policies any longer.

It simply amazes me that all of the critics of George Bush have nothing to say about the "Party of the un-insightful". They can do no wrong. I was a Dem. all of my life. So was Dr. Bennett (Drug Zar under Clinton), Laura Ingram,(Speech Writer for Clinton) and a host of other officials that I won't name. We have left the Democratic party. Why? We are realist. If you don't feel safer than you did before 911, you need to live in the middle East.
American has never been popular with the rest of the world, because the people in the rest of the world don't have freedom.That is why they are breaking into our nation in record numbers. Nothing wrong with that either, huh?
Whether Craig is guilty or not, don't know. How about the Dem who killed someone's child at Chapquedick? Oh yea, that was an accident. He had a wife at the time.
If you think that you will negotiate with terrorist, and that bunch of bandits in the desert, you are out of your tree. Let's bring the boys on home. Then they, along with you and I, can die on American soil.
By the way, please continue to Bash the President. The only people who are listening to you, is you. It only serves to make us love him more. If you think by repeating hatred for him over and over again, you will cause us to change our minds about who should be running this nation, you have indeed lost yours.

The Ascendant Tiger: China's journey to the Top

There is a grammatical error in the sentence:

'Global Thought believes its [sic]conceivable that China could end up the winner in Iraq also.'

The word -its- is possessive.

The word -it's- is the correct form of the contraction for 'it is'.

It's a pity that the article has such an error. Its error leads me to be skeptical of how informed its conclusions are.

The USA has dominated world politics fofr as long as I can remember. Often it does good but frequently it behaves abominably. Its invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan have had devastating effects. If Vietnam is a history lesson, then I expect the USA to walk away from the misery that it has caused.

The USA has acted as though its interests should prevail above all else notwithstanding the secret and manipulative way it has been exercised in South and Central America. It has worked covertly to overthrow governments and it has done this in the name of 'Goodness'. What baloney.

The USA might one day realise that it does not have to impose its will on others and that making a buck out of other economies at all costs is not such a desireable end.

I suggest that the USa should start seeing'self-interest' in a new light. It should see respect and decency and honesty as being in its interests.

The suggestion that there is a power vacuum or that US power is being usurped is nonsense. American influence is being displaced by rising stars. The USA will have to come to terms with a world that will insist that the USA accept that other nations have a right to express their position on the world stage without being smothered by the USA.

Hopefully, the USA will learn lessons from Vietnam and Iraq. One of them is that when it invades other nations it will be opposed violentlyand that its 'super' weapons are only good for fighting WWII all over again. However, the world has learned to beat the US by being innovative.

The USA is a dangerous nation. It makes war. It is not all wise and it is often indecent.

It's time for the USA to finally grow up and stop being am imperialist nation that seeks to impose its dominion over other nations.

The Monroe doctrine has been a corner stone of US foreign policy for centuries. However, recently, Bush thought that it was a good idea to put missiles along the Russian border. If that is not provocative then what is? Any child could have told the USA what would happen and that is that Russia would take counter-measures and that US actions would rekindle the arms race. The USa has nobody but itself to blame for its inflammatory position. The world has realised that the USA is dangerous and that it has to proteect itself against s future Administration that is even more reckless and irrational that that of President Bush.

You say that Iran is a terrorist nation well I suggest that you consider that the USa started an illegal war on grounds that anyone with a brain could see was based on cavalier and challengeable grounds. The USA went into Iraq with bombs and planes. This war has killed hundreds of thousands. What good will come from it? Millions are refugees in Jordan and Syria. It has propped up Israel while Palestinians have had their legitimate expectations of a decent life shattered decade after decade. Given all of that the USa calls Iran a terrorist nation.

Well, at the moment, I think that the USA is the world's most dangerous and indecent nation and that it created conditions that have encouraged terrorism. I am convinced that the USA can be a force for good and decency in the world but to get there it must travel a long way and it must come to terms with what it is. At the moment, I do not think that the USa is capable of intelligent self-assessment.

The USA has dominated world politics fofr as long as I can remember. Often it does good but frequently it behaves abominably. Its invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan have had devastating effects. If Vietnam is a history lesson, then I expect the USA to walk away from the misery that it has caused.

The USA has acted as though its interests should prevail above all else notwithstanding the secret and manipulative way it has been exercised in South and Central America. It has worked covertly to overthrow governments and it has done this in the name of 'Goodness'. What baloney.

The USA might one day realise that it does not have to impose its will on others and that making a buck out of other economies at all costs is not such a desireable end.

I suggest that the USa should start seeing'self-interest' in a new light. It should see respect and decency and honesty as being in its interests.

The suggestion that there is a power vacuum or that US power is being usurped is nonsense. American influence is being displaced by rising stars. The USA will have to come to terms with a world that will insist that the USA accept that other nations have a right to express their position on the world stage without being smothered by the USA.

Hopefully, the USA will learn lessons from Vietnam and Iraq. One of them is that when it invades other nations it will be opposed violentlyand that its 'super' weapons are only good for fighting WWII all over again. However, the world has learned to beat the US by being innovative.

The USA is a dangerous nation. It makes war. It is not all wise and it is often indecent.

It's time for the USA to finally grow up and stop being am imperialist nation that seeks to impose its dominion over other nations.

The Monroe doctrine has been a corner stone of US foreign policy for centuries. However, recently, Bush thought that it was a good idea to put missiles along the Russian border. If that is not provocative then what is? Any child could have told the USA what would happen and that is that Russia would take counter-measures and that US actions would rekindle the arms race. The USa has nobody but itself to blame for its inflammatory position. The world has realised that the USA is dangerous and that it has to proteect itself against s future Administration that is even more reckless and irrational that that of President Bush.

You say that Iran is a terrorist nation well I suggest that you consider that the USa started an illegal war on grounds that anyone with a brain could see was based on cavalier and challengeable grounds. The USA went into Iraq with bombs and planes. This war has killed hundreds of thousands. What good will come from it? Millions are refugees in Jordan and Syria. It has propped up Israel while Palestinians have had their legitimate expectations of a decent life shattered decade after decade. Given all of that the USa calls Iran a terrorist nation.

Well, at the moment, I think that the USA is the world's most dangerous and indecent nation and that it created conditions that have encouraged terrorism. I am convinced that the USA can be a force for good and decency in the world but to get there it must travel a long way and it must come to terms with what it is. At the moment, I do not think that the USa is capable of intelligent self-assessment.

Well.....what can I tell ya? That I told you so? The Republican Senators are Cowards of the first rank - trying to protect a vile and failed White House to save their own butts next year at the cost of America's unrivaled power and moral authority.

"Damn them!"

Well.....what can I tell ya? That I told you so? The Republican Senators are Cowards of the first rank - trying to protect a vile and failed White House to save their own butts next year as the cost of America's unrivaled power and moral authority.

“China is usurping power from its neighbors, the US and Europe.”

In the world history, China has never had the intention of usurping any nations. Yes, Japan tried during the 2nd World War but failed.

This kind of statement would only come from writers who are ignorant and have no diplomatic skill in writing.

The main reason why Christopher Hill is successfully in dealing with North Korea on the closing of the nuke facilities is because of his smooth and non-intimidating diplomatic skill. Words like “usurp” and “evil” would never be used with Asian countries like North Korea and certainly not with China. Washington Post publishes such words would only undermine the diplomatic efforts of US ambassadors to other countries. By the way, China making friends with other countries is not a crime; it is an economic necessity for China. Besides, whereas can China go since America has already established a strong network with different countries for its oil supply. China can only go to places that America does not have an influence or control like Sudan.

I just read "Detecting Emerging Issues." Don't you guys have a copy editor, or is the world moving too fast for that?

The U.S. has not enjoyed much "moral authority" in Latin America since the XIX century, with its history of invading countries and supporting dictatorships whenever it suits American interests. Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, etc.

Further South, American mining and oil companies have had many governments in their pockets to help quell uprisings and suppress worker movements, throughout the XX century. The Pinochet coup was done with the acquiescence and support of the Nixon Administration. During the Falklands war, as bogus as the invasion might have been, the U.S. aligned itself with British colonialism, oblivious of the Monroe Doctrine. And the current border policy isn't conducive to the best relations with Mexico.

So, on September 11, 2001, many people in Latin American publicly or secretly cheered the attack on the heart of the American Empire-- famously, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo came out to celebrate in Buenos Aires.

Even if there are good relations between governments, the U.S. have never won the "hearts and minds" of the people of Latin America-- perhaps only those of the middle and upper classes, but they are a minority. Therefore, when a populist movement gains power, the first thing it does it to dissociate itself from "North American Imperialism".

Here's a number of things the U.S. could do that I think would improve relations with Latin America:

1) Foreign debt forgiveness. The IMF and World Bank are the ogres of Latin American politics-- and the power of the U.S.A. is behind them. Those who suffer --the poor, the hungry-- are easy prey for Anti-american & communistic promises of utopian worlds.

2) Open labor markets together with goods and services in the free trade agreements being signed around the region. The current immigration policies are obsolete, a failure, and oblivious to the long term economic success in the global arena. Isolationists believe in a pipe dream.

3) Leave Cuba alone. Cuba poses no threat whatsoever to the U.S.A., and by surviving as it has, it becomes the mythical hero of Anti-Americanism. They should have been left to fail by their own devices.

4) Support the spread of true democracy and human rights in the region, rather than doing business with fascist genocidal governments. Keep your fingers crossed for Guatemala, folks.

5) Support the spread of civil rights and racial equality in Latin America. Most if not all countries still practice racism and discrimination against people of color (who are often the majority in population but a minority in terms of power and economics), and while the U.S. is no utopia, it is far more advanced than its neighbors in this regard. Currently, people of color in Latin America looking for racial equality have Communism as their only available option.

6) Add the compulsory teaching of Spanish to the elementary school curriculum. Better understanding means less xenophobia and better relations between countries. The ideal future for our continent is one of freedom and democracy, mutual respect, and fluid borders. The alternative is to let Brazil to become the leader of a more united American continent.

7) And in way of a summary-- if the U.S. applied to its foreign policy the same principles it strives to uphold internally, it would certainly enjoy the moral high ground and the love of the people in Latin America which unfortunately doesn't enjoy today.

"China is building a sphere of influence that extends from Asia and Africa to South America. From the way it negotiates natural resource contracts to its new foreign aid strategies to its new military alliances, China is usurping power from its neighbors, the US and Europe."

I resent all quibbling over words. Nonetheless, it does matter which words one chooses to use. In this case, it is debateable whether the use of the verb "USURP" is at all appropriate.

u·surp (yū-sûrp', -zûrp') pronunciation

v., -surped, -surp·ing, -surps.

v.tr.

1. To seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force or without legal authority. See synonyms at appropriate.
2. To take over or occupy without right: usurp a neighbor's land.
3. To take the place of (another) without legal authority; supplant.

v.intr.

To seize another's place, authority, or possession wrongfully.

Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/usurp

The suggestion that China building a sphere of influence amounts to China taking possession of what rightfully belongs to others is, from a world perspective, and to say the least, questionable. It is this sort of statement, smelling of imperial entitlement, that makes one question the validity of some American political "analyses", even when presented under the patronage of the Washington Post.

The emergence of other nations shows the growth of the global economy has made 'wealth' more powerful than superpower military. Look at Germany's concerns about Iran.....

However, when the moment comes, the military power of the one super power will be used to protect those some from the ones with economic power that try to force their power unto others.

Why the growth of the global economy? OUTSOURCING and demand for energy and other natural resources.

America's wealth is being drained away with the jobs going overseas: service and manufacturing.

Prices are cheaper in America because of oursourcing but that wealth is fueling China and India just as it did Japan and Taiwan when America began buying from those two many years ago.

What is 'American Influence'? We always seem to put some simplistic title or face upon a nation, but how much 'influence' do 300 million persons even care about?

When you say the 'media recognizes America's steep decline' does that even mean America is declining? Does the average American even care about an 'American-Centric' world? The only thing Americans, or a people of any nation care about, is the freedom and security to live their lives as they choose.

This time of year especially, most Americans only care about their Fantasy League running back's injury status, or if Michigan will win a football game this season, along with their child doing their homework.

i'm wonder how russia rise

i'm wonder how russia rise

Gee, that sounds like what many of us have been screaming for years.

But instead of doing anything effective about it, our 90% of our foerign policy seems to consist of shooting our own foot in Iraq. And 75% of media coverage on foreign policy consists of how the profusely bleeding hole may someday heal, if we just stand still long enough.

This is a very good column that accurately represents the way we are viewed abroad, like it or not.

Re: The head of the IAEA, Mohamed El Baradei, estimates that about 40 countries could develop nuclear weapons

Whatever little credibility there was in the article was diminished by the quote above.

El Baradei is El Puppet.

An incredibly "unethical" individual who only sees some trees within the forest he supervises.

He deliberately ignores the rest!

America does not have the MORAL authority in the world because it has used manufactured evidence to illegally invade and occupy a sovereign country.

This is bad behavior and many countries do not want to reward such bad behavior.

Iraq used to be America’s ally and now it is being taken over by America. Such behavior does not win any friends in the world community and in fact, many countries are weary of America. In short, America has lost its integrity and credibility among the world community.

George Bush, the U.S. president and his policies are responsible for the decline of prestige, power, and dollar value of America. The president of U.S. has been acting as the King of KSA.
The American must think of introducing the RECALL system to restore the confidence of people in the governance. The people should have the opportunity to recall the president who lost the support of people in almost all aspects.

There is a “SHIFT OF WEALTH” phenomenon going on over the past 10 years. USA is bleeding financially with high cost of Iraq war and ever increasing trade deficit. China and Russia are growing economically stronger than India, although these 3 countries experience substantial growth during the last decade.

Wealth is shifting from USA and Europe to China, Russia and India. These countries do not have to spend too much money on fighting terrorism. China and Russia have controlled their own people so well that a terrorist cell would find it hard to survive on its own.

China will continue to grow faster than any country as long as it does not interfere with other countries. America is bleeding because it has a history of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, this is bad karma on the part of America and America is mainly responsible for the so-called “BLOWBACK” activities in America.

This “SHIFT OF WEALTH” phenomenon may be God’ doing to punish America for causing grief to many people around the world.

Best indicator for the decline of America's standing in the world is the total absence and lack of interest in Bush-Rice- etc. as actor, guest speaker, mediator etc. on the world stage. America has fallen back into isolation respectively has become isolated due to Irak, unilateral actions, Abu Graid, Freedom frites, you named it, and possibly its blind siding of Israel! Americans are looked at as the bad guys not only in the Islamic world.

America is still a super power but its Bush/neocon-direction will exclude it from globalization and peaceful living together, missing that Europe and Asia are becoming economic super power too, may be even soon surpassing America (Euros instead if green bucks).

Risking to be decried as "antisemit", but there is also ground in the excessive influence of the "Israel lobby" onto US policy and society.

Heard that Roosevelt supported creating the state of Israel because he mis-assumed that all jews immigrated to US fleeing from Hitler will finally move on to Israel....

With US taxpayers spending upwards of $1 trillion on the Iraq fiasco and the national debt reaching $10 trillion, I don't know how the Bush/neocon cabal can continue with this disastrous policy. Disaster for the US and the World. Is the American middle class going to sink further down the hole created by the global economy?

Just one observation: I can't believe you think Israel is one of the most important Global Powers. Except for their domination of U.S. Foreign Policy, and of course their nuclear arsenal (with worldwide delivery systems), they are a regional player at best.

More important than Japan, Britain, etc? Now really.

Unlike the British, who worked hard at maintaining their empire and understanding their subjects, the U.S. has not really put much effort into figuring out what makes people in other cultures "tick". Since military power alone cannot carry the day, the U.S. once again finds itself befuddled in a strange land. I predict that the future destiny of the U.S. lies in withdrawing to the smaller reality of the Western Hemisphere. Out of necessity, Americans will increasingly need to understand and relate to our neighbors to the south of us. In a larger economic sense, everything the U.S. needs is here-energy supplies, labor, markets and natural resources. Let us settle down into our destined place in the world, right here in the Americas. America, come home! You're not as clever as you need to be to run a world empire, but you still have a big heart, and your old sweetheart from the days of the Monroe Doctrine is waiting for you.

AlterNet beat you to the punch on this with an extensive, well researched article on the decline of US influence. The article was far more detailed and analytic. Either you don't have much fact to back you up, or you think Americans are so stupid, you shunt this major issue to a backwater column.

To "BE HONEST"

Your defense of what Ahmadinejad said about Israel is completely a lie. The Iranian website posted a translation that belies your effort to twist the translation away from Ahmadinejad's true intent. So did al Jazeera. Would you have us believe that those outlets are engaged in a campaign of sabotage against Ahmadinejad? The New York Times -- hardly an apologist for the Bush administration or otherwise a stooge for Israel -- did an investigative piece on this subject and found your intrepretation to be without merit. You can align yourselves with terrorists and terrorist enablers, but the rest of us can think clearly and see where the truth lies.

The U.S. has lost the "moral high ground" to Iran? I don't care about a world that believes that. That is a world without a clue as to what "moral" means.

I don't think it takes a mental genius to point out this salient fact:

It is important to remember that the insurgence of other powers onto the world stage is due in large measure to the processes known collectively as "Globalization." The cause of the decline of US authority which provide opportunities to other nations to fill the void is due in great part to the Isolationism of the Bush Administration. You can not manage a global world with isolationist policies.

I'm not astonished that the global media in general hates the U.S. just as much as the NY Times, Washington Post, St. Pete Times....

You all really need to proofread before posting on Washingtonpost.com. You almost lose credibility by submitting something so full of errors to the general public. Thanks.

Huh - a bunch of books come out from various sources depicting Iran's sleazy dealings and the possible ramp up to a war with the U.S. - and Iran's "power" ranking goes up while the U.S.'s goes down? Whose side are you on here?

It has taken 7 years, bruised foreign relations, a nuclearized North Korea, and many more starved to death North Koreans to most people to realize that the John Bolton/Dick Cheney take on diplomacy was harmful and idiotic.

To Cantankerous Jasper:

Excellent comment and question. Two points. First, the issue of China's pollution very much figures into the GPB calculation. Indeed, China, which a year ago was at the top of the GPB players in terms of effectively exercising its power has fallen in recent months behind Russia, Iran and Islamists. The cause: 1) Growing global attention particularly under the light of the Olympics to China's failures in protecting the environment; and, 2) the product quality scandals. Neither of these are near over yet and, while China is taking action, most analysts question how effective that action can be in the short term so the view right now is that China will fall further, cushioned primarily by its economy and effective (though not necessarily moral) foreign policy.

We urge you to consider commenting on the "Observation" page accessible by clicking on "more" or on the Title of the Observation in the Observations window above. There's a great set of comments (they change daily during the week) going and your views would be a great addition.

I'm stumped by the drivers of the Global Power Balance.

In this week's WaPo and the current quarter of Foreign Affairs were articles about the catastrophic pollution affecting China. The damage done to the environment in China, according to a Chinese agency, may nullify the effects of annual economic growth.

Particulate pollution from China is responsible for a statistically significant amount of particulate pollution as far away as Los Angeles. In East Asia, Chinese pollution is larger, more far-reaching. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese die each year due to causes directly attributable to pollution, and social violence is increasing because of it.

Russia's population is nearly 1 million people smaller each New Year's Day than the year before, with no end in sight. The Economist magazine has called Russia's declining population a social catastrophe unfolding before our eyes.

How are problems like these reflected in the Global Power Balance? If they aren't, then the GPB isn't worth our attention.

This is an awesome resource for a news hound. Chart is good if you learn how to read and then look at the long term ("4-week") view. But the lists of articles are among the best of any site and the comments to the very interesting observations have gotten to be educated, cutting and pretty balanced with both left and right participating in the discussion. I start with this and then read other sites.

*Evidence to the effect that America's foreign policy and media outlets are open to the world's highest bidder will have a disasterous ripple affect throughout and within world opinion of the US government and hope for freedom and justice.

The lobbyist system within the USA has gone too far.

Post column title:
Lobbyists Hired to Press Maliki, Former Premier Says

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601261.html

it quite amazes me to see how far u.s. policy in central asia has fallen. the wheels have come off the wagon so to say. the iranians have taken full advantage of a u.s. president who continues to believe that he verbally bash his way around the iranians. he has lost all of the momentum he once had in afghanistan, and as the iranians continue to make inroads there undercutting u.s. and nato efforts he is also forcing iraqs southern shiites to run for cover to the iranians. the iran-iraq war proved that the iraqi shiites weren't necessarily all that hot on the idea of strenthening ties with teheran. but somehow bush has accomplished what even the ayatollah could not. i continue to observe with a never ceasing level of incredulity at bush's faux pas'. what is he thinking?

On Kosovo...correct Russia is clearly against independence and blocking it happening...but it is wrong to constantly present this as it is only Russia...Sarkozy is not warm to the idea either and has stated it will divide Europe...and by the way ...it will do just that...

Wouldn't it make sense to withdraw from Iraq and allow Iran and Iraq to support each other in an effort towards peace.

The current path is going to result in nothing good.

Quite, literally, everything Bush touches turns to sh!t.

Am I wrong?

* See US Military General's comments in HBO Documentary 'Ghosts of Abu Ghraib'.

In addition to my other comment:

- The United States and our allies go into Iraq like a Bull in a China Shop with exploding Bunker Busters.

- Imprison and to a great degree brutally torture thousands whilst more than *80% of the detainees are completely innocent.

- The Iraq Parliament declares the US forces as 'Nothing less than Butchers' this past year.

- Yet, we are suprised that the new Iraqi government is reaching out to ally themselves with someone to help the American forces out or Iraq.

- I'm not even going to touch the history between the USA - Iran - and Iraq... I do have a life beyond all this nonsense

ps. I'd wish you clowns analyze this faster and show the responses, I'd like to see what other people think of it.

In addition to my other comment:

- The United States and our allies go into Iraq like a Bull in a China Shop with exploding Bunker Busters.

- Imprison and to a great degree brutally torture thousands whilst more than *80% of the detainees are completely innocent.

- The Iraq Parliament declares the US forces as 'Nothing less than Butchers' this past year.

- Yet, we are suprised that the new Iraqi government is reaching out to ally themselves with someone to help the American forces out or Iraq.

- I'm not even going to touch the history between the USA - Iran - and Iraq... I do have a life beyond all this nonsense

ps. I'd wish you clowns analyze this faster and show the responses, I'd like to see what other people think of it.

Does anyone find it utterly insane that George Bush is completely freaking out about Iraq and Iran having talks.

It's becoming increasingly obvious that the USA is determined to have nothing less than chaos and ongoing distruction in the middle-east or he will be less than pleased with the way things are going!!!

~ Timmaaay!!!

Every bit of this is due to our outsourcing jobs, to the "global economy". If we pulled out of NAFTA and ceased exporting our jobs to CHina and India and ceased allowing corporations to bring theuir workers in to replace our workers, the mortgage mess would take care of itself. If you permit investors and corporations to shed our good jobs, then this is the result. Unfortunately, our politcian's, bottom feeders like Hillary CLinton who is actually invested in outsourcing companies and is so cozy with India that she is called the "Senator From India" in India, will likely continue to make the matter worse until our economy completely collapses....and, then, no doubt, express utter surprise and blather something about market conditions. This mess is HER fault and the fault of corporate/globalization traitors like Romney, Bush, Kennedy, McCain, Richardson, Dodd, Biden, and Guliani. The only people who seem to "get it" are the genuine populists like Paul, Edwards, and Kucinich. Obama, even, looks like he is starting to uderstand, but the rest of them are clueless fools or outright crooks.

TO SETH AND OTHERS FYI

The Actual Quote:
So what did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in Farsi:
"Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad."
That passage will mean nothing to most people, but one word might ring a bell: rezhim-e. It is the word "regime." pronounced just like the English word with an extra "eh" sound at the end. Ahmadinejad did not refer to Israel the country or Israel the land mass, but the Israeli regime. This is a vastly significant distinction, as one cannot wipe a regime off the map. Ahmadinejad does not even refer to Israel by name, he instead uses the specific phrase "rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods" (regime occupying Jerusalem).

So this raises the question.. what exactly did he want "wiped from the map"? The answer is: nothing. That's because the word "map" was never used. The Persian word for map, "nagsheh" is not contained anywhere in his original Farsi quote, or, for that matter, anywhere in his entire speech. Nor was the western phrase "wipe out" ever said. Yet we are led to believe that Iran's president threatened to "wipe Israel off the map." despite never having uttered the words "map." "wipe out" or even "Israel."

The Proof:
The full quote translated directly to English:

"The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time."

Word by word translation:
Imam (Khomeini) ghoft (said) een (this) rezhim-e (regime) ishghalgar-e (occupying) qods (Jerusalem) bayad (must) az safheh-ye ruzgar (from page of time) mahv shavad (vanish from).

The Speech and Context:
While the false "wiped off the map" extract has been repeated infinitely without verification, Ahmadinejad's actual speech itself has been almost entirely ignored. Given the importance placed on the "map" comment, it would be sensible to present his words in their full context to get a fuller understanding of his position. In fact, by looking at the entire speech, there is a clear, logical trajectory leading up to his call for a "world without Zionism." One may disagree with his reasoning, but critical appraisals are infeasible without first knowing what that reasoning is.

In his speech, Ahmadinejad declares that Zionism is the West's apparatus of political oppression against Muslims. He says the "Zionist regime" was imposed on the Islamic world as a strategic bridgehead to ensure domination of the region and its assets. Palestine, he insists, is the frontline of the Islamic world's struggle with American hegemony, and its fate will have repercussions for the entire Middle East.

Ahmadinejad acknowledges that the removal of America's powerful grip on the region via the Zionists may seem unimaginable to some, but reminds the audience that, as Khomeini predicted, other seemingly invincible empires have disappeared and now only exist in history books. He then proceeds to list three such regimes that have collapsed, crumbled or vanished, all within the last 30 years:

(1) The Shah of Iran – the U.S. installed monarch

(2) The Soviet Union

(3) Iran's former arch-enemy, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein

In the first and third examples, Ahmadinejad prefaces their mention with Khomeini's own words foretelling that individual regime's demise. He concludes by referring to Khomeini's unfulfilled wish: "The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time. This statement is very wise." This is the passage that has been isolated, twisted and distorted so famously. By measure of comparison, Ahmadinejad would seem to be calling for regime change, not war.

The full transcript of the speech in Farsi is archived on Ahmadinejad's web site

The Reaction:

The mistranslated "wiped off the map" quote attributed to Iran's president has been spread worldwide, repeated thousands of times in international media, and prompted the denouncements of numerous world leaders. Virtually every major and minor media outlet has published or broadcast this false statement to the masses. Big news agencies such as The Associated Press and Reuters refer to the misquote, literally, on an almost daily basis.

Iran's president has written two rather philosophical letters to America. In his first letter, he pointed out that "History shows us that oppressive and cruel governments do not survive." With this statement, Ahmadinejad has also projected the outcome of his own backwards regime, which will likewise "vanish from the page of time."

These graphics are ridiculous. Do we really need a set of drivers indicating how the media constantly reports only bad things about America, while giving a free pass to repressive nations like China and Iran? As far as I can tell, this graphic is just intended to punish the US for being punished by the media in the first place.

Where are the articles about the huge amounts of monetary and food aid the US provides to the world, vastly dwarfing even the next 10 countries combined?

Where are the articles about how hundreds of thousands of people from the other countries indicated vote with their feet by immigrating to the US every year?

Where are the articles about the US's amazing and ongoing technological and medical advances while China is spewing poisoned foodstuffs around the globe and polluting vast tracts of its own country with waste that makes the Love Canal look like Venice?

Where is the truth? And why does the US media delight in hiding it?

Dear Sir / Madam

I am 46 years old, Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan (muslim). I was an immigration consultant in Canada and also member of Canadian Bar Association as part of my business , I had an office in New York.
During 2001 immediately after the Sept 11, event the US govt arrested me on Oct 25, 2001 on anonymous call, as a material witness for the 9/11 world trade centre terrorist attack. A detail investigation by the FBI and USA Naval intelligence dept was conducted and I was cleared, but even then govt put me in front of Grand jury , and I was cleared and the case was dismissed by the Grand jury of the US Federal Court .
Approximately after 2 weeks , before I was released from custody the US Govt imposed a new charges of Fraud and money laundering , under the advice of my attorney , I pleaded guilty and I was sentenced to prison for five years (which was four years more, what I pleaded). In which I had already spent 3 years in Detention jail, during the case , I had about 14 months left to finishing my sentence ,(instead of appealing, I preferred to applied for Treaty Transfer to Canada, because if the case is in the appeal, defendant is not eligible for transfer back to his home country).
While at prison, I learned from the case manager Miss Hause, that my citizen was incorrect in the FBOP’s (Federal Bureau of Prison) computer system as Pakistani instead of Canadian.
Its important to note , that all of my Canadian identifications (passport , citizenship card , S.I.N , Health card , Driving license etc) were under FBI’s possession, with a great deal of concern, I wrote a letter to the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, N.Y to notify such mistake and requested them to fix this problem. This is especially important for Treaty Transfer back to Canada.
The Canadian Consulate official sent a letter to the jail to correct my citizenship status, however FBOP ignored the request and the citizenship status in the FBOP computer still reflect Pakistani instead of Canadian (Note:- I would be required to obtain visa to visit Pakistan) .In contrast , the deportation letter received from US Immigration dept, Contained the correct citizenship status of Canada.
At the hindsight, I believe that the FBOP intentionally left the citizenship as Pakistani, so that they could retained me at their facility, while the govt is planning to file new charges against me 3rd time.
Approximately six weeks before my released date on Jan 30 ,2006 I was notified by the FBOP that I was being transferred from Allenwood , PA to MDC (Metropolitan Detention Centre) in Brooklyn N.Y, it was explained to me, that the purpose of this transfer was in preparation for deportation back to Canada, (after few days, I signed the immigration deportation papers, with my consular Miss Chen).
But immediately after my arriving to MDC Brooklyn, I discovered during a phone call with my family in Montreal, that RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) official had contacted my sister and brother-in-law regarding the whereabouts of my wife and my current situation, there was no explanation given by the RCMP official to the purpose of the call and he left his phone number and asked my wife to call him back immediately, my wife called the RCMP official and left messages in his voice mail. Then the official contacted my brother-in-law again and had asked him to tell my wife not to call again, because there is nothing good nor anything bad.
Meanwhile the AUSA ( Astt United States Attorney) office Investigator and FBI brought me to their office to be interrogated without an attorney present, even AUSA told in the court to the judge on March 16, 2006 that he arranged attorney for me before my arrival from Allenwood PA to MDC Brooklyn, N.Y, on Transcript; page 11, Transcript line No: 14 to 23.
AUSA:-
He (Khalid Awan) was writ in the cause of a grand jury investigation. He clearly had criminal exposure. So to protect his interest I made an application to the duty magistrate for counsel to be appointed.
THE COURT:-
Initially he was brought here by a Court to testify before the grand jury?
AUSA:-
That is correct, Your Honour.
THE COURT:-
When he arrived here, you made arrangements for an attorney to be pointed to request him?
AUSA:-
Yes, Your Honour.
This interrogation started with the AUSA office Investigator stating that my family will be arrested in Canada if I refused to answer their questions.
At this point I am certain that my family is in great danger for reasons that I am not aware of. I was scared that my family would be harassed by these people along with the Canadian RCMP official, I strongly believe that the RCMP is doing this intentionally in collaboration with FBI official to further harass me to admit charges, that I never committed.
Without knowledge of the reasons why the Canadian RCMP agency was involved. I was surprised that RCMP official directly approached my family instead of me without proper explanation, and its also shocked for me, that how RCMP got the phone number of my family (because before my arrest, I don’t have any single record in any police dept, of any country).
I was intimated and pushed to the edge during this interrogation, I was determined to provide anything these USA officials wanted to make them happy even is the questions made no sense, because I want them to stop the harassment to my family.
On March 15, 2006 I completed the term of my imprisonment and was to be released from American Custody and deported back to Canada. Before that I was arrested again 3rd time, and charged with providing “material support to a foreign terrorist” and money laundering (to a organization and person, which are not designated by the USA govt and belongs to Sikh religion) , and with whom, I don’t have any single common interest, because we both are from different countries and different religions.
These charges emerged while I was still in prison and without the capability of providing any type of support. It was even difficult for me to get enough financial assistance to pay legal fees. I could not have provided any material support while I was in prison for five years and I could not launder any money because I did not have any.
AUSA filed three counts of indictment against me.
Conspiracy to provide material support.
Provide a material support to the foreign terrorist.
Money laundering to support terrorism.
(Please note, that in my previous case govt charged me for money laundering and fraud from Jan 1999 to 2002 and “its mentioned in the plea-agreement by the AUSA that no further money laundering charges will be brought against defendant from Jan 1999 to April 2002” even then govt indict me for money laundering from 1998 to Nov 2001 (Which is double Jeopardy and violation of 5th Amendment of U.S Constitution.)
In Oct 2006, during pre-trial hearing on the motion’s filed by my attorney the first two counts of my indictment were dismissed by the judge, stating that there is a lack of facts and figures.
After two weeks AUSA re-indicted me again. I believe this is a desperate act of the AUSA to cover up a huge embarrassment . Further this hastily drawn indictment was full of factual errors and creative legal theories.
Since I was first arrested by the American govt, I believe that I have been singled out, isolated `and discriminated against primarily because of my race and religion, in addition to the fact that I don’t know any information that the American govt is trying to pressure out of me.
I do not understand the American laws and this is what led to my pleading guilty in the first case. I have difficulty understanding the new charges also.
I have been charged under, section 2339(a) of Title 18 of the United States code, which makes it illegal to provide material support to a foreign terrorist.
Please understand, I am not a terrorist, I do not know any terrorist and I have had no connections with or to any known or unknown terrorist. I have been incarcerated for last 5 years and I had no money to provide or launder.
The law enforcement have in America is pressuring me to provide information to them that I really do not have or know. I am a Canadian Citizen and nearly all of my family is in Canada, including my wife and kids. I don’t know any information to tell them to help their investigation.
Because of this , I am being treated unfairly and my rights under the American constitution are being violated. I am being held here in further detention against my will for crimes which I could have never committed, because I was in prison.
I believe, that I am a victim of the discrimination that was outlined in the July 3, 2006 issue of Time magazine (Page 29, column 3). In this article section 2339(a) & (b) are discussed and criticized “as most suspects are charged under these two sections. However, the justice dept here in America admits that of the more than 218 guilty pleas that it has obtained, most are for minor investigation issues that are uncovered deeding the course of their terrorism investigation. This suggest, according to the article that the Attorney General’s office have is not concerned about the rights or fairness or the manner in which it achieves convictions for the people they arrest. Furthermore, criticizes have noted that one of the patterns to emerge from these domestic prosecutions is that suspect seen too incompetent to carry out the deeds they are accused of. The Deputy Attorney General acknowledges that the Dept of Justice’s goal is “ preventions through prosecution’s” and this is done with no regard for an individual’s rights.
I agree that these guilty of terrorism should be prosecuted . But as the above mentioned article suggest , innocent people should not be targeted because of their race or religion.
I am not a terrorist and I should not be targeted and treated unfairly and unjustly.
I need your assistance desperately in my case, as I believe that I am being treated unjustly here. I would like to send you my attorney’s contact information and provide you with legal documents related to my case, so that you may become more familiar with my situation.
Please also note, that I appeared in the court , for no guilty of my 2nd superseding indictment on Aug 02, 2006 and on Aug 03, 2006 FBOP officials placed me in the SHU (Segregation Housing Unit) out of these months, I placed in the SHU isolation from Jan 03, 2007 to March 6, 2007 for unknown “Pending Investigation” in these 215 days of my segregation and isolation, I don’t have a single phone call access to my family, no legal calls to my attorney and Canadian Council, my legal mail opened in my absence, no medical treatment for my injured shoulder (even I went for hunger strike for 3 and half day) I harassed by the various jail officials and lot of other problems too which already been submitted in the attention of the FBOP higher authorities, but no action taken on them, after writing the court, instead of receiving the response or any action on my complaints, jail officials removed /moved me from MDC federal facility to Nassau County Jail .
My suffering has gone on for far too long, and I need your help to bring my suffering to an end. I want to return home to my family, because my imprisonment was injustice and will remain a great injustice forever.
May God bless you and be with you in your efforts to champion the cause of human rights, and the suffering of innocent prisoners and restore hope, faith and love to peoples all over the world.

Sincerely,
KHALID AWAN
FBOP NO. 50959-054

The court will be on 12 September 2007.

Who are these people making up these rankings, lists, what country is up, what country is down, ...etc.? Who do they think they are? What authority or credibility they have to make up such rankings in the world?

Most people do not even know these rankings exist and they do not care anything about such rankings. People are smart enough to know that those people who make up the lists and rankings are making those lists and ranking to serve their own political agenda.

This could eventually be Global.

www.heavensmagic.org

Please pass it on to everyone you know.

Sincerely,
Laura Osterman

Ach, I meant, "Echoing Bruce Adams".

Echoing A. Cohn. This is almost exactly like the "Infographic" that the Onion runs. There is one important difference, though -- the Onion staff is consciously aiming for humor. WaPo types apparently don't have sufficient self-awareness to recognize when they're producing self-parody. Explains a lot about the organization's decline...

War Czars etc., Hasn't anybody read the history of insurgencies. Insurgencies survive only with the help of the citizens of the country. Unless we are willing to occupy Iraq at any cost, regardless of the number of people we kill, then we can say we won. What have we won? The occupation of people that do not want to be accupied. Congress must stop all funding for the Iraq war. I am sure the Pentagon has enough noney to pay the soldiers and their fasmilies at the expense of cutting down some of the antiquated and now absolete weapons programs. How soon do we forget the debacle at Walter Reed Hospital. Was it the congerss that did not appropriate the funds needed for the care of our heroic soldiers? Of course not. It was and is the present administration that mishandles the billions of dollars without accountability and then any cuts are blamed on the welfare of our soldiers. America, wake up for there is no victory in Iraq, except that we deposed a ruthless dictador. Our job was finished then. Whatever more time we spend there is a waste of American lives and treasure!

Wonder where does India stand on the scale of Global Power, now that it is simultaneously emerging as the economic superpower with China?

Seven Sticks and seven sons. Father gives each son a stick and tell them to break it. They all succeeded. Then the father gave each son seven sticks each and again ask them to break the sticks at on time. They all failed.
The moral of the story is simple: Unity Is strength.

Arab unity, and overall MUSLIM UNITY can shake hand to hand with West without relying souly on WEST’s decition.

US has oil reserve as well a Arabs. Isn’t it after all the race to see who first dries up of these reserves?
It is after all buying up and drying up.

Pretty good concept here. One day contains a million windows on reality, and a billion eyes look through the glass. Why not discuss the, for example, the days 10 best views?

This is very cool. Bottom line is that the US has to be better. We're getting beat by everyone.

fascinating

"...been down so long, Russia & China look like up to me..."

At last, somebody has created a remarkably useful analytical tool that takes the archaic models of geopolitical analysis we all learned with our copies of Morgenthau's "Politics Among Nations," lo these many years ago, and replaced them with a model that is much more inclusive of matters that matter.

This is the answer to prayers; it's as if, in one move, analytical methodologies skipped forward a century in terms of depth, breadth, and accuracy; compared to this, the Presidential Daily Briefing has an essentially negative cost-effectiveness.

Robert D. Steele has written of the need for an open source intelligence agency to, essentially, remove about 90% of the deadwood at our extent intelligence agencies.

Looks like you've done about 90% of what he wished, and for a price that should make the taxpaying citizens giddy with glee.

I am quite envious of your quite masterful ideas, and their brilliant implementation; while this is no substitute for clear, crisp, analytical thought, or the rough men on the wall, it removes all of the underlying clutter that blocks the conversion of usable knowledge into actionable analysis.

I disagree with the last comment and a couple of others that are similar. I've been watching this chart for about 10 days now and I don't think its trying to simplify issues at all. From what I read, its supposed to just be summarizing what a lot of people from all over the world are thinking about which of these countries are doing the best job at influencing world politics. Its pretty scary if you look at the long term chart because I don't like who's winning but I see the logic. I kind of like this because I know what I think but I like to see somebody actually measuring what others are thinking every day. Report cards are simple but they tell you a lot. Keep this up.

This game is broken. I try to move my frog across the logs but it refuses to start, and they don't go across the lake like thay are supposed to. Wait, this isn't Frogger, and there is supposed to be a serious goal behind this exercise in using Flash animation to dramatically oversimplify world politics to an inane grade school level? Wow, just wow.

Asking us how the US could do a better job in the world? You think we could possibly be smarter than W and his crew? I'll take that bet. But you have to explain this thing though and why are you doing it right now. You should background it for a few days and ask after New Years.

In the last comments, some good questions were raised by readers about the GPB. The measure is whether a country, ideology or political movement (a player) is impacting global events and opinions to the desired goals of the particular player. In other words, is a player moving global events or opinions the way they want or not.? It's very measurable.

The Y-axis does not have meaning...icons are evenly spaced. The X-axis is what counts. Articles, studies, papers and other sources from around the world are analyzed. Those players influencing events to their desired ends move to the positive or right side of the chart. Those who aren't move to the negative or left side. Unfortunately, we only have room for 6 icons on the chart. There obviously are many more players we'd like to include if we had the space. We choose about every 60 days the 6 that are generating the largest amount of data. Korea was on the GPB for a period of time surrounding its nuclear test. Russia has replaced North Korea.

To see the trend of icon movement over time, which many feel helps them put the daily chart in context, we urge readers to click on the "4-week Tracking View" button at the top of the chart.

The reader is of course correct that there are Islamists in China. China's icon moves based upon the actions of the Chinese government. If Islamists in China undertook a visible political action (e.g., an action written about by a number of global writers), they could influence the Islamist icon but that action would not influence the China icon unless it was official government policy. See "What's This" and "GPB Background" for more information about the icon categories.

Finally, the GPB is strictly non-partisan. Calculations are based on fact (e.g., events) and on a wide the range of opinions from far left to far right and everything in between.

Note that over the next two weeks, we'll be talking more about what drives the icons as we get ready to seek reader opinions about what actions could move the US icon more toward the positive side of the chart (it hasn't been there in some time).

Thanks so much for the comments. We hope you'll continue to offer ideas and comments.

This global barometer is broken. The blip mentions "thousands of articles" are read in order to determine the position of the selected countries -- from where are these news articles? Clearly, these do not include articles from overseas news sources because the "barometer" results would be flipped. The assessments are also grossly inaccurate and only a neo-con and/or someone with no real knowledge of global issues would come to the one-sentence conclusions including on this "barometer." (The neocons are terrible at producing plausible propaganda). The conclusions are also very biased and it would be interesting to know the source of funds for the company that makes up this "barometer." International events and other credible opinion polls reveal vastly different results.

Wait a dern little minute! Are you serious, stacking a few vague nations judged as "powerful" in with an even vaguer category like "Islamists?" Are there no "Islamists" in China? And if there are, are they counted twice? Who's kidding who here?

The next war ? If Americans don't understand that we are helping to create some very dangerous enemies by being in Iraq and trying to dictate to Iran, then they just don't get it.
Both Russia and China are trading arms and defensive systems to Iran for oil and influence. So the tripwire is Iran and if Bush and company are stupid enough to go there it will be a fiasco.

x-axis = Population

Mr. Sachdev - Good comment and question. India is extraordinarily important and as you've seen in many of the "Drivers" comments it is being courted rather hard by both the US and China...a real sign of new power. Unfortunately, we are restricted on the number of icons we can fit on the GPB but we've been watching India carefully (it's mentioned almost daily in the "Drivers" section). Not that if India were on the chart, it would be significantly in positive territory.

With regard to your comment about a longer tracking period, go to the 4-Week Tracking View link above the chart. It tells a pretty interesting story. You are exactly right that you need to see the chart over time to get the full picture. We'll soon be publishing 60 and 90-day versions.

Considering global power is about the present shaping the future, and given India's one billion strong democracy, growing at the second fastest rate (this quarter it was 9.2%), I would not be incorrect in asking why not include India in this matrix? Sure, I am Indian and therefore biased - but a whole bunch of factors are now in place for India to be a included in any such calculus.

Also, I found one reader's comment quite valid - it may not be valid to define global power on a daily basis - so perhaps you would need to create another periodic graphic that could portray flux over larger periods of time, and the current barometer could be recast as a "Daily Monitor".

A very interesting and unique exercise nonetheless to stimulate sophistication in international affairs.

What a wonderful idea to help people rapidly and visually see how events occurring throughout the world are perceived through hundreds (thousands?) of articles etc. But guys, you need to provide right up front more information on the methodology - I understand it is proprietary but come one, if you want people to think this has credibility, you need to share more. You also need to have an explanation of the methodology immediately accessible to people - when I click on GPB, I want to be able to immediately see how this is done. I think you've got a tremendous idea but it is not sufficiently easy to use and to understand. I have great respect for both David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria and I hope that you keep fine-tuning things.

P.S. Hope to see Fareed on Jon Stewart introducing this new tool!

Thank you, Mr. Jay Perkins. It's a good idea and we're going to take your suggestion. It will be up on Monday.

Denver Research Group

Fascinating use of technology. However, I think the Post needs to provide a better explanation of the computational process, how sources are selected, articles weighted, etc. A casual reader might believe that only the hyperlinked articles are being used in the weighting. Readers also need to be told daily that this is not just an indicator of positive and negative news coverage.

"Predictive analytics" is already the standard within numerous industries for applications such as analyzing customer behavior, enhancing marketing platforms and underwriting. Ever had your credit checked before being accepted for a mortgage? This research tool combines data mining and statistical analysis to predict future events. Modifying this statistical model to a political application by combining news analysis, data mining and human intelligence is pure genius. I applaud the Washington Post for their creativity.

Mr. A Cohn from San Francisco in an early comment about the GPB raised the issue of whether the GPB is based on a count of relevant articles. It's an important issue that we need to clarify. The GPB is not based on a count of articles, which Mr .Cohn is absolutely correct would not tell us much at all. The GPB measures whether a nation, ideology or political movement (a "player" in our terms), in the view of global thought leaders, is being successful in moving world opinion and events in directions that are favorable to it. To calculate how well a player is doing, the GPB measures both opinion and hard fact. We first identify the broad goals of players we're monitoring. Next we look at what credible sources (e.g., newspapers, NGOs, universities, think tanks) are saying each day relative to whether the events of the day demonstrate that a player is using its power effectively to advance its goals. We don't analyze every one of the thousands of sources in our database but use instead a weighted representative sample. Then, all the key points within our sample of articles are themselves weighted based upon a broad range of factors (e.g., the importance of the point to a player's goals, whether the point is opinion or verifiable fact). Finally, the computer calculates the position of the icon on the chart for that day. The icon movement you see is how the Global Thought views the player from day to day.

Yea, I think this is stupid. Why these particular nations and groups? Why US, but no Russia? Why China, but no India? When does Israel, a nation of 4 million, takes the center stage in the world politics?

Ooops, kinda misread what the graph represented (actually the person who sent me the direct link to the graph told me the wrong thing).

In any case, it is still interesting that the authoritarian countries are improving. It makes sense, though, since we should be holding free societies to a higher standard. That and these other countries have nowhere to go but up.

So you're telling me that the authoritarian countries without guarantees for the freedom of the press have predominantly positive stories, in contrast to the freer countries?

I'm shocked... SHOCKED I TELL YOU!

This is absolutely INANE and RIDICULOUS. The Washington Post thinks nation's global power shifts daily? Based on news articles? Is your editor a 3rd grader? Because my 4th grader knows better.... Get rid of this.

This is an absolutely STUPID feature that you have added. The only thing it does is show how bad the US and Israel is... and holds China, NK, & Iran (countries that have no freedom of the press) up high due to the lack of their own NYT, WP, or LAT in their country.

This only tells us how cynical the press is of the US because of its current administration. There is nothing intelligent in this graphic. Is this what my subscription pays for?? Someone to sit around and come up with a shockwave/macromedia graphic that uses a flawed basis for information?

This is not brilliant. This is simplistic and misleading scorekeeping of complex world events. Please provide me with intelligent analysis and expert commentary. Don't publish meaningless graphics. This is lowest common denominator material.

Its brilliant - at last someone who speaks the same language!

This is a silly graphic. Please replace it with something informative. This simplicity gets us nowhere. Washpost readers should derive their opinions from the information, rather than have the opinions already decided for them. Its just bad on a lot of levels.

very smart and intriguing.

keep the under-the-table info coming!

What a great idea! This is the best resource I've seen to access articles and information that I would normally never have found (or had the time to find) on my own. It is a clever and very useful barometer for understanding the constantly changing balance of power in the world. You've succeeded in providing a window not only on the volume of worldwide reporting of critical issues, but perhaps more importantly, on what underlying messages are being formed that are impacting who is in and who is out of power. Frankly, it's a little scary. I hope you will continue to provide this bright spot in what has become too much advice and opinion masquerading as news. Your "GPB" gives those of us who appreciate access beyond our local papers (even when those papers are the likes of the WP or the NYT) the chance to read, understand and decide for ourselves. Thank you!

Does the Post REALLY have the ability to provide "a graphic snapshot of what the world is thinking"? I didn't think it was possible for the mainstream media to get more reductive in its portrayal of complex events. This is downright "Onion-like".

Where's the influence of the resurgent latin american left? I guess it's still stuck in the shadow of the US...

This is a stupid, stupid feature. It reflects only the volume of news stories, not the shifts of in centers of power.

Very interesting contraption.