THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL NEWS STORY OF 2008

Today, on his CNN Sunday talk show "GPS", Fareed Zakaria asked the above question... I responded to the show's web site as follows:

Dear Fareed:

Unquestionably, the most important international news story of 2008 was the Russian/US confrontation in Georgia. It was a desperately needed bucket of cold water in the face of a rapidly declining, but from a Russian perspective, extremely dangerous empire."Wake up! The world's going to hell in a hand basket and we're the only ones who can prevent this... for however long." Some might argue that Mumbai was more significant, but it was not. Only the United States and Russia can prevent India and Pakistan from a nuclear exchange. To do so they must act in concert. For several reasons there are signs that this once-scorned partnership is beginning to emerge. Not the least of these is emerging Russian/US naval cooperation regarding Somali pirates. The world is standing on the brink of economic chaos and now would be a good time to recall von Clausewitz's most famous quote, that "war is a continuation of politics by other means."

Politics are a continuation of economics by other means, Fareed; and economics are solely a product of energy. The current global meltdown; "the end of the epoch" as labelled by George Soros is -- and has always been -- about energy. Sixty per cent of all the known oil on the planet is in the Gulf. Only the U.S. and Russia can hope to preserve short-term stability there as well. I, for one, believe that for the U.S. and Russia to act by either overt or covert means to prevent a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan might be highly desirable. Wouldn't you agree?

I wrote about Russia on my own blog 24 hours before your incredible interview with Secretary Powell. For the record, he deserves great respect for his conduct over the last eight years, but most especially in the last six months. I understand the soldier's code and how he has walked to the outer edges of it. My own final piece of investigative journalism was to break the Pat Tillman cover-up. Pat's mother Mary will gladly confirm this. My first book is in the Harvard Business
School Library.

I have a new book which should be out in the Spring entitled, "A Presidential Energy Policy".

SIncerely,

Michael C. Ruppert

Author: "Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil."

http://www.mikeruppert.blogspot.com
http://www.fromthewilderness.com


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MCR
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As wealthier countries bid for food-growing land in poorer ones, the snake has begun literally to eat its own tail:

"Egypt is investing in Sudan; Libya in Ukraine; Saudi Arabia in Thailand; China in Africa, the Philippines and Russia," says Joachim von Braun, head of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC.

The Saudi BinLaden Group Bids for Land in Indonesia
Quite a switch from the days when the Saudis required foreign companies to dye their rice red so as to distinguish it from the local brand.

Wait a second - Was that, "Saudi BinLaden Group?"
Yes; they seem to be back (or rather, still) in business tho' it's hard to tell from their distinctly unforthcoming website.

The Qatar/Kenya predation

Obama on Clean Coal
Obama Coal-to-Liquids Act
Bush Rushes to Pass Anti-Labor Law Opposed By Obama
Part of the scorched-earth, Leave-No-Intact-Area-Behind policy of the current administration.

Jenna Orkin