Monday, March 5th, 2018

After a brief hiatus, CDB is posting again, and we sure have a lot to talk about…

Political Chaos in Italy

Those who follow European politics can add another country to their list of states flirting with the far right. In yesterday’s election, 50% of Italians voted for anti-establishment, anti-immigrant and euroskeptic parties. The 5-Star Movement, led by Luigi di Maio, is now the largest party in Parliament after winning 30% of the vote. Their success is attributed to an ability to tap into widespread anger over Italy’s sluggish economy, high jobless rate — especially among the young — a surge in migrant arrivals, and resentment about loss of sovereignty to the European Union. These sentiments have echoed throughout Europe, culminating in victories for populist parties and even the vote for the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU last Summer.

Even more to the right lies Matteo Salvini’s Far-Right League which ran on racist, anti-immigrant slogans, which picked up 18% of votes. This party formed a coalition with controversial former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who’s ban from Italian politics remains in place until next year. The coalitions combined votes accounted for 37% of total votes cast, just 3% short of what is needed to form a government. Salvini is claiming his right to lead anyway.

Interestingly, both parties are pro-Russia and running on an Italians-first message. The Far-Right League blames a stalled Italian economy on migrants, and the 5-Star Movement has gone as far as to call for their immediate repatriation. The results have been cheered by France’s own far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, who called the election “a new stage in the awakening of the people!” Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon also weighed in, claiming Italy the new global leaders in populism.

It will still be some time before the new government is decided, as no party can claim power without 40%. The new Parliament will now take the lead in negotiating a coalition, but it seems however that is accomplished, far-right leadership will be the future of Italy.*

*It is important to note that Italians change their government nearly every year (they have had 65 governments in the past 70 years), so most political changes are not long-lived.

The World of Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has made some interesting decisions recently, here’s a recap…

1. In response to Xi Jinping’s repeal of term limits in China last month, Trump, perhaps jokingly said: “Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday.”
2. Trump is considering a trip to Jerusalem in May to open the new U.S. embassy. This move to recognize Jerusalem is Israel’s capital has enraged many, especially Palestinians. Protests, some ending in violence have erupted in Gaza and the West Bank. A visit from Trump could prove costly, in security and reputation, for the President.
3. The first Trump hotel to lose the President’s brand since the election was stripped of his name in Panama City, the only Trump hotel in Latin America. This could symbolize Latin American discontent with the rhetoric and policy of this administration or just a delayed removal of conflict-of-interest in the President’s international business details leftover from his business career.

A Symbol of Friendship…and Military Readiness

The USS Carl Vinson docked in Danang today, the first aircraft carrier to visit Vietnam since the war ended in 1975. The last time U.S. warships landed in Danang it was to provide troops aiding in South Vietnam’s fight against the North, kicking off a long and brutal conflict that the U.S. did not come out of victorious. Today, the symbolic visit is a part of the long-term mission to contain China’s aspirations in the South China Sea, or the East Sea, as it is known to the Vietnamese. The carrier’s presence signals the military might of the US and its readiness to come to the aid of allies threatened by Chinese expansionism in one of the most tense geopolitical struggles of the era.

And the Winner Is…

Mark Bridges, a costume designer who won both and Oscar AND a new jet ski in honor of having the shortest speech, clocking in at just 36 seconds.

Quotable Citizen

“I don’t read…I actually can’t”

-an interesting admission from E! Network’s Ryan Seacrest on the Oscar’s Red Carpet

CDB Weekend: February 2nd-6th, 2018

Trouble In Paradise

The Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean has declared a 15-day state of emergency amidst a dispute between the nation’s president, Yameen Abdul Gayoom and supreme court. The source of the tension is a ruling from the court to release imprisoned opposition leaders. The state of emergency creates chaos and enables the government to make arrests and restrict civil liberties. The plot thickens as one of the opposition’s key leaders freed by the court’s decree, former President Mohamed Nasheed is actually the current President’s half brother. The Maldives are better known for beautiful beaches and luxury resorts, but this Presidential family feud has the potential to disrupt the peaceful waters if the crisis continues.

One State, Two States, No State, Who’s State?

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres took the opportunity yesterday to highlight the deteriorating conditions in Gaza as the situation inches toward “unlivable.”  The UN is committed to the long-awaited two-state solution, where the state of Israel and an independent Palestinian state could both claim Jerusalem as their capital*. Guterres criticized Israel for continuing to construct illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, a humanitarian crisis of intolerable conditions is unfolding for its two million citizens. “Crumbling infrastructure, an electricity crisis, a lack of basic services, chronic unemployment and a paralyzed economy,” has become the norm in Gaza, where the people are almost entirely reliant on international aid. The terrible conditions have created a refugee crisis as Palestinians flee for Jordan and Lebanon, who are at the same time burdened with an influx of Syrians escaping the brutal civil war. Guterres called for reconciliation and a renewed commitment to the two-state solution, warning that, without changes in current behavior, such an agreement would be rendered impossible.

*President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and plan to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv goes against the long-held principle that Jerusalem belongs to both Israelis and Palestinians.

And the Winner Is…

The Philadelphia Eagles, who took home their first Super Bowl victory against the heavily favored New England Patriots on Sunday. Turns out, the whole thing was just one huge Tide ad.

Quotable Citizen:

“We like to say peoplekind, not necessarily mankind ‘cause it’s more inclusive.”

-Justin Trudeau, offering an interesting correction to a woman during a town hall

 

January 31st, 2018

Forgotten Wars: Yemen

It is easy to lose track of some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. The civil war in Yemen, for example, has been raging for almost three years now. With an Iranian backed rebellion and the Saudi-supported government, this may be the ultimate proxy between the two Islamic powers.

It is not for lack of resources that the Yemeni government has not crushed the Houthi rebels and driven them out of Sanaa. It is because they are cautious. Government forces know the resistance movement is popular and they fear that unleashing absolute destruction of their enemy would cause political problems during the transition from negative (armistice) to positive peace (a conflict-free Yemen).

History is not on Yemen’s side. This is the third civil war between North and South Yemen in forty years. The Houthis are a formidable fighting force and it has actually been southern rebels who have aided the government in regaining control in the South, in the key port city of Aden and securing the international airport. Even if the government forces prevail, they are going to have to share their power with groups who were previously opposed to them.

Bigger problems arise when you consider the allies on either side of the conflict. Yemen has provided a battlefield for Iran and Saudi Arabia’s tensions to play out. Both sides, especially the Saudis, have been accused of egregious human rights violations in Yemen. So, as tempting as it is to turn away, the world would do well to take a closer look at this conflict.

Problems in Palestine

“You are not welcome anymore!” was the cry of Palestinian protestors who ran U.S. diplomats out of Bethlehem yesterday during a business training session. Citing President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem is Israel’s capital last month, the protesters chanted, showed anti-U.S. signs and did minor damage to the delegation’s vehicles. Israeli news outlets are focusing on disruption and vandalism in their reports. Palestinian sources call the protestors “activists” who are simply speaking out against “racist” governments. The different versions of the incident being published further display the nature of this protracted conflict.

A People’s President?

The leader of Kenya’s opposition, Ralia Odinga inaugurated himself as the “People’s President.” The Kenyan government shut down TV stations to prevent live coverage of the event. Mr. Odinga lost a highly contested election to Uhuru Kenyatta twice last year (the original August vote and a re-vote in October). Due to low turnout (just 39%), Mr. Odinga believes the election was illegitimate. Since the original vote in August, it is estimated that 50 people have been killed in incidents of election-related violence in Kenya. 

And the Winner Is…

Not Dexter, the emotional support peacock who United Airlines would not let on a plane leaving Newark Airport. The bird “did not meet guidelines due to its weight and size.”

Quotable Citizen:

“Struggling communities, especially immigrant communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American workers and American families,”

-President Donald J. Trump in his first State of the Union Address, an interesting line as Congress moves to negotiate immigration reform in the coming weeks.