May 11, 2006
THE WOLF KEEPS WHELPING WHILE THE SHEEP IS BARREN (via Pepys):
Putin lashes out at 'wolf-like' America (Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow and Ewen MacAskill in Washington, May 11, 2006, Guardian)
Relations between the US and Russia sank to the lowest point in a decade yesterday when Vladimir Putin harshly rebuked Washington for its criticism last week and compared the US to a hungry wolf that "eats and listens to no one".Mr Putin, stung by an attack from Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, used his annual state of the nation address to denounce US expansionism and military spending.
Putin Offers Russian Mothers Cash for More Babies (Christian Lowe, May 10, 2006, Reuters)
President Vladimir Putin offered couples cash to have more children to halt a dramatic decline in population and called for a stronger army in a key speech on Wednesday in which he shrugged off sharp attacks by Washington.Putin, defying predictions he would focus on foreign policy, zeroed in on Russia's dwindling population -- an issue with huge implications for the economy -- which is falling by 700,000 people every year.
De Tocqueville got it half right--the future belongs to America, but there won't be a Russia Posted by Orrin Judd at May 11, 2006 12:52 PM
With both Russia and China in a "fascist" (not communist) configuration, how serious of a threat is it to have them join forces (as they already do re: UN)?
Just asking.
Posted by: Bruno at May 11, 2006 1:40 PMIt's like tieing two sinking boats together to get a good ship.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at May 11, 2006 2:31 PMBruno:
The "fascists" were no threat the first time. "Fascism" doesn't work.
Posted by: oj at May 11, 2006 2:31 PM"The developing world, as it becomes more urban and industrialized, is experiencing the same demographic transition, but at a faster pace. ... Mexico, for example, ... is now aging five times faster than is the United States. ... between 2000 and 2050, Mexico's median age, will increase by 20 years, leaving half the population over 42...Fertility rates are falling faster in the Middle East than anywhere else on earth, and as a result, the region's population is aging at an unprecedented rate. ...Postrevolutionary Iran has seen its fertility rate plummet by nearly two-thirds and will accordingly have more seniors than children by 2030...By 2045, according to the latest UN projections, the world's fertility rate as a whole will have fallen below replacement levels."
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
"Europe's" Baby Bust?
Good news to the greenies who want to return earth to nature. Good news also to one good professor who dosen't need to unleash ebola to kill the world's population. He must wish to live long enough to see human's demise
Posted by: ic at May 11, 2006 2:53 PMHe must be getting in touch with his inner Stalin.
Posted by: jim hamlen at May 11, 2006 3:14 PMI don't think Russia and China are 'Fascist", they seem pre-fascist in that they are reactionary andauthoritarians with no concern for the future.
Posted by: Pepys at May 11, 2006 3:41 PMThey would both benefit greatly from a fascist period.
Posted by: oj at May 11, 2006 3:44 PMOf the Italian and Spanish strain I presume?
Posted by: Pepys at May 11, 2006 3:54 PMSpain, Chile, DR, etc.
Posted by: oj at May 11, 2006 3:58 PMAutoritarian(Spain, Chile, etc) not Totalitarian(Germany, Russia, etc). As Mrs. Kirpatrick's speech to the U.N..
Posted by: Robert Mitchell Jr. at May 11, 2006 7:11 PMActually they would make a great match, bringing together population and raw materials. China could accomplish that without Russia by taking over the northeastern Stans and Siberia. They probably will someday. Russia's future lies with Europe and they better start believing so, the sooner the better.
Posted by: Genecis at May 12, 2006 2:36 PM