Is the oil industry under goverment control in Iraq? I thought the Bush Administration would have forced it to be privatized, with Western firms dominating...
Why is Iran supportive of the Kurds? Is that a new development? I thought they were against Kurdish independence (or the close analogue of great autonomy in Iraq) due to the large Kurdish population in northwestern Iran, fearing that the Kurds would want to seperate from the rest of Iran?
Thanks Kurt for the education on the political institutional structure of Canada. I agree that giving the provinces a lot of power (more than states in the US) than the Federal government is key; it is my understanding that the upper chamber of Canada is relatively weak vis a vis the lower chamber of parliament.
Good point to how immigration changed Quebec big-time.
I think Joe Biden proposed a confederation system for Iraq a number of years ago, similar I recall to Canada in giving the provinces and regions of the country more power...
Great piece above but I have one question/quibble...
It is my understanding from political science literature that Presidential systems are more prone to authoritarianism than single-chamber parliaments. What are some other examples of single-chamber parliaments having constant civil-war violence? Off the top of my head, Canada and Great Britain have their share of issues, with large structural minorities and single chamber parliaments, but constant civil war is not a constant there.
What type of democratic system would have been preferable to what was installed in Iraq?
Germany and Japan have more parlimentary style systems than Iraq and Afghanistant. I think these examples are used by those against Presidential democratic systems...
Although wind turbines on the land in Michigan do not look promosing, couldn't Michigan set-up a bunch of turbines off its coasts in the middle of the lakes, generating a good deal of electricity that way?
1. When you say that we are ill-defining the "Taliban", what do you mean? Are there multiple "Talibans", or is there distinctions the US is missing?
2. Do you think it is a tenable strategy to have enough troops in Afghanistan to let Karazi fall, but hope it is replaced with a new government with more legitimacy?
Keeping 50,000 or so troops in the Af-Pak region, to ensure Afghanistan does not become Somali, or allow the rise of future terroist cells, is not all that costly...
I am somewhat skeptical of the first three categories, from "No Censorship" to "Under Surveillance". What defines some censorship? Laws against child pornography could be construed as "Some censorship", or even laws against obsenity.
And I have some doubts that Australia's Internet is a few steps away from 1984, or are really that much more heavily policed than Canada's.
The "No Censorship" countries appear in large part to be those with limited to no "state capacity", lacking the ability to even do bare-minimum policing of the Internet.
Great pic though! I am going to post it to my facebook wall.
I thought Saudi Arabia got rid of Prince Sultan a number of years ago? I thought the US moved out to try to reduce animus for America being in the country of Mecca?!?
I can't recall the source. I think in an NYTimes article and blog commentary (talkingpointsmemo, andrewsullivan...). I think the Green Revolution was often described as being in part a response to bad economic performance. Thomas Friedman stated that the economy of Iran was a mess. To possible preempt you: He can be wrong on a lot of things and right on some things.
From what I have read over the years, the Iranian regime is reported to be unstable and have serious economic problems. So do you disagree with this view, which I thought was more or less a consensus, that the Iranian Republic was brittle, a la the Libyan or Tunisian regimes, if not more so...?
This story needs to be cleared-up sooner rathe than latter.
Because I am a glutton for punishment, I watched the Republican Presidential debates last night. They were engaging in some serious sabre-rattling on Iran-they were 100% convinced about this DOJ suit is directly sponsored by Iran. I think the chances go up dramatically that an attack or ever worse will occur against Iran if a Republican become President in 2012.
Ah, I have to disagree with you in part Juan. The US Congress did pass Financial Reform back in 2010. It might have not been enough, but I am not sure what the protestors actually want. There demands are part of the problem-they are nebulous. I know Matt Ygelsias of Think Progress has the same issue as I with the Anti-Corporate protests. The Egyptian protestors have more concrete demands, so they can actually be allayed...
When this summary states Internet, does it mean include or exclude Internet, Facebook, Twitter etc. via cell phones? I could easily see such penetration being low via broad-band wireline service, but much higher via cell phones.
Is the oil industry under goverment control in Iraq? I thought the Bush Administration would have forced it to be privatized, with Western firms dominating...
Why is Iran supportive of the Kurds? Is that a new development? I thought they were against Kurdish independence (or the close analogue of great autonomy in Iraq) due to the large Kurdish population in northwestern Iran, fearing that the Kurds would want to seperate from the rest of Iran?
Juan,
Looks interesting!
Quick question: After 9/11, did you notice an uptick in interest in your courses, such as the class getting filled with students than in the past?
Just curious...
Juan:
Great post. Quick question though: Why is the advise, "Be fruitful and multiply," so bad? Just curious on your reasoning...
Frank
Thanks Kurt for the education on the political institutional structure of Canada. I agree that giving the provinces a lot of power (more than states in the US) than the Federal government is key; it is my understanding that the upper chamber of Canada is relatively weak vis a vis the lower chamber of parliament.
Good point to how immigration changed Quebec big-time.
I think Joe Biden proposed a confederation system for Iraq a number of years ago, similar I recall to Canada in giving the provinces and regions of the country more power...
Great piece above but I have one question/quibble...
It is my understanding from political science literature that Presidential systems are more prone to authoritarianism than single-chamber parliaments. What are some other examples of single-chamber parliaments having constant civil-war violence? Off the top of my head, Canada and Great Britain have their share of issues, with large structural minorities and single chamber parliaments, but constant civil war is not a constant there.
What type of democratic system would have been preferable to what was installed in Iraq?
Germany and Japan have more parlimentary style systems than Iraq and Afghanistant. I think these examples are used by those against Presidential democratic systems...
Although wind turbines on the land in Michigan do not look promosing, couldn't Michigan set-up a bunch of turbines off its coasts in the middle of the lakes, generating a good deal of electricity that way?
Juan:
I still do not see it. 🙁
I am not trying to be a nag but rather just want to read the whoel post! 🙂
Frank
Juan:
I believe your post was cut-off, at the point where you mention Rep...
I believe you were trying to refer to Representative Peter King...
Frank
Who is on the poster?
What I find fascinating is the MEK. I would think that Marxism and Islam would be so incompatiable you could not fuse the two...
Juan:
Great post! Two questions:
1. When you say that we are ill-defining the "Taliban", what do you mean? Are there multiple "Talibans", or is there distinctions the US is missing?
2. Do you think it is a tenable strategy to have enough troops in Afghanistan to let Karazi fall, but hope it is replaced with a new government with more legitimacy?
Keeping 50,000 or so troops in the Af-Pak region, to ensure Afghanistan does not become Somali, or allow the rise of future terroist cells, is not all that costly...
Frank
Juan:
I am somewhat skeptical of the first three categories, from "No Censorship" to "Under Surveillance". What defines some censorship? Laws against child pornography could be construed as "Some censorship", or even laws against obsenity.
And I have some doubts that Australia's Internet is a few steps away from 1984, or are really that much more heavily policed than Canada's.
The "No Censorship" countries appear in large part to be those with limited to no "state capacity", lacking the ability to even do bare-minimum policing of the Internet.
Great pic though! I am going to post it to my facebook wall.
Juan:
I thought Saudi Arabia got rid of Prince Sultan a number of years ago? I thought the US moved out to try to reduce animus for America being in the country of Mecca?!?
I can't recall the source. I think in an NYTimes article and blog commentary (talkingpointsmemo, andrewsullivan...). I think the Green Revolution was often described as being in part a response to bad economic performance. Thomas Friedman stated that the economy of Iran was a mess. To possible preempt you: He can be wrong on a lot of things and right on some things.
Juan:
From what I have read over the years, the Iranian regime is reported to be unstable and have serious economic problems. So do you disagree with this view, which I thought was more or less a consensus, that the Iranian Republic was brittle, a la the Libyan or Tunisian regimes, if not more so...?
Frank
Juan:
Oh, also-please go to Libya and Bahrain in 2012!!! Would like to get your on-the-ground perspective there...
Frank
Juan:
May you please post a pic of the polo shirt? Just curious on how it looks...
Thanks in advance.
Frank
Juan:
Any thoughts regarding the NY Times article regarding Qatar?
Frank
Juan:
Good post, but I believe the debate took place in Michigan, not Florida. :/
Frank
This story needs to be cleared-up sooner rathe than latter.
Because I am a glutton for punishment, I watched the Republican Presidential debates last night. They were engaging in some serious sabre-rattling on Iran-they were 100% convinced about this DOJ suit is directly sponsored by Iran. I think the chances go up dramatically that an attack or ever worse will occur against Iran if a Republican become President in 2012.
Frank
Ah, I have to disagree with you in part Juan. The US Congress did pass Financial Reform back in 2010. It might have not been enough, but I am not sure what the protestors actually want. There demands are part of the problem-they are nebulous. I know Matt Ygelsias of Think Progress has the same issue as I with the Anti-Corporate protests. The Egyptian protestors have more concrete demands, so they can actually be allayed...
When this summary states Internet, does it mean include or exclude Internet, Facebook, Twitter etc. via cell phones? I could easily see such penetration being low via broad-band wireline service, but much higher via cell phones.
Frank