In the past I have written posts entitled: Headline of the Day. This week, it is impossible to have just one - headline of the day. This week proved, yet again, that the wrong individual in the White House can dramatically move a country down a wrong path - all in just seven days.
Here is what I mean:
Bloomberg Article: Obama Says Financial Regulations Must Be Strengthened Globally
AP Article: FDIC chief considers tapping Treasury for funds
And this week, in addition to continually shattering our economy, this Administration helped fuel - a new cold war. They achieved this with their announcement concerning the withdraw of the European long range missile defense. A major policy shift based upon two notions: 1. Intelligence reports that Iran is quickly developing medium range missiles over long range 2. That the last tests of the long range missiles, the defense system missed five of thirteen tries. (Five from thirteen does still equal eight, correct?)
This unsettling move equaled Polish news headlines of betrayal by the United States. This unsettling move gave Medvedev, Putin, and their push for power the upper hand. This unsettling move proved to the world - the United States will cave to consistent pressure. This unsettling move demonstrated the continual lack of knowledge by this Administration on issues of foreign policy: rhetoric matters and a strong image is everything.
And again, their basis for this decision is at best - weak. Why do we assume that Iran even has to build a single missile, medium, long, or else wise? Is not Russia already proven a major help to Iran in all things evil? And do we really believe that Russia was more concerned about the current defense system missing five times - or hitting its target the other eight? And, has this Administration forgotten of Pakistan's nuclear capabilities? Cold Wars are fueled, when one side (America) blinks, shrugs, blindly caves in to pressure.
Devastating the economy further, pushing cold war, and regulating garages sales - was the agenda, in part, for this week. (There was more, just not enough time to capture the headlines.) Thank goodness it's Saturday!