THE WORLD PAGE

Domain of the Current Events Editor and fellow writers/bloggers.

Perhaps this page is EDITOR’s writing, BLOGGERS’ writing, special features, and a summary of / link to the narrative, which gets its own page

(Don’t forget to: include thoughtful comparisons to / quotes from cultures, art, literature, great thinkers, great leaders; tie news items to history, personal significance, and each other; reference various popular & prevailing sentiments, facts, wisdom; reference other AVJ stories etc.; embed necessary followup from previous weeks.)

Officials in Pakistan<link> are afraid the terrorists hiding and working in the tribal areas<link> along their northern border may be heading southward <link> as the U.S. sends unmanned drone planes<link> into the territory to make strikes <link>. The strikes have increased _____ in the last _____ <link> and has drawn public criticism from Pakistanian President Musharef(?) <link> even though ______ report he is privately supportive of and cooperative with these operations <link>.

There is fear of terror tactics being employed as the Sri Lanka <link> military gradually surrounds the rebellious fighters of the Tamil ethnic group<link> who call themselves the Tamil Tigers<link>. This civil war has been going on since _____<link>. This last year of activity is different because _____<link>. The Avocado Jungle this week interviewed Sri Lankan performer _____. His song about _____, called _____ is on our arts & culture page<link>. He also expresses his hopes and fears about the long and wearying conflict in our interview<link>, including his sadness at the growing humanitarian crisis<link> arising from it. Aid efforts<link>, etc…

New news about conflicts and humanitarian crises in Africa<link>… not typically on American front pages—why not?… most promising current efforts & plans to intervene & to address humanitarian crises<links>.

Iraq elections, minimal conflict, but lots of confusion about the ballot<link>… why? how? Compare to past episodes of American democracy?<link> Other young democracies?<link>

Iraqi government boots out Blackwater<link>, the American private security firm that was supplementing U.S. armed forces in Iraq<link>. Operating license will be allowed to expire because of _____<link>. That incident was resolved how?<link> Along with use of drones poses questions about future direction of American military power.<link>

And Turkey is raising questions about the future of that country’s role as a stable and staunch American ally in the region. Also allies with ______<link>. Pressure from ______ and due to upcoming elections may have made him feel he needed to tell of Israeli P.M.(?) at a meeting ______<link>. Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country<link>, though by all accounts one of the most liberal and “Westernized,” if you will<link>. Those opposing forces are always at play inside the country, with extremist factions like ______ bubbling below the otherwise relatively peaceful surface. Israel reacted by _____<link>.  This may force America’s hand with regard to Israel and the Western world’s complaints<link> about its harshness and aggression<link> when acting in self-defense from, among other things, the rocket attacks that come frequently from the Gaza strip<link>. AVJ blogger Bronson Pickett discusses the situation this week<link>.

In America, the final pieces of Obama’s cabinet falling into place. A few stumbling blocks. Geitner tax problems<link>, Daschle arguably bigger tax problems<link>. Judd Greg Republican as commerce secretary likely because _______<link>, though many question it because ______<link>. Along more conservative economic lines, Obama also warning against inclusion of buy-American in stimulus <link>. He and many economists fear trade retaliation, blah blah<link>. AVJ’s David Kronmiller expresses a different set of concerns in his blog<link>.

Economic news continued to be a downer, though some folks like Mark Perry<link>, Michigan economics<link> professor and author of right-leaning economics blog Carpe Diem<link>, continue to point out the positives, including very favorable comparisons to past crises like the Great Depression<link>. It’s been widely reported that unemployment numbers are reaching new highs<link>, but as Perry points out, the percentage is a low-but-growing ___%, much lower than several of the past recessions & depressions <link>. While numbers are numbers and do indicate a lot of hardship, percentages are much better as economic indicators, yet the media doesn’t tend to report them—why? Durable goods orders down 5.7%. The future could be brighter—Perry points to Baltic shipping index<link> as predictor.

Among the entities cutting jobs this week: Caterpillar ___ jobs<link>, Boeing ____ jobs<link>, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art ___ jobs<link>. Manufacturing may be the hardest hit at the moment, but losses are deep across practically all sectors of the economy<link>. Government and health care are the only areas that added jobs<link>, which some see as a good thing because_____<link>, but others view as a sign of trouble because _____<link>. A primary goal of stimulus package is to save and add jobs to economy<link>. Much debate over whether, how, and how soon this can be done. Liberal Democrats typically favor spending, hiring or directly stimulating hiring through government projects like _________, all in the current version of the bill being debated by the Senate<links>. They believe tax cuts won’t work because _______. Moderates and conservative Republicans favor tax cuts, arguing that they can take effect immediately, instantly increasing the buying and hiring power of anyone who runs a business<link>. They feel more spending is not the answer because _____<link>.

States and localities are taking their steps to improve their own financial outlooks, some of which are pretty bleak. California leads the way down<link>, now downgraded by credit rating company Standard & Poor<link> to the lowest credit rating of all 50 states. California this Friday begins two-Fridays-a-month furloughs for many government employees<link>, which amounts to roughly a 10% pay cut that should save the state well over a billion a year as it battles with a $15 billion budget deficit<link>. Other states’ problems & solutions<links>. Cities that are having trouble, and their ideas<links>.

Things to look for in the coming week:

Thursday Obama is expected to… Congress should… British Prime Minister… Iraqi Election committee…

Friday another round of economic news…

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Monday ”;a’oinvwaoinelknev

Tuesday lkowaovinwaekn

General: The situation in… Aid workers in… Recovery from… Answers are expected soon about…