January 2011
...North Korea, feared and fearful; why Haiti can't move on; WikiLeaks, shoot the messenger; Burundi andRwanda, elections don't help; Israel, the next war?Saudi Arabia's new friend China; inside China, farm to city; Italy's rising star; Facebook, spying on us all; politics of sweet celebrity...and more...
Not quite the whole truth - Serge Halimi
The world narrowly escaped nuclear war in October 1962. In the run-up to the mid-term elections, President Kennedy repeatedly asserted that Soviet offensive missiles would not be deployed in Cuba and would not be tolerated if they were. Moscow did not respond, not knowing whether these statements were merely intended to pander to voters or were a genuine warning. Secret exchanges subsequently made the parties' intentions clear and they were able to defuse the crisis. The Americans let it be (...)Translated by Barbara Wilson- Wikileaks: journalism or espionage?
Shoot the messenger - Philippe Rivière
In setting up WikiLeaks, Julian Assange wanted to bring to light secret agreements between countries. That he succeeded is clear from the number of companies and governments who have tried to shut him downTranslated by George Miller - Will there be a strike? and if so, where?
Israel: the next war - Alain Gresh
The US's failure under Barack Obama to impose peace between Israel and the Palestinians makes a new war likelyTranslated by Barbara Wilson - Memories of famine, creeping takeover by China
North Korea, fortress state* - Philippe Pons
Pyongyang's decision to shell a small South Korean island at the end of November ramped up tension in an attempt to restart talks with the US. North Korea is feeling the effects of isolation and sanctions, socio-economic change that the regime cannot fully control, and growing dependence on ChinaTranslated by George Miller Stranger than fiction* - Philippe Pons
Translated by George Miller- Earthquake shook everything but the system
Haiti in the hands of the NGOs - Christophe Wargny
One year on from the earthquake that devastated Haiti, it may still take a decade just to clear the rubble if work continues at its present pace. Meanwhile the poor suffer, the rich profit, and the show is run by NGOs and other outsidersTranslated by Robert Waterhouse Haiti's disastrous election* - Alexander Main
The voters weren't registered, or in the right places, and were fearful of cholera. The organisers were anything but impartial. And Haitians are angryOriginal text in English- Divisions go beyond ethnic lines
Rwanda and Burundi, false twins* - Colette Braeckman
Last year's elections in Rwanda and Burundi suggested democratic progress after histories of genocide and civil war. But authoritarian rule continues in both countries, and is causing problems that could destabilise the regionTranslated by Stephanie Irvine Burundi's blemished election* - Vincent Munié
The world, represented in Burundi by an EU observer mission, deliberately ignored irregularities in last year's many elections. It doesn't like the results - re-election of the sole remaining presidential candidate, one-party rule - but it did nothing to prevent themTranslated by Stephanie Irvine- Oil lubricates trade and mutual influence
China and Saudi Arabia: just good friends*- Alain Gresh
Saudi Arabia has never forgotten that China stood by it when it was threatened during the Iran-Iraq war. That, and the Saudi desire to ensure future sales of oil, and the Chinese need for supplies, is the basis for fast-growing trade and other linksTranslated by Stephanie Irvine Hajj diplomacy* - Alain Gresh
Translated by Stephanie Irvine- Village girl to prospering property dealer
The migrant's long march - Behzad Yaghmaian
This is the story of just one of China's current farm-to-city migrants, the story of a young woman who has, so far, survived boom, bust and near-exploitation to make herself a life that will be far better than that of her parents, and yet also keep those parents happyLMD English edition exclusive - Messiahs come to redeem, not to govern
Household gods* - Lewis Lapham
The founding fathers of the US set up a system that could be run by ordinary citizens, paying serious attention to the job. That's not the way it works now though, when politics is just another form of the religion of celebrity - of being, not doingLMD English edition exclusive - Mezzogiorno: mafia and a rising star
Italy's blood oranges* - Christophe Ventura
Riots by migrant agricultural workers in southern Italy last year weren't just the result of racism. They were partly caused by the Calabrian mafia's grip on citrus growing in the regionTranslated by Charles Goulden Nichi Vendola, the Italian Obama - Chase Madar
He's one of the country's most popular politicians, net and social-networking confident, adored by the young and might lead a leftish coalition in the next general election. And he tries to keep a belief in politics aliveLMD English language exclusive- Cosy cocoon or spider's web?
Facebook: the magic mirror - Philippe Rivière
Translated by Charles Goulden
