Synopsis: Listen as the Plaid Avenger spouts prophetically about nuclear proliferation on the heels of a historic meeting of the UN Permanent Security Council chaired by US President Barack Obama. Details include the structure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), its weaknesses and issues in today’s world, and how Obama and the funky P5+1 bunch hope to strengthen it for the future…specifically the future of dealing with Iran and its nuclear ambitions. NPT Party On!
Synopsis: Last week US President Barack Obama canceled plans for setting up the controversial missile defense shield in Eastern Europe…specifically in Poland and the Czech Republic. This move not only significantly alters US relations with Russia, but has caused an outpouring of anger from pro-shield protagonists. Watch the Plaid Avenger rant and rage about what the ‘supposed’ shield is, and why its shelving has very little consequence for the US, Eastern Europe, or even Iran.
Synopsis: September is turning into a seriously sloppy surprise for Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. After German forces in NATO were to blame for a bloody civilian bombing accident, Merkel and her country have been berated and badgered by fellow NATO allies….but that’s just the tip of the weinerschnitzel for Merkel. This misplaced mortar may be responsible for her losing a re-election bid, as her political opponents try to rally a overwhelmingly anti-war German public to vote to end Germany’s participation in the NATO Afghan campaign. The Avenger describes this situation, and why this election has repercussions for the US, for NATO, for Afghanistan, and the world.
Synopsis: As Iran continues to develop its nuclear energy industry, the US and Team West as a whole are increasingly worried that the Iranians are actually wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. The P5 +1 (5 members of the UN Permanent Security Council + Germany) are debating about increasing sanctions and/or incentives on Iran in order to reel in their nuclear ambition. Whether any of the P5 + 1 actions will actually work is anybody’s guess, but the Plaid Avenger wants you to be aware that the whole situation marks a new era in assertive foreign policy for two of the EU’s super-powers: Germany & France. Merkel & Sarkozy: a new axis of ass-kicking foreign policy?
Synopsis: NATO celebrated its 60th anniversary last week in Strasbourg, France. The military/defense group had clarity of purpose back in 1949: stop Soviet aggression/expansion. However, since the fall of the USSR in 1991, the group has lost a bit of focus of mission and today’s NATO is nowhere near the cohesive tight military unit it once was. The Plaid Avenger highlights a variety of issues that the organization is currently NOT doing so well at, from its relationship with Russia to the current war in Afghanistan.
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