G’day mates from across the plaid planet! Looks like our esteemed Skype guest from last semester, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has once again become the current Prime Minister of Australia! Crikey! This podcast covers that palace intrigue, as well as pointing out some particulars about new world leaders in Iran, Pakistan, and even a shout out to the clown prince of politics in Italy. New peeps in charge across the planet! Learn more here!
Crickey! 1000 troops being deployed to Australia? What, is there a rabid army of koalas getting ready to overrun Canberra? Not at all, and in fact this is a much longer-term strategic shift that I believe is going to be of great consequence for the entire Pacific realm. Just as US President Obama is pushing for the Pacific free trade area called the TPP, it is being leaked out that the US has plans (for the first time ever) to have US troops stationed in Australia. Taken together, this speaks to a gigantic US shift of focus, both economically and militarily, to the Pacific realm…probably to increase economic activity, shore up and protect its allies, increase its influences, all while also simultaneously countering the growing influence of China in this PAcific ‘hood. Watch this and learn more about the Pacific specifics of US moves into this most crucial 21st century water world!
Keywords: Pacific Ocean, Pacific Rim, APEC, TPP, Japan, Australia, US troops, Darwin, Northern Territory, China, South China Sea
After a bit of pre-gaming for VT vs. Appalachian State, the Professor gives his take on a few international stories he thinks are of much greater significance this week than the droll domestic drivel that is forced upon the American public on a daily basis. This week:
...violence in Jos, Nigeria
...new Japanese Prime Minister Yoda takes over
...Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in trouble
...Kim Jong-Il in Russia, because his country sucks
and…Russia covertly bashes NATO? What is NATO all about now?
Keywords: Muammar, Libya, Nigeria, Jos, Yoshihiko, Noda, Japan, Gillard, Australia, Russia, Medvedev, NATO, North Korea, Kim Jong-Il
Are you a college professor teaching World Regions or Global Political classes? Pick up the cutting edge, most entertainly educating textbook currently on the market.
