Africa

Most attempts by Western countries to “export democracy” to the Middle East and Africa usually fails due to the fact that Western democracy is flawed.  German newspaper Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten (DWN) says that establishing democratic order alone is not enough to ensure social and political stability in foreign countries. Sputniknews.com reports: In early 1990s, many African countries established formal democracy. They started to organize elections and make a show of sticking to democratic principles, but in fact have been far away from the real division of political power.

The nuances of foreign policy do not feature heavily in the ongoing presidential campaign. Every candidate intends to “destroy” the Islamic State; each has concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea, and China; every one of them will defend Israel; and no one wants to talk much about anything else—except, in the case of the Republicans, who rattle their sabers against Iran.

Submitted by Nick Giambruno via InternationalMan.com,

In the 1989 Batman movie, the Joker (played by Jack Nicholson) showers a crowded Gotham street with free money.

In the scene, it looks like it’s raining hundred-dollar bills. The people love it. Little do they know, the money is actually a trap. Once the Joker has lured them into the street, he unleashes poisonous gas.

I see that my “SJWs Will Elect Trump” post was a big hit over the weekend (thanks, Real Clear Politics, for the link). I posted it after midnight on Saturday morning — after reading accounts of the cancelled Trump rally in Chicago — and by Sunday afternoon, had changed one thing about the view expressed in that post. I had said that the SJWs shutting down an American presidential candidate’s rally was a sign that Trump had to go on — by which I meant that the SJWs could not be allowed to win yet again.

• Fed to sit tight on rates at March meet, hint at hikes to come (Reuters)
• Election setback a 'wake-up call' for Merkel, media and politicians say (Reuters)
• Germany’s Merkel under renewed attack after populists’ poll success (FT)
• Temperatures Rise on Eve of Next GOP Contests (WSJ)
• Carl Icahn setting up son to take his place: sources (Post)
• Turkey Vows Swift Retaliation After Bomb Kills 37 in Capital (BBG)
• One of Ankara bombers was female PKK member: Turkish security sources (Reuters)