War

Over the last several years we have documented with clockwork regularity Venezuela's collapse into failed state status, which was cemented several weeks ago when news hit that "Venezuela had officially run out of money to print new money."  At that point the best one could do was merely to step back and watch as local society and civilization turned on itself, unleashing what would ultimately turn into Venezuela's own, sad apocalypse.

Last night we showed what Caracas, looks like this week:

Trevor Thrall looks at how major U.S. papers have covered the extent of our government’s recent military involvement in other countries, and finds that they have covered it less frequently as it has increased:

ISIS militants have launched a drive to recapture the world heritage site of Palmyra. Islamists have cut the road between Homs and Palmyra to disrupt supply routes used by Syrian government forces, according to the London-based organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A professor from the Russian State University for the Humanities, says Moscow could be drawn into a new phase of the Syrian conflict where control over Palmyra will be the main key.

Russia is being forced to look for ways to neutralise threats to its national security following the deployment of the NATO anti-missile shield in Europe. “Now, after the deployment of those anti-missile system elements, we’ll be forced to think about neutralizing developing threats to Russia’s security”  Russian President Vladimir Putin said adding that Russia is making every effort to maintain the strategic balance of power to avoid the outbreak of large-scale conflicts. The alliance launched the missile defense site in Romania on Thursday.

U.S. and Russia are about to face a nuclear stand-off that has the potential to lead to WW3. The two old super-power rivals are talking past each other when it comes to the deployment of the new U.S anti-missile system in eastern Europe aimed at allegedly stopping Iranian missiles. Russia understandably sees it as a direct threat by the fact of its proximity, likening it to Russia deploying anti-missile systems in Cuba and arguing that it is not directed at the U.S. but a rogue state beyond.