Ian Bunn | Political & Popular Culture Arts

Robert L Grenier the American former CIA director of counter-terrorism who was dismissed from the position, and now Chairman of ERG Partners, an independent financial and strategic advisory firm focusing on the security and intelligence sectors, has released an article on Aljazeera discussing implications of the USA playing the ‘India card’ in Afghanistan. Grenier states “Involving India in the US war in Afghanistan could further polarise Pakistan and turn the country into a proxy war. …US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta’s visit to New Delhi, in which he pressed the Indians to raise their level of engagement in Afghanistan. No longer satisfied simply with Indian provision of economic and development assistance, the American defence chief indicated he would like to see India engaged with Afghan security forces as well. In so saying, he was apparently not unmindful of how this message would be received in Islamabad. …But the US government should know that to the extent it is successful in pressing India into high-profile security engagement in Afghanistan, the more likely it is to produce the very situation it fears most: A renewed Afghan civil war in which India and Pakistan are actively engaged in support of their respective proxies, and in which Islamabad’s ties to the Taliban are strongly reinforced. …it should likewise exercise great caution in playing the “India card” in Afghanistan.”

Inspired by Aljazeera http://ow.ly/c4ZtK image source University of Delaware ow.ly/c4Zpk

James “Jamie” Dimon the 56 year old American chairman, president and chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, one of the Big Four banks of the United States has appeared before the US Senate Banking Committee to explain his firms risky transactions with depositor funds recently losing billions of dollars. Brian Beutler for Talking Points Memo states “The long-shot big hope for Wall Street reformers was … Jamie Dimon would trip up before the Senate Banking Committee and expose the need for tighter rules governing big banks. …Instead, with some notable exceptions, the senators themselves turned the cross-examination into a coronation, and exposed the extent to which elected officials still feel compelled to genuflect to powerful financial interests. “You’re obviously renowned, rightfully so I think, as being one of the most, you know, one of the best CEOs in the country for financial institutions,” crooned Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). “You missed this, it’s a blip on the radar screen.” Most of the fawning came from GOP senators who in addition to relying on Wall Street largesse remain engaged in a political campaign against President Obama’s 2010 financial reform law. But some Democrats also treated Dimon if not quite like royalty then perhaps as a trusted confidant. … For reformers, that adds up to an opportunity missed.”

Inspired by Brian Beutler ow.ly/bWaPV image source Facebook ow.ly/bWaPt

Rotten system in hands of political lobbies (October 28th)

Paolo Baratta the 72 year old Italian former banker and Chairman of the Venice Biennale art exhibition has been informed his position will cease at the conclusion of this year. Baratta is deeply involved with the Italian cultural sector, sitting on several institutional and organizational boards. His successor Giulio Malgara a businessman has little experience with the arts will assume the role from the 1^st January 1012, and is seen by some as a political appointment. The Mayor of Venice Giorgio Orsoni released a statement stating, “I am convinced that Giulio Malgara is an unsuitable person to carry out the role of chairman of the Venice Biennale and that it would be a mistake to confirm him in this position. It would interrupt a vital and fruitful process that needs to be seen through to the end.”

Inspired by Anna Somers Cocks http://ow.ly/6YFZP image source Starkwhite http://ow.ly/6YG7K

You're either a luvvy or a boffin (September 10th)

Eric Emerson Schmidt the 56 year old US engineer and Chairman of Google delivered the annual Edinburgh MacTaggart lecture, where he provided a cutting critique on the education system in the UK. Schmidt cited a two camp system with “a drift to the humanities… To use what I’m told is the local vernacular, you’re either a luvvy or a boffin”. Schmidt stated that while the UK had a record of innovation, it was failing industrially to make the transition from concept to production, “The UK is the home of so many media-related inventions. You invented photography. You invented TV, yet today, none of the world’s leading exponents in these fields are from the UK. Thank you for your innovation, thank you for your brilliant ideas. You’re not taking advantage of them on a global scale.”

Inspired by James Robinson http://ow.ly/6fit0 image source Guillaume Paumier http://ow.ly/6fiAk

Ralph Esmerian the 71 year old jeweler to the stars and chairman of the American Folk Art Museum, has been sentenced to six years of imprisonment and a $20m fine, following his arrest by the US postal inspectors and conviction for lying and looting to “maintain his personal and financial status”. Esmerian has been accused of obtaining $210m in loans through multiple pledging of his assets, and the sell-off of those assets once the loans were in place. As the hole Esmerian had dug for himself got bigger, his attempts to satisfy suspicious lenders became more elaborate as he sold gems for fractions of their value in order to repurchase earlier hocked gems, eventually filing his jewelry business for bankruptcy protection as his elaborate scheme dramatically unfolded.

Inspired by Brook Mason http://ow.ly/5TYCJ image source overall.com http://ow.ly/5TYVQ

Mehdi Karroubi the 73 year old Iranian reformist politician, democracy activist, chairman of the National Trust Party and critic of President Ahmadinejad’s foreign policy, has along with fellow reformist politician Mir Hossein Mousavi been denounced by the Iranian parliament as corrupts on earth and should be tried. The denouncements of the two opposition leaders came about following protests in Tehran for which they have been accused of inciting the demonstrations. Corrupt on earth is a capital crime levied against political dissidents in the Islamic Republic of Iran punishable by execution. Fifty conservative MPs marched through the main hall of the parliament chanting “Death to Mousavi, death to Karroubi”. Reports confirm sixty-six people had already been executed during January alone.

Inspired by Reza Sayah and Mitra Mobasherat ow.ly/3Y61Q image source Wikipedia ow.ly/3Y5Uz