Guatemala is in the sorriest state. In May, the assassination of Rodrigo Rosenberg, a prominent lawyer, opened a hornet’s nest. Rosenberg had taped a video that starts by him saying, “If you’re watching this, I’m dead,” and continues by accusing the center-left president, Alvaro Colom, his wife and closest associates of his murder. Webs of corruption, violence and impunity have long ensnared Guatemala. Narcotraffickers have burrowed their way into political influence. Judicial and law-enforcement institutions are compromised. Colom – a well-meaning, if inept, president – accuses the opposition of conspiracy; the opposition demands his resignation. A U.N.-sponsored Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala is investigating the Rosenberg case… In Guatemala, we shouldn’t expect to see light at the tunnel’s end anytime soon. In the meantime, Colom’s weakened presidency stands by helplessly.

— Political Analysis – C.A. Nations

Washington will have to play a special role in this new perestroika, not just because the United States wields great economic, political and military power in today’s global world, but because America was the main architect, and America’s elite the main beneficiary, of the current world economic model. That model is now cracking and will, sooner or later, be replaced. That will be a complex and painful process for everyone, including the United States.

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Image via Wikipedia

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in Mikhail Gorbachev — Time for a Global Perestroika - washingtonpost.com (via quotingthecrisis)

Ha!

European Parliament election results show that the Pirate Party has secured at least one seat in the body by receiving about 7 percent of the Swedish vote.

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Ben Parr in Pirate Party Is Victorious, Joins European Parliament (via quotingthecrisis)

The world faces a permanent food crisis and global instability unless countries act now to feed a surging population by doubling agricultural output, a report drafted for ministers of the Group of Eight nations has warned.

— FT.com / Global Economy - G8 warns of hunger threat to stability

No Republican has ever been elected by losing the state of Ohio

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Image by MatthewBradley via Flickr

Karl Rove