Friday, May 19, 2017

Poem of the Week: The Road Not Taken & JFK


We have received a milestone here in our Network as we have reached our 500th Post. In celebration of this milestone, we wanted to release this special one oof our periodic features, "Poem of the Week" as our team chose this from the great Robert Frost.     We also choose to feature a speech given by President Kennedy regarding Robert Frost which we hope all enjoy.    One very important passage of this speech is noted, "...We take great comfort in our nuclear stockpiles, our gross national product, our scientific and technological achievement, our industrial might — and, up to a point, we are right to do so. But physical power by itself solves no problems and secures no victories. What counts is the way power is used — whether with swagger and contempt, or with prudence, discipline and magnanimity. What counts is the purpose for which power is used — whether for aggrandizement or for liberation. “It is excellent,” Shakespeare said, “to have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant.”..".   
The entire Speech is available by clicking here as we hope all enjoy "The Road Not Taken":

The Road Not Taken
    by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On @POTUS watch & #IranElection2017

The latest "drama" (to paraphrase The US Senate Majority Leader) continues in Washington as the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, came out in defense of the President as he noted that he wanted "...all the facts".   Two US Senate  Committees  has sent out letters asking for all Comey-related memos as there have been reports of countries balking at further intelligence sharing with the United States.    Wednesday also saw massive losses in the Markets--with the Dow losing over 300 Points.    

There have been some talk of Impeachment as some have begun talking about triggering the 25th Amendment as the World awaits what The Former Director of the FBI will have to say..    Vladimir Putin's dramatic intervention about an offer to give a transcript of the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister to the US Congress.   Our view is that Putin's words must be taken with a grain of salt.   The Deputy Attorney General's appointment of former FBI Director, Robert Mueller, as Special Counsel is also of note as the investigation gathers steam.   

The President went to the Coast Guard Academy yesterday to complain about how he was treated.  One very interesting comment was from Ohio Goveror John Kasich as he noted basically to all who were supporting Donald Trump that , "...I told you so..."




There were also a few interesting developments as President Trump gears up to leave for his 10-Day Foreign Trip.   It was noted that there would be no annoucement on the US Embassy Move while President Trump is in Israel.    This is also as this came out that J-Street sent out in a Newsflash on the Iran Deal yesterday:  


J Street

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: Trump administration just re-issued sanctions waivers needed to uphold the Iran deal

Today the Trump administration took the necessary steps to continue sanctions relief to Iran in compliance with US obligations under the Iran nuclear agreement.

Although S-722 is still "working its' way through, we view this move as an implicit support of the Moderate Faction in the Iranian Elections especially as the lines have been clearly drawn.   Rouhani has garnered support from the leading internal opposition figure, Former President Khatamai, Khomeini's Grandson (referred to as the Imam's Reminder in Iran), The family of Former President Rafsajanii and a whole slate of progressives including the leading academic Professor Zibakalam of Tehran University.   His Instagram account has been especially active as he has called upon all Iranians to vote  on the progressive slate of candidates to "wipe the slate clean" .It was also quite amazing on how Rouhani called on his supporters to restrain themselves and avoid being provoked by opponents.    It has been one of the most vibrant election as we look forward to further guidance on it as we await the Election results.   





Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Notations On Our World (Mid-Week Edition): On the State of the World


As we went to the press with this edition of Notations,  we found this interesting "snapshot" courtesy of the @Economist of London on the State of the World.     We found it very striking how Iran was on the more "stable" index as the United States score was lowered in the aftermath of the elections.   The latest revelations on Russia and the Comey Memo underscores it all.      The Comey Memo has been collaborated--initially reported by the New York Times--has been collaborated by a multitude of sources including the Washington Post and CBS News and CNN.    Our understanding is that the former Director created a paper trail to document his discussions with the White House as the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Jason Chafetz, has asked for the documents.   The White House has denied this forcefully as we went to press.   

Beyond the shores of the United States, we're focused on Iran as it moves towards election day.    The lines are drawn between the incumbent, Hassan Rouhani and the conservative challenger, Ebrahim Raisi as the official campaign ends.    Social Media has been on fire on this.    There have been calls by Iranians Ex-Pats to boycott the elections.   It will be very interesting to see where things fall as we await the results of the elections.

The reporting from the Economist on the State of the World right now is hereby noted below as we continue to assess the aftermath of the latest revelations out of Washington and beyond:  
The state of the world: Signs of improvement
A new index of global “fragility” delivers some predictable results. Finland is the world’s most stable country and South Sudan the least. But the Fragile States Index also challenges the popular wisdom that the world grew more turbulent in 2016: a majority of countries in fact became more stable last year. Exceptions abound, not least America, which had its score lowered after a polarising presidential election, writes our data team