Comment du Jour

Russian Navy Making Waves in France

ST. NAZAIRE, France—Far from the sputtering conflict, the war of words, and the diplomatic jousting between Russia and the West over the future  sovereignty of Ukraine, there’s a lucrative business deal unfolding in the  French Atlantic port of St. Nazaire.  There amid the construction cranes and buzzing machine shops of one of France’s largest naval shipbuilders, two new steel grey ships are taking form; both being amphibious assault ships for the Russian navy. 

Looming menacingly, both on the horizon as well as in relations between France and many of her Western allies, the Vladivostok presents a quiet testament to the proverbial bottom line in business relations between France and Russia—business as usual despite the political problems du jour.  

 

A few years ago, France contracted to build two Mistral class  navy helicopter ships in the port of St. Nazaire.  The business deal between the South Korean owned- STX shipbuilder and the Russian navy exceeds $1 billion for each vessel and plans are to deliver the first of the ships probably later this year, politics permitting.

For Moscow, the deal represents the first major weapons import since the fall of the former Soviet Union.

But for France, the deal has caused political waves with many of its closest allies.

While Washington and London have pressured Paris to scrap or slow down the sale, the French Socialist government, facing near nil economic growth, and fearful of further job cuts, still support the sale which sustains an economically endangered shipbuilding industry.

Though the British government has pressured France not to pursue the sale given the international actions of Vladimir Putin, Francois Hollande has lashed out at London over “its hypocrisy” in hosting so very many wealthy Russian oligarchs.   

The Vladivostok’s steel grey frame is taking form. Over 400 sailors are already stationed on the ship, learning the ropes so to speak, before it returns to Russia for active military service as a helicopter carrier enabling rapid intervention and deployment likely as the flagship of a new Mediterranean squadron.  Each ship will be fitted with 16 K-52 “Alligator” attack helicopters.

Ironically viewing the behemoth has become a kind of spectator sport in the port town.  Curiosity being what it is, locals and tourists come to visit the docks to see the vessel, watch the sailors on drill, and often watch the crews on leave in town hovering near cell phone shops to pick up free wifi signals.                                             

A bit of history. Situated on the Bay of Biscay, St. Nazaire remains one of France’s greatest ports; its shipbuilders constructed such iconic trans-Atlantic ocean liners as the Normandie in the 1930’s, the  France in 1961, and Cunard’s new flagship the Queen Mary 2 just a decade ago.  The modern shipyard routinely constructs many of the cruise ships which ply Caribbean waters.  On a darker side, during WWII and the German occupation of France, the port hosted one of the largest U-boat bases, the fifteen near-intact submarine pens from that era still stand as a silent testament to the past.

When Moscow slapped economic sanctions on the USA and European Union, in response to earlier Western sanctions on Russia, the French agricultural sector felt the financial pinch. French exports to Russia last year totaled $10 billion. Of that sum approximately one billion dollars is formed by agricultural products such as meat, vegetables, and wines.  France’s long pampered and protected farming sector feels the pinch.  The Socialist government thus rationalizes the military sale as necessary.

Both the Vladivostok and the Sevastopol, when delivered will be based in the Black Sea port in  Crimea, annexed by Russia earlier this year to the backdrop of world outrage.  The Mistral class vessels  allow for an enhanced and potent amphibious assault capacity.

Given growing European political and military concerns over Moscow’s policies, there’s a quiet nervousness among the French over the ship deal, despite the economic benefits.  As a former shipyard worker told me sarcastically, “Sure it’s good for business, but they (the Russians) are not going to throw it back at us, are they?”  One wonders.

Comment du Jour

The Guns of August

A Century Passes Since the Start of WWI but Tragic Wounds Remain

On June 28, 1914 the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were murdered in Sarajevo by a Serbian terrorist.   The assassination  a century ago led to a spiral of events which triggered the Great War.  Millions died in the carnage. 

Above,  the Archduke, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Throne is seen just before he was shot in his auto.

The car in which the Archduke was killed, is preserved in  the Austrian Army Museum in Vienna.
The auto is actually quite small and seemed just wide enough for the Royal couple to fit in the rear seat where they where shot by an terrorist from the infamous Black Hand.  This Serb nationalist group was active in multi-ethnic Sarajevo, site of the Archduke's official visit. 

The front of the auto as would have been seen as it approached the 19 year old killer Gavrilo Princip. 

The Royal Couple were both gravely wounded and died before reaching the hospital.  

The auto, an Austrian built Graf & Stift Double Phaeton,  is currently on display as the centerpiece to commemorations of the First World War. 

Comment du Jour

Syria’s “International Brigades” Could Sow Domestic Terror

A 22 year old Florida man sets off a suicide bomb in Syria.  Seven Dutch jihadis are killed in combat with Syrian army units.  A Frenchman, just returned from Syria, kills four people at a Jewish museum in Brussels.

Those are some of the shocking stories which emerge from the civil war in Syria which has now spilled over into Iraq, as radicalized Muslim extremists leave the USA, Britain, and Europe to pursue a religious and ideologically driven jihad in the cauldron of the Middle East.  The ranks of these foreign fighters have grown to at least 7,000 according to U.S. intelligence officials. 

Many of these fighters have been inspired and loosely linked by social media as well as many radical mosques, especially in Britain and France.

At issue is not simply that these volunteers are fighting abroad under dubious circumstances, but more troublesome, upon their return from Syria, will many of them become ticking time bombs throughout  American and European cities?  We are not talking simply about political radicalization, but specific military and terror skill sets which can lie dormant or possibly be triggered by events or by design.

Britain’s MI 6 security agency says that as many as 300 of these foreign fighters may have already returned to the United Kingdom from Middle East warzones.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the Syrian conflict had “turned into a cradle of violent extremism,” that could threaten Western countries when fighters return home.

Responding to the growing threat the French government has proposed six-month travel bans on certain individuals going to Syria.  It’s estimated that two or three French citizens leave daily to join radical Islamist groups overseas.

Even Al-Qaida terrorists have been wary of the hyper-radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a signature movement of choice for many of the radicals.

Besides the ideological and religious magnetism of fighting in the Middle East, the practical transport access is not too complicated.  Most militants fly to Turkey along with a huge tourist surge.  The Turkish Islamic/lite government in the meantime has played fast and loose with allowing all sorts and stripes of rebels and dissidents slip over its porous border with Syria.  Among  the “moderate” rebel groups staging from Turkey, there’s also a pipeline for the fanatics. 

But here’s the real problem.  Contrary to many hardline jihadis from Afghanistan, Pakistan or Yemen, these militants don’t carry “red flagged” passports but rather hold American, Belgian, British, French or German passports.  Easy unhindered access inside the 28-member European Union is guaranteed by the Schengen Agreements allowing for free movement among member states.  So once such a citizen re-enters the European Union, he is then free to move and mingle throughout the region without any passport controls, except for the United Kingdom.

Equally a EU passport holder from France, Belgium or Germany has visa free access to the USA.   While the free movement is a boom for trade, tourism and commerce among countries, it allows for the easier travel of many such foreign fighters.

EU Interior Ministries are keenly aware of this unlocked back door.  Equally U.S. Homeland security is ramping up surveillance of many European origin flights to the USA in light of this reality.

 

Evoking the “International Brigades” of the Spanish Civil war (1936-1939), these foreign fighters are driven by ideological zeal, to fight for the “cause.”   The American “Lincoln Brigade” was composed largely of leftists and communists.  A similar political strand was true with many of the British, French and German communists who fought in Spain.   The International Brigades were powered by an  commitment to “fight fascism,” supporting the Spanish Republic against General Franco’s  insurgent nationalists, who were  backed by fascist Germany and Italy.

Syria’s International Brigades are significantly different in many ways; these are hardened religious zealots, many of them converted to Islam, whose “cause” is to establish an Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East.  Syria’s secular regime is supported by Russia.  The cause here is both the cult of violence and to spread radical Islam. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human rights, over 170,000 people have been killed in the conflict thus far. Of 45,000 rebels killed, 15,000 are foreign, mostly Arab fighters, but many indeed are Western.

Lamentably, the unintended consequences of the so-called Arab Spring, coupled with the Obama Administration’s strategic ineptitude, are starkly obvious from Libya to the Levant and into Iraq. 

The black flag of jihad now flies over parts of Syria and Iraq.  When shall some of its foreign zealots return home?

Comment du Jour

Germany Wins World Cup in Rio

Beats tough Argentine team in overtime 1-0

Germany won the coveted FIFA World Cup in Brazil after a tough and tightly played match in Rio.

Germany's young midfielder Mario Goetze (22) made the historic last minute goal to beat Argentina.

So looking back at history, Germany first won the World cup in 1954, again in 1974, in 1990 the year of reunification and now in 2014.

                               Mario Goetze--Super Mario--the man who made it happen!!!

Comment du Jour

Germany Slams Brazil in Semi Finals, 7-1

History in Belo Horizonte

World Cup history was made in Belo Horizonte, when Germany beat Brazil 7-1 in a semi-final match for the coveted World Cup.   Such high scoring semi final matches are rare and seen once in a generation.

Despite a huge home team advantage, the Brazilians were simply outplayed and out maneuvered by the German squad who scored 5 goals in the first 29 minutes.

Though Brazil tried to make a valiant comeback in the second half and scored a goal, the tide was with Germany.  Legendary German player Miroslav Klose made history on the pitch by scoring and making it a world record 16 goals in World Cup play.

Despite home advantage, this was not the classic Brazilian football game but a sad parody of play.

Again special kudos go to the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer; amazing defense.

Comment du Jour

                                               Hup Hup HOLLAND!!!!





Netherlands Beats Costa Rica...but what a fight!!!

The epic showdown in Salvador between the Netherlands and the Ticos of Costa Rica seemed as it would end in an Orange Crush of their Central American opponent.   It was not!

While the Costa Ricans could not come near the Dutch goals, the Orangemen simply could not get a ball past a dogged and amazing Costa Rican defense.

Thus in a match many experts predicted would see the Netherlands crush Costa Rica ended in overtime and 120 minutes at 0-0.    

Penalty kicks favored Holland 4-3 and let's hand it to the Dutch golie Tim Krul who made the difference after an exhausting an nail biting match. 

Now comes the final showdown with Argentina....

Dutch fans are ready!

                                           

Comment du Jour

Welkom to Football—World Cup Keeps Surprising

Finally some good global news!  The World Cup in Brazil continues to captivate international audiences with a mix of amazing soccer and increasingly surprising results.  Paradoxically, early in the tournament the powerhouse teams were nearly all knocked out of the running; Spain, Italy, England and Portugal.  Others like the USA, Costa Rica, France and Uruguay surged forward.  So the field is open for some serious upsets as the sporting extravaganza passes its midpoint.

Football, or soccer as we call it here in the USA, represents not only the proverbial beautiful game but also a clear-cut manifestation of national pride and sporting prowess.  It’s about excellence to be one of the 32 teams at the World Cup as well as nationalistic team pride to keep the momentum going on the pitch.

When the Netherlands plays, there’s a sea of orange spectators. In their first stunning win (5-1) over arch-rival Spain, the Dutch King and Queen were in attendance.  When the Wilhelmus Anthem is played, there’s a power surge of orange positive patriotism.  And look at the ecstatic Team USA fans, with the banner One Nation/One Team, a positive reflection of a country in such a deep political funk. 

Listen to the national anthems.   While we are all familiar with France’s stirring  Marseillaise or the USA’s Star Spangled Banner, the South American anthems seem based on Neapolitan arias.  Many players sing along with pride, others stand mum.

Brazil the host, has been widely criticized for sloppy preparation but happily the games are going smoothly and safely.  Actually Brazil hosted the World Cup back in 1950, the first FIFA football event since WWII.  

Indeed, the World cup has been an extraordinary proving ground for both football and national standing.  Hosting the World Cup while costly, allows for a corresponding flow of economic development, tourism, and prestige.  As with the Olympics, countries vie to host  the World Cup to be placed on the pedestal of national pride. 

South Africa’s successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup saw a surge of recognition, goodwill and standing.

It’s also about national prestige.  World Cups create sports winners and political breakthroughs.  The 1954 World Cup was won by Germany; this was an extraordinary breakthrough for the defeated country in the postwar era. The tournament win importantly and psychologically signaled Germany’s reacceptance and return to the family of nations.  Germany last won the World Cup in 1990 on the eve of its reunification. 

The teams playing in Brazil are ironically reflections of globalization.  Many of the players don’t play in their home countries but on powerhouse high paying foreign teams.   Portugal’s Ronaldo plays with Real Madrid.  Holland’s Arjen Robben plays in Germany’ s Bayern Munich, and Robin van Persie is on Manchester United.

France’s amazing Karim Benzema is with Real Madrid.  Germany’s Miroslav Klose plays for Italy’s Lazio.  USA’s Fabian Johnson plays for Germany’s Bourissia.

Again this is not exactly novel.   Ferenc Puskas, one the greatest footballers of all time, fled from his Hungarian homeland under the communists, and then played for Real Madrid.   

Coaches too reflect this globalization.  Jurgen Klinsmann, the German football super- star from the winning 1990 team, is the manager of Team USA. 

Fast and furious matches define much of the action.  The pressure only increases now that we are down to sixteen teams.   Though the USA saw a heartbreaker loss to Germany 1-0 in the rain of Recife, both U.S. and Germany move forward to the final sixteen.  

Now the fun begins in playoffs.  Some wags say the contest will ultimately come down to Europe versus South America. 

My short list of finalists; Netherlands, Argentina, Germany.