A Little Of The Old In And Out



(image via bloomberg)

In: Zbigniew Brzezinski. Time's managing editor Rick Stengel, filling in for Fareed Zakaria on GPS, interviewed veteran Cold Warrior and former U.S. national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Henry Kissinger's old intellectual rival for position and influence in what David Ignatius called, "the Faculty Club of Life." Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski is this week a hugely relevant public figure, first as a talking head with an expertise in dealing with Russia, and second as the author of Time's cover story "How to Stop a New Cold War." here's a bit of the interview from CNN:

"STENGEL: Although a lot of the things that you're describing are kind of hits at the Cold War, a kind of new Cold War, maybe not quite as cold as before.

"In fact, I think you're on record, I believe, saying that one of the ways that the West could protest is to boycott the Winter Olympics in Russia that is coming up. Is that the case?

"BRZEZINSKI: Well, if the issue is not resolved consistent with international norms by some accommodation, and the Russians insist on the unilateral seizure of these Georgian provinces, then 2014 is the year when the Winter Olympics are to be held -- right next door to these seized provinces.

"Well, then, the question would arise whether the West should participate in these Olympics.

"But we have time for that. I don't think that moving towards sanctions right now is the right moment."

More Zbig here.



Out: Pervez Musharaaf. The dangerous game conducted on the razor's edge of a nuclear that Prevez Musharraf has been playing has come to its conclusion. Law -- a principle particular to the people of Pakistan -- won out over "Order," an opaque platitude rendered by Musharraf as justification for his tyrannical rule. From Foreign Policy:

"Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf resigned Monday, citing a desire to avoid putting his country through a destabilizing impeachment process. "Whether I win or lose the impeachment," he said, "the nation will lose." After speaking for more than an hour and excoriating his rivals' economic management, he raised his fists and said, 'Long Live Pakistan!'

"Musharraf's ouster is a major victory for Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister who leads the junior partner in the ruling coalition and has been calling loudly for Musharraf to leave for months. But Asif Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto, is said to covet the presidency. Musharraf's exit could lead to ugly infighting between Zardari and Sharif, but investors seem happy: the Pakistani stock market rose 4.5 percent on the news."

More here.