VENDE-SE PORTUGAL E ESTRATÉGIA LUSITANA
2 obras que faltavam e muito ajudam a pensar Portugal
Dois livros recentes e muito interessantes sobre temáticas portuguesas.
Em "Vende-se Portugal - país acolhedor e pacato", Henrique Agostinho, um experimentado gestor de marcas com bastantes sucessos no seu activo, mostra como "Portugal perde por ano 10% da sua riqueza nos mercados internacionais, um custo insuportável se a marca Portugal não fosse gerido com os pés por comissões de burocratas"... e que, acrescentamos estoiram todos os anos sem glória nem proveito (a não ser o de certos fornecedores e fornecedores certos) uma enorme pipa de massa!
A "Estratégia Lusitana", obra de dois militares e de dois gestores, tem alguns pontos fortes mas também pontos fracos. Mas antes de tudo, o que há que saudar nesta obra é que ela marca o início de uma colaboração estratégica e sobre estratégia entre dois sectores vitais da sociedade portuguesa, os militares (repositório de experiências estratégicas e de uma cultura estratégica com séculos e globalmente vitoriosa) e os gestores e empresários (hoje o ferro de lança da afirmação de Portugal neste mundo de economia globalizada). Uma colaboração, aliás, que já se devia ter iniciado há umas duas décadas... Não fosse a direita portuguesa a coisa mais estúpida do mundo e não estivesse esta esquerda demasiado inoculada com o velho discurso pacifista e anti-militar (no Ocidente...) que Moscovo serviu aos compagnopns de route durante décadas, não fosse isto assim e há muito que esta colaboração teria sido iniciada e iria já muito mais avançada. Mas, enfim, como dizia a minha avó Luzia, tarde é o que nunca vem...
Ponto forte desta obra, parece-me ser, portanto, esta aproximação, hoje crucial, entre militares e gestores/empresários (que "têm mais de comum que de diferente"), com grandes perspectivas sinérgicas e de fortes vantagens mútuas. E isto, no Portugal de hoje, é pioneiro e muito meritório.
Quanto a pontos fracos, parece-me haver um insuficiente tratamento das questões do soft-power, da competitive intelligence e do perceptions management... Aconselha-se um estudo sobre esse imenso precursor mundial destas coisas que foi o senhor D. João II. Aliás, julgo saber que isso mesmo está a ser estudado na École de FGuerre Économique, de Paris...
Uma bibliografia muito atrasada (o que se prende com o ponto anterior e que leva os autores a ainda se concentrarem no Porter quando abordam as questões da competitividade...) e esquecimento de trabalhos recentes de autores portugueses (alguns académicos, outros nem tanto) como os de Márcia Rodrigues, do ISCSP, sobre as formas de guerra nos teatros africanos e os de Sérgio Parreira de Campos, sobre redes, guerra irrestrita, homeland security e competitividade... E, finalmente, parece-me que há um tratamento demasiado ligeiro das especificidades da estratégia portuguesa e suas constantes vitoriosas ao longo de séculos ou milénios - a inovação absoluta nos campos político e também no militar (veja-se o contributo precursor para a invenção do estado-nação ou a inovação que permitiu à infantaria popular derrotar definitivamente a cavalaria da nobreza); uma informação inovadora e muito performante (veja-se o trabalho pioneiro de D. João II neste campo); uma preocupação com a inovação na tecnologia e na gestão (veja-se a invenção dos seguros marítimos ou a do meter os canhões a bordo dos navios); a manha (veja-se o caso exemplar da guerra do Marquês de Pombal contra a Companhia de Jesus ou o uso sistemático do spiel material muito antes da tetravó de Heydrich ser sequer projecto); e, finalmente, a esquiva (veja-se o comportamento fundacional de D. Afonso Henriques face ao "Imperador das Espanhas").
Depois de ler este "Estratégia Lusitana" e estudar os seus casos exemplares, fica-se, com água na boca, à espera dos seus desenvolvimentos teóricos e de que outros autores peguem no tema, o desenvolvam, façam surgir abordagens complementares e o elevam a patamares superiores. E, sobretudo, à espera de ver desenvolver-se esta poderosa ligação sinérgica militares-empresários...
Em suma, duas obras a saudar, ler e meditar... Que bem precisados andamos!

SARKOZY AGARRA O AMBIENTE
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Sarkozy organizou um grande show político-mediático, a "Grenelle de l'environnement", à volta das questões do ambiente. A economia de energia foi um dos temas fortes tal como os bio-carburantes foram um dos grandes perdedores. A AFP deu uma cobertura completa a este encontro onde Sarkozy anunciou um new deal e uma revolução verde para a França:
Grenelle: une aubaine pour le bâtiment mais il faudra former et embaucher
Les objectifs ambitieux fixés par le Grenelle de l'environnement en matière d'économie d'énergie dans le bâtiment vont gonfler les carnets de commandes des professionnels du secteur mais ils vont devoir se former et trouver des bras. la suite
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Coup d'arrêt du Grenelle à l'engouement pour les biocarburants
Le Grenelle de l'environnement a douché vendredi l'engouement pour les biocarburants, en réclamant un audit complet sur leur intérêt, alors que leur production entre en compétition avec l'alimentation. la suite
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Fin des travaux du Grenelle: annonce d'une expertise sur les agrocarburants ( contient une vidéo )
Le Grenelle de l'environnement a terminé ses travaux vendredi matin, avec l'annonce par le ministre de l'Ecologie Jean-Louis Borloo d'une expertise sur le bilan écologique et énergétique des agrocarburants de première génération. la suite
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José Bové: "ce que j'ai entendu sur les OGM va dans le bon sens"
Le leader altermondialiste et ex-candidat à la présidentielle José Bové a jugé vendredi que les déclarations du président Nicolas Sarkozy sur les OGM, suite au Grenelle de l'environnement, allaient "dans le bon sens". la suite
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Jean-Louis Borloo, facilitateur au pays de l'écologie
Hilare dans la cour du ministère de l'Ecologie vendredi, Jean-Louis Borloo congratule, tape dans le dos des uns et des autres et s'écrie: "Ah! faut l'avoir fait une fois!". la suite
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OGM: un moratoire en France serait contraire à la législation européenne
Un moratoire sur les OGM, envisagé par le président français Nicolas Sarkozy, serait contraire à la législation européenne, a prévenu vendredi la Commission européenne. la suite
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Grenelle: des obstacles à surmonter pour transformer l'essai
Le "New Deal" écologique annoncé par Nicolas Sarkozy doit encore se traduire en programmes et financements et passer l'écueil du parlement à quelques mois des municipales, un cap qui appelle, selon les acteurs du Grenelle, la plus grande vigilance. la suite
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Grenelle : le discours de Sarkozy accueilli avec satisfaction et... prudence
Le discours prononcé jeudi par le président Nicolas Sarkozy en conclusion du Grenelle de l'environnement a suscité de nombreuses réactions de satisfaction, mais aussi de prudence dans l'attente de la mise en place des mesures annoncées : la suite
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Sarkozy annonce des mesures pour une "révolution verte" en France ( contient une vidéo )
Le président Nicolas Sarkozy s'est prononcé jeudi pour la suspension des cultures d'OGM et une réduction des pesticides, sans aller jusqu'à la création immédiate d'une " taxe carbone", en concluant un sommet de deux jours destiné à lancer "une révolution verte" en France. la suite
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Les agriculteurs satisfaits sur les pesticides mais divisés sur les OGM
La majorité des agriculteurs et des industriels se sont montrés satisfaits jeudi des décisions du Grenelle de l'environnement sur la réduction des traitements par les pesticides, mais restent très divisés sur la question des OGM. la suite
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Pour les Verts, le Grenelle se résume surtout à des belles paroles
Les Verts ont manifesté jeudi leur déception devant les résultats annoncés du Grenelle de l'environnement, y voyant surtout de belles paroles creuses, au risque de paraître dénigrer une initiative dont ils ne pouvaient que soutenir le principe. la suite
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Les agriculteurs satisfaits sur les pesticides mais divisés sur les OGM
La majorité des agriculteurs et des industriels se sont montrés satisfaits jeudi des décisions du Grenelle de l'Environnment sur la réduction des traitements par les pesticides, mais restent très divisés sur la question des OGM. la suite
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Les principales mesures du Grenelle de l'environnement
Voici les principales propositions retenues par les participants aux deux jours de table ronde finale du Grenelle de l'environnement, avant l'arbitrage du président de la République jeudi après-midi: la suite
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La France, quatrième plus grosse utilisatrice de pesticides au monde
La France est le quatrième pays utilisateur de pesticides au monde, et le marché est reparti à la hausse en 2007, après une baisse constante entre 1999 et 2006, selon l'Union des industries de la protection des plantes (UIPP). la suite
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Le président Sarkozy rend ses arbitrages sur la "révolution verte"
Le président Nicolas Sarkozy rendait jeudi ses arbitrages, très attendus, sur les mesures proposées pour engager la France dans une "révolution verte" en concluant un sommet de deux jours au côté du nouveau prix Nobel de la paix Al Gore. la suite
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Qu'est ce que la "taxe carbone"?
La "taxe carbone", considérée par les écologistes comme un "test" du succès du Grenelle de l'environnement et soumise à l'arbitrage de Nicolas Sarkozy, est à l'origine une proposition du Pacte écologique de Nicolas Hulot, présenté à tous les candidats pendant la campagne présidentielle. la suite
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Création d'une "trame verte" reliant les espaces naturels
Le Grenelle de l'environnement a décidé de créer une "trame verte" sur le territoire français, Outre-Mer compris, reliant les espaces naturels afin de faciliter la circulation des espèces sauvages, végétales et animales, a annoncé jeudi Allain Bougrain-Dubourg de la LPO. la suite
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Eco-pastille, bâtiment: premières percées du Grenelle de l'environnement ( contient une vidéo )
La première journée du Grenelle de l'environnement a retenu mercredi plusieurs premières mesures phares pour opérer une "révolution écologique" dans le bâtiment et les transports, dont l'éco-pastille sur les voitures, mais a buté sur la fiscalité écologique et les déchets. la suite
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A JANELA DE OPORTUNIDADE DO PKK
John Robb analisa a oportunidade estratégica do PKK curdo, na escalada com a Turquia. O pânico que o PKK pode lançar nos mercados mundiais ao atirar o preço do barril de petróleo para mais de 100 euros. Como especialista, John Robb esmiúça as fragilidades que o PKK pode explorar...
"The PKK's Opportunity to Win Strategically
Current tightness in the oil markets (peak oil?) has presented the PKK, the Kurdish guerrilla group fighting the Turkish government, with an amazing opportunity. It can become responsible for sending oil prices over $100 a barrel and sowing panic in global markets.
How? This objective can be accomplished through a series of attacks on the BTC pipeline that runs from Azerbaijan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan (in a fashion similar to earlier attacks that PKK has made on less substantial pipelines). With over 750,000 barrels of oil flow a day (1 m a day next year) over 1,092 miles of pipeline, ongoing disruption would result in:
- An immediate price spike that would likely exceed $100 a barrel, an important psychological barrier. This is pricing power in the oil market on par with Saudi Arabia (see the 2004 brief: " A Shadow OPEC" for more).
- A major loss of income for Turkey from pipeline fees, as contractual caveats kick in. Also, substantial disruptions and price hikes for not only Turkish customers, but European customers too. This could put the final nail in coffin for Turkey's EU bid.
- Global recognition of their situation/cause and immediate international pressure on Turkey to resolve the crisis. At a minimum, if Turkey opts for violence, the disruption of the BTC would be a strategic timer on the conflict -- as in the longer it persists, the greater the international pressure to end it.
If peak oil is actually in play already, as this report from the German government concludes , the price spike we see will not be met with increased production from the big producers. It will be sustained as long as the disruption persists. As a result, it could become the first global example that oil pricing power has shifted from producers to disruptors and that a shadow OPEC is not only possible, but inevitable.
ISLÃO RADICAL E A EUROPA

Europe, Radical Islam and the Middle East Conflict
• On the Discourse of Tariq Ramadan
Paul Landau
• Joschka Fischer, the Road Map, and the Gaza Pullout
Matthias Küntzel
• Islam, “Fundamentalism” and the French Banlieues
Latifa Ben Mansour
• The European Left and its “Dialogue” with the Arab World
Thomas von der Osten-Sacken and Thomas Uwer
• A Closer Look at the Statistics on Anti- Semitism and “Islamophobia” in France
John Rosenthal
TERRORISMO: AL-QAEDA
E ATENTADOS SUICIDAS
Duas análises mesmo muito interessantes sobre fenómenos maiores da nebulosa terrorista. Uma sobre a racionalidade política da organização de Bin Laden e o seu impacto nos conflitos e no direito humanitário. E uma outra análise sobre o fenómeno do atentado suicida e o seu futuro.
Attentats-suicides: analyse et perspectives - un entretien avec Christoph Reuter
Dans son ouvrage Mein Leben ist eine Waffe ("Ma vie est une arme"), paru en 2002, Christoph Reuter dressait pour la première fois un portrait et une histoire du phénomène moderne de l'attentat-suicide. Journaliste pour Stern Magazin, GEO et Die Zeit, Christoph Reuter nous livre ici une analyse incisive du phénomène de l'attentat-suicide et de son avenir. Ayant voyagé à de nombreuses reprises dans l'Irak post-Saddam Hussein, Reuter dresse également un tableau de la situation endurée quotidiennement par ses habitants.
'O desígnio de Portugal é o mundo,
uma grande entrevista de Luís Amado ao Correio da Manhã... onde o MNE mostra ter a inteligência do que é Portugal, coisa que não se via desde os tempos de Jaime Gama. A lição de um homem com pensamento de Estado.

Luís Amado, ministro de Estado e dos Negócios Estrangeiros,entende que o desígnio de Portugal é o mundo e que temos de revisitar nas próximas duas décadas os espaços regionais em que estivemos presentes, os espaços da nossa influência, do nosso imaginário. Não concorda com referendos para ratificar tratados internacionais mas garante que o Governo ainda não tomou qualquer decisão sobre a matéria. E revela que a Polónia começou por recusar a solução para a questão italiana..." continua
Aqui
Eric Delbecque: Prémio IEC 2007
O prémio 2007 da academia francesa de inteligência económica foi ganho por Delbecque, professor na Ecole de Guerra Economique e muito ligado ao desenvolvimento e implantação da IE nas empresas francesas. O Claro manifesta o seu acordo e alegria por este reconhecimento do trabalho de um dos seus autores preferidos e que aqui se cita e se divulga desde há muito. A Infoguerre também manifestou júbilo por esta distinção do trabalho de Eric Delbecque:
"L'automne c'est le moment des prix littéraires. Le petit monde de l'intelligence économique ne déroge pas à ces traditions. Tous les ans, l'Académie de l'intelligence économique (http://www.academie-ie.org) décerne le prix IEC visant à récompenser le meilleur ouvrage francophone en IE. En douze ans d'existence, ce prix est devenu incontournable pour les auteurs spécialistes de cette discipline. Les nominés pour l'édition 2007 constituent certainement comme la liste la plus homogène de l'histoire du prix IEC.
Dans cette géopolitique de l'IE se retrouvaient en lice cette année des poids lourds (Fayard et Bruté de Rémur), le « politique » héraut de l'IE ( Carayon), des représentants de la nouvelle génération de chercheurs en IE (Eric Delbecque, Nicolas Lesca et Marie Laurence Caron-Fasan) et des outsiders bien connus de la communauté dont les travaux seront primés dans les années à venir (je prends officiellement les paris) : Anne-Marie Blanc Alquier, Philippe Huchot, Eric Sutter.
Finalement les jurés qui représentent toutes les composantes de l'IE hexagonale ont primé Eric Delbecque. Force est d'écrire que c'est une juste récompense à la fois pour l'auteur et pour l'ouvrage en lui-même. Eric Delbecque secrétaire général de l' IERSE a beaucoup publié ces dernières années. Il est l'auteur de textes doctrinaires, théoriques et empiriques fondés sur des expériences menées sur le terrain avec le Préfet Pautrat . Son ouvrage publié au PUF figure comme l'ouvrage d'introduction qui faisait défaut. Bien écrit, joliment pensé, refusant les blocages intellectuels à l'encontre de réalités (l'effectivité des affrontements concurrentiels et la nécessité de penser le puissance des nations), l'ouvrage d'Eric Delbecque est un majestueuse invitation à pratiquer l'intelligence économique.
Une mention spéciale personnelle pour Bruté de Rémur dont « ce que intelligence économique veut dire » constitue la première tentative d'écrire une épistémologie de l'IE, et pour « le réveil du samouraï » par l'auteur de « la maîtrise de l'interaction », (excellent petit ouvrage qui n'a pas eu le succès qu'il méritait).
Accessoirement, c'est indirectement la quatrième fois depuis la création de ce prix qu'un enseignant de l'Ecole de Guerre Economique remporte le prix IEC ( Baumard 1996, Lucas et Tiffreau 2001, Francart 2003) ce qui démontre si besoin la justesse des choix de l'EGE qui s'entoure depuis sa création des auteurs majeurs. Ainsi, Eric Delbecque outre ses fonctions à l'IERSE enseigne à l'EGE depuis 2004 où il est en charge du cours « Théories et doctrines de l'IE ».
Félicitations au jury de l'Académie, au lauréat et au nominés pour leurs actions en faveur de l'IE."
STORYTELLING
conta-me histórias... leitura recomendável

"Storytelling, une machine à fabriquer des histoires et formater les esprits" de Christian Salmon, Editions de la Découverte 2007
"L'art de raconter des histoires est devenu un style dominant dans les techniques de propagande du XXIè siècle. Christian Salmon nous retrace la manière dont cette méthode a été conçue d'abord dans le domaine des marques publicitaires, puis dans les méthodes de management des entreprises innovantes du type Apple avant d'impacter le monde politique américain puis occidental. Christian Salmon nous parle de la manière dont le fort cherche à formater les esprits du consommateur, de l'employé et du citoyen. Il reste à écrire la manière dont le faible en a fait un art de la guerre de plus en plus efficace depuis la révolution russe." in Infoguerre
"Depuis qu'elle existe, l'humanité a su cultiver l'art de raconter des histoires, un art partout au cœur du lien social. Mais depuis les années 1990, aux États-Unis puis en Europe, il a été investi par les logiques de la communication et du capitalisme triomphant, sous l'appellation anodine de « storytelling » : celui-ci est devenu une arme aux mains des « gourous » du marketing, du management et de la communication politique, pour mieux formater les esprits des consommateurs et des citoyens. Derrière les campagnes publicitaires, mais aussi dans l'ombre des campagnes électorales victorieuses, de Bush à Sarkozy, se cachent les techniciens sophistiqués du storytelling management ou du digital storytelling.
C'est cet incroyable hold-up sur l'imagination des humains que révèle Christian Salmon dans ce livre, au terme d'une longue enquête consacrée aux applications toujours plus nombreuses du storytelling : le marketing s'appuie plus sur l'histoire des marques que sur leur image, les managers doivent raconter des histoires pour motiver les salariés, les militaires en Irak s'entraînent sur des jeux vidéos conçus à Hollywood et les spins doctor construisent la vie politique comme un récit… Christian Salmon dévoile ici les rouages d'une « machine à raconter » qui remplace le raisonnement rationnel, bien plus efficace que toutes les imageries orwelliennes de la société totalitaire. Ce « nouvel ordre narratif » va au-delà de la création d'une novlangue médiatique engluant la pensée : le sujet qu'il veut formater est un individu envoûté, immergé dans un univers fictif qui filtre les perceptions, stimule les affects, encadre les comportements et les idées… " in Présentation de l'éditeur
LA PRESIDENTA DE ARGENTINA
O Libé acha que a coisa cheira muito a peronismo diluído mas Ségolène Royal foi, na recta final, dar uma forcinha à candidata vencedora Cristina Fernandez Kirchner e ainda tiveram tempo de trocar umas ideias sobre formas de conciliar o exercício do poder e a feminidade... "Evita" Kirchner explicou que não é por se estar em campanha eleitoral que se deve andar mal vestida e mal maquilhada e Ségo mostrou um pouco as pernocas enquanto respondia a perguntas de jornalistas. Tudo em feminidade assumida, como fez questão de explicar... Sintese: quando se tem ambição política, não se pode perder um palco, mesmo na outra ponta do mundo e mesmo que não reste lá nada a fazer ou a dizer, como neste caso em que a senhora Kirchner tinha tudo ganho à primeira e de bandeja.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner et le président argentin Nestor Kirchner à Buenos Aires, le 28 octobre 2007
© AFP, le 28-10-2007 - La première Dame argentine, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, a été largement élue dimanche présidente dès le premier tour de scrutin devant une autre femme, la députée Elisa Carrio, selon des sondages sortie des urnes, diffusés par les télévisions argentines
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner a voté le 28 octobre 2007 à Rio Gallegos, province de Santa Cruz
© AFP, le 28-10-2007 - L'Argentine a commencé à voter dimanche pour le premier tour d'une élection présidentielle dominée par la première Dame argentine, la sénatrice Cristina Fernandez, favorite pour prendre en décembre la tête d'un pays redevenu prospère et qui privilégie sa stabilité.
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Ségolène Royal répond aux questions des journalistes français, le 27 octobre 2007 à Buenos Aires
"L'ex-candidate socialiste à la présidentielle française, Ségolène Royal, s'est félicitée samedi à Buenos Aires de sa rencontre la veille avec la première Dame argentine, candidate à la présidentielle de dimanche en Argentine, en qui elle a trouvé une femme "très déterminée et très mobilisée".
Royal rencontre Cristina Fernandez, candidate à la présidentielle argentine
Ségolène Royal répond aux questions des journalistes français, le 27 octobre 2007 à Buenos Aires
L'ex-candidate socialiste à la présidentielle française, Ségolène Royal, s'est félicitée samedi à Buenos Aires de sa rencontre la veille avec la première Dame argentine, candidate à la présidentielle de dimanche en Argentine, en qui elle a trouvé une femme "très déterminée et très mobilisée".
Mme Royal, a eu un entretien d'une heure avec la sénatrice Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, épouse du président sortant Nestor Kirchner, qui se présente dimanche au premier tour de la présidentielle.
"J'ai trouvé une femme très déterminée, très tonique, très mobilisée", a déclaré dimanche l'ancienne candidate socialiste, devant plusieurs journalistes français.
Mme Royal a indiqué qu'elles avaient partagé leur expérience de femme et de candidate, et évoqué le problème de "la conciliation entre l'exercice du pouvoir et la féminité". Sur ce dernier point, Mme Royal a souligné les critiques dont avait été l'objet la première dame argentine, allant même jusqu'à une "remise en cause de sa compétence économique" alors que c'est pour elle une "préoccupation majeure".
La sénatrice Cristina Fernandez, femme élégante et toujours impeccablement maquillée est souvent critiquée pour sa coquetterie. "Ce n'est pas parce qu'on fait une campagne électorale qu'on doit se vêtir de haillons", a expliqué Mme Fernandez, citée par Mme Royal. "J'ai trouvé fort de sa part cette féminité assumée", a indiqué la socialiste française.
"Elle est en train d'inventer une nouvelle alliance entre la capacité à exercer une autorité (...) et à garder en même temps sa féminité", a-t-elle encore dit, soulignant que "cette exigence (était) très originale".
Les deux femmes s'étaient déjà rencontrées en février à Paris lors d'une visite en France de la candidate argentine. L'ex-candidate socialiste a précisé qu'elle ne prévoyait pas de rencontrer les autres candidats à la présidentielle, dont la députée Elisa Carrio, soutenue par le Parti socialiste argentin, mais que rien n'était exclu.
Mme Royal doit quitter Buenos Aires lundi à destination du Chili où elle doit rencontrer la présidente Michelle Bachelet, avant de regagner Paris. " © AFP.
SPIN, EFEIT0, COMUNICAÇÃO E PERCEPTIONS MANAGEMENT... 
Que linda ideia,oh Vital! Pelo Kaos...
"Vital Moreira pode ter encontrado uma solução mais consensual para o problema do modelo de ratificação do Tratado de Lisboa, que divide até os socialistas. O constitucionalista, afecto ao PS, avançou com a ideia da ratificação parlamentar do documento e, só depois de 2009, fazer-se "um referendo a sério sobre a permanência de Portugal na União Europeia". Uma sugestão que os eurodeputados do partido vêem como "interessante"."
O Tratado
pelo Kaos

Le gouvernement envisage
la prison à vie pour les pédophiles
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No L'Express de hoje e sem comentários:
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A leur sortie de prison, ils pourraient être envoyés dans un centre "socio-médico-judiciaire de sûreté", pour une durée de deux ans, renouvelable indéfiniment. Ils se verraient ensuite proposer des soins médicaux et en cas de sortie, seraient placés sous bracelet électronique.
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Le ministère de la Justice va proposer une nouvelle mesure de "rétention de sûreté" dans des centres carcéraux d'un nouveau type pour les criminels les plus dangereux qui ont fini de purger une peine de prison, selon un avant-projet dévoilé par le Parisien.
Cette "rétention de sûreté" concernerait les personnes condamnées à des peines d'au moins quinze ans de réclusion criminelle pour des crimes de sang ou des crimes sexuels.
A leur sortie de prison, ils pourraient être envoyés dans un centre "socio-médico-judiciaire de sûreté" par une commission pluridisciplinaire et après expertise médicale. Il s'agirait d'unités d'un nouveau type, la première devant être créée à l'hôpital pénitentiaire de Fresnes (Val-de-Marne).
La commission pluridisciplinaire prendra la décision pour une durée de deux ans, mais renouvelable indéfiniment, si elle considère que la rétention est la seule manière de prévenir la récidive et que le détenu est trop dangereux.
La personne se verrait ensuite proposer des soins médicaux et si elle sort, elle serait placée sous bracelet électronique. Le ministère entend faire adopter ce texte avant la fin de l'année pour une entrée en vigueur en septembre 2008, dit le Parisien.
Ce projet a été demandé par Nicolas Sarkozy en août dernier après l'arrestation à Roubaix de Francis Evrard, qui venait de séquestrer et violer un enfant. Il venait de sortir de prison après y avoir passé 18 ans pour des crimes similaires.
Le projet de la chancellerie a été critiqué par avance à gauche, à droite et dans les milieux de la magistrature. Il risque d'être inconstitutionnel, souligne-t-on.
La privation de liberté sans décision de justice est en effet aux frontières du droit français.
Autre projet controversé, le ministère projette de réformer le traitement judiciaire des délinquants et criminels déclarés irresponsables en raison d'une affection psychiatrique, et qui actuellement ne sont soumis à aucune peine mais seulement à une hospitalisation obligatoire.
Pour répondre au souhait de certaines associations de victimes, le ministère envisage de permettre aux juridictions de prononcer une "déclaration de culpabilité civile" et des mesures de sûreté. Les peines de prison seraient toujours impossibles.
Ce projet de Rachida Dati est aussi critiqué par les syndicats de magistrats, qui estiment qu'on va revenir sur un principe intangible du droit, selon lequel les malades mentaux ne peuvent pas faire l'objet de sanction puisqu'ils n'ont pas leur libre arbitre.
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+ d'informations
· Article Pédophilie: 132 personnes arrêtées en France
· Article Pédophilie: succès de l'appel à témoins
· Article Appel à témoins pour trouver un pédophile
· Article Récidive chez les pédophiles: surveiller, mais comment?
· Article Allemagne: la télévision tend la main aux pédophiles
· Article "La récidive est un risque à courir"
Nos dossiers
avec
· Dossier La lutte contre la pédophilie
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MICROSOFT NO FACEBOOK, JÁ ESTÁ!
A Microsoft entrou no capital do Facebook com uma participação minoritária pela qual desembolsou 240 milhões de dólares, o que significa que a empresa de Bill Gates valoriza aquele site social em... 15 mil milhões de dólares!
Para além de entrar mansamente no capital social, a Microsoft assegura o reforço das relações estratégicas com Facebook, garantindo uma posição de privilégio como plataforma publicitária do site.
Os analistas levantam várias interrogações sobre o que virá a significar este desembarque da Microsoft no Facebook e sobre quem irá, em termos práticos, influenciar mais o outro... Facebook é um campeão da internet e já se internacionalizou. Neste momento, 60 por cento dos seus utilizadores situam-se fora dos Estados Unidos, tem uns cinquenta milhões de utilizadores activos e todos os dias regista uma média de... 200.000 novas inscrições!
ACORDEM E HABITUEM-SE !
diz o pintor de "Vidas"
penso eu "de que" ele está a dizer-nos para nos habituarmos a acordar... depois de tesos e endividados.

MAU AMBIENTE NOS JOGOS
OLÍMPICOS DE PEQUIM-2008
Relatório da ONU é muito crítico com Pequim e revela que os níveis de poluição na capital chinesa são oito vezes superiores ao admitido pela Organização Mundial de Saúde... Portanto, explica o China Confidential, "Beijing Smog Could Delay Olympic Events
The International Olympic Committee says Beijing's air pollution could force some outdoor events to be postponed at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
A United Nations report issued Thursday criticized Beijing's progress on cleaning its air, 10 months before the Games begin in August.
An IOC Inspection team said air quality is a leading concern. Team leader Hein Verbruggen said the pollution's impact on elite athletes is of particular concern.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said some events--especially endurance events like marathon running or cycling--could be postponed to preserve the athletes' health. Neither Rogge nor Verbruggen said pollution is a threat to Beijing's hosting next year's Olympics.
The UN report said that the average level of pollutants in Beijing's air in 2006 was eight times higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization.
The UN report was (...) " Continua Aqui
OS PREÇOS TÓRRIDOS DO PETRÓLEO
(92,22 US$ por barril, a 26 de Outubro 2007)
E SUAS PREVISÍVEIS CONSEQUÊNCIAS

"A informação que um governo precisa hoje - costumava dizer o comandante Virgílio de Carvalho - nada tem a ver com uma certa ideia disso que ainda por aí subsiste. Não precisamos de saber quantas espingardas os espanhóis têm, o que o primeiro-ministro tem de saber é qual é a perspectiva do preço do dólar ou do barril de petróleo, daqui a seis meses ou daqui a um ou para a semana...E é isto que dramaticamente falta e por esta falta pagamos um preço brutal."
Há tempos, um ministro de anterior governo justificava os seus disparates dizendo que a evolução em alta do preço do petróleo o tinha surpreendido... Lembro-me que, nessa altura, aqui no Claro se lhe sugeriu a frequência de uns certos sites (ainda por cima gratuitos) para não voltar a deixar-se surpreender pela evolução do barril.
Espero, francamente, não voltar a ouvir este tipo de justificações pouco sérias a qualquer membro deste governo. De facto, só se deixa, nesta matéria, surpreender quem quer ou quem é burro e preguiçoso. A alta que marca hoje este record histórico era previsível e foi prevista. Basta ver:
"Perfect Storm: Mideast Tension, Chinese Growth and Global Warming Will Drive Energy Prices Ever Higher
Crude oil for November delivery rose to $90.07 a barrel in after-hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange Thursday, the highest since trading began in 1983. Prices were up 39 cents on the day at $89.86 at 12:06 PM in London.
What's driving the surge? The near-term answer is heightened tension in the Middle East combined with a sagging US economy. Oil hit a new record high as the US dollar touched a new all time low against the euro of $1.43.
Long term, however, the China factor is probably the key driver. An energy exporter until just a few years ago, China is now the world's second largest importer of oil after the United States. China is also the fastest growing oil importer.
China's leaders seem to think that they can offset the negative consequences of rising oil prices by using China's giant, state-run oil companies to lock in long-term supply and preferential access agreements with anti-Western oil producing nations such as Iran and Sudan.
Some Chinese analysts and policymakers--particularly in the military--actually regard higher oil prices as a positive development. Taking a zero-sum view of China's relationsip with the United States, these nationalists like anything that gradually makes "the Hegemon" relatively weaker (without ruining its economy altogether because of its importance to China's economic expansion).
Internally, China controls and subsidizes oil prices; so ordinary people are insulated from the crisis (for the time being).
Climate change is another long-term factor (...) "
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 11:33 AM
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Niger Delta Rebels Planning New Attacks
The US Embassy in Nigeria said Friday that it had received information that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), an armed militant group located in the Niger Delta, is preparing to launch attacks against unspecified oil installations and pipelines in Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States. The attacks may be preceded by the taking of hostages to be used as human shields.
The Embassy recommended that all Americans review their security procedures and remain vigilant to their surroundings. The Embassy also encouraged Americans to report specific incidences of targeted violence to the Embassy in Abuja or to the US Consulate General in Lagos.
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 1:05 AM "
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Para evitar mais surpresas, é hoje conveniente ler John Robb
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Here's some thinking for the weekend. Let's begin:
The financial carnage -- hedge fund failures, bank runs, credit tightening, and potentially a recession -- due to the current mortgage crisis demonstrates (yet again) that very smart people can do incredibly stupid things. For all of the insight, experience, and knowledge we gained through previous financial failures, we still walked blithely into the gaping maw of the delinquencies, defaults, and outsized bailouts that characterize a financial black swan (a black swan is an event that defies prediction, but it is usually obvious in hindsight).
Bad Assumptions
This should lead everyone to contemplate what other dangers are out there, undetected by the very same people that led us into the last crisis. One good way to find these hidden black swans is to sniff out bad assumptions -- particularly those that are only held aloft by boundless optimism, despite growing evidence that they've gone bad. For example, there is a widely embraced assumption that we will always be able to produce enough oil/gas at a reasonable price to meet global needs. Despite this, the oil market is currently characterized by:
- Rapidly increasing prices (on the way to $100 a barrel) that indicate supply stress. Why the stress? Why haven't we had a production increase since 2005?
- Geopolitical maneuvering by the great powers to lock-up sources of energy -- from the Sudan to Iran to Iraq to Russia. If the market was working correctly and future supplies were going to be driven by the magic of economics in combination with technological innovation, why the effort to secure national supplies?
- The peaking/failure of three (and potentially all four) of the world's major oil fields. If these fields are the foundational producers of the global energy system, how can we make up the loss?
Peak Oil?
If the current assumptions and the theories that are derived from them aren't very good at explaining current events (let alone predictive), then it is smart to look for alternative theories. One alternative (perhaps better) explanation for the conditions we currently see in the oil market can be found in the thinking being done on peak oil. This theory's foundational assumption is that we have already pumped almost all of the easy to produce oil out of the ground and that the complexity of extracting the remaining oil will advance along a exponential curve of difficulty and expense. According to this analysis, we will see:
- Steadily increasing prices as demand outstrips supply.
- An inability to maintain production levels.
- Eventually, a steady and inexorable slide in production as sources of easy/bountiful oil deplete and fall off-line (the rate of this decline, given our relative unpreparedness, will radically outstrip the development of alternative sources of energy).
Top Level Thoughts On Security
Here's a quick round-up of some of the security consequences for this theory (there's much more to do on this):
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An increasing number of wars and conflicts in oil producing areas (Iraq, Iran, KSA, Sudan, Nigeria, etc.). Perversely: 1) the very military force we will likely use in these conflicts is extremely energy dependent and those costs will skyrocket, and 2) terrorists/guerrillas will find that the damage they can inflict with systems disruption rises at a multiple to every decrease in production/supply.
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State failures in the developing world where the costs of energy outstrip the means to pay for it. Hollow states will proliferate.
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Economic dislocation due to a string of recessions and persistent inflation in the developed world as every increasing energy costs percolate through the global economy. Global guerrillas in the US?
NOTE: I'm going to list some good books and resources on the topic of peak oil soon.
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NOTE2: One of the reasons I brought up this topic is that I was surprised to find that nearly all of the top people in the CIA, NSA, DHS, DoD, etc. that I have talked to/with over the last few months didn't know anything about the topic. Hopefully, I can put this on their forward looking radar.
OS FROUFROUS TÓRRIDOS
DE CHANTAL THOMASS
ou da lingerie como prazer íntimo das mulheres (mas não só...)
"Grâce à Chantal Thomass - diz o Le Monde de 21 de Agosto 2007 - les femmes ont redécouvert le plaisir intime d'une lingerie raffinée et mutine. Et elles ont appris à porter corsets et balconnets en tenue de jour. Avec ses balconnets pigeonnants, ses bas résille et ses jarretelles, des dessous sexy aux frontières du sulfureux, Chantal Thomass a transgressé les codes. C'était le début des années 1970. La vague hippie et les mouvements féministes avaient jeté les soutiens-gorge aux orties. Avec humour et insolence, Chantal Thomass a pris le contre-pied. Non pas en stratège, mais par amour des froufrous."
Christian Lacroix, um observador mais que privilegiado da coisa, disse sobre Chantal Thomass que "petit à petit elle a poussé une porte et pénétré un domaine peu exploité, entre un Pigalle bien élevé et un luxe bourgeois un peu torride"
PUTINE É ESTALINE COM INTERNET
vladimir fédorovski, autor de "Le Fantôme de Staline"

CASAMENTO POR 7 ANOS
PROPÕE DEPUTADA ALEMÃ
totalmente de acordo com a proposta!

PCC: DO “SOCIALISMO”
AO “DESENVOLVIMENTO”
mas sempre “científico”
O Congresso Nacional do Partido Comunista Chinês (PCC) adoptou como eixo orientador da política do PCC o conceito, muito caro Hu , de “Desenvolvimento Científico”… o mesmo é dizer que o “Socialismo Científico” já foi. A ideologia continua “científica” mas passou do “socialismo” para o “desenvolvimento”. E não ficará por aqui…
O "Desenvolvimento Científico" é apresentado como um conceito que visa corrigir os excessos do crescimento económico sem limites que vigorou durante os mandatos de Jiang Zemin, antecessor de Hu à frente da China e do partido. Do "Desenvolvimento Científico" é dito que visa reduzir as desigualdades entre as regiões urbanas e litorais (mais prósperas) e as regiões rurais, proteger o meio ambiente do desenvolvimento selvagem e reduzir o fosso entre os rendimentos dos mais ricos e dos mais pobres da China .
No “TempoQuePassa”, nota-se que o vice-presidente da república, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, chefe da Comissão de Disciplina do PCC - agência que lidera a luta crucial contra os políticos corruptos - e Luo Gan, que liderava o sistema judicial, a polícia e as forças de segurança do país, ficaram de fora das listas para o Comité Central e saíram assim do Comité Permanente do Politburo do partido, o mais poderoso órgão da Chia, que tem na actualidade nove pessoas.
O “China Confidential” acompanhou, em cima do acontecimento, este congresso do PCC e desse acompanhamento aqui se dá registo:
CPC Ends 17th National Congress
China's ruling Communist Party ended its 17th National Congress Sunday, after endorsing leadership changes to the party's Central Committee that solidify President Hu Jintao's grip on power.
Chinese state media say Vice President Zeng Qinghong stood down along with Wu Guanzheng, the head of the party's disciplinary committee, and security chief Luo Gan after they were not chosen to join the new Central Committee.
Vice Premier Wu Yi also was not included on the Central Committee list.
Without a place on the committee, the politicians cannot be reappointed to the nine-member Standing Committee--the most powerful government body in China.
The party's newly elected 204-member Central Committee will hold its first plenary session Monday. The Committee will endorse a new Standing Committee, which is expected to guarantee Hu's second five-year term in office.
China's ruling Communist Party holds its National Congress every five years.
The seven-day party congress included 2,200 delegates.
At the start of the meeting, Hu outlined his plans for the next five years. He said he wants China to move more delicately toward what he called a "moderately prosperous society" with balanced and sustainable development.
China Confidential forecasts: Hu will try to balance breakneck growth and unbridled crony-capitalism with measures of socialist reform, discipline and idealism. For example, although the party will foster the development of the non-public sector with a first-ever amendment of this kind to the party constitution (along with a first-ever mention of religion), the party, acting through the government, will remain firmly in control of the economy.
Among the 73 million party members nationwide, only three million come from the private sector.
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 12:09 PM
Fifth Generation Leaders Sort of Meet the Press
Two so-called Fifth Generation Communist Party leaders--men born in the 1950s who are widely considered future leaders of China--have made a rare appearance before the media. Not surprisingly, however, they avoided questions on their political prospects....
Shanghai Communist Party chief Xi Jinping (pictured on the left) and his counterpart in northeastern Liaoning province, Li Keqiang, spoke to reporters Tuesday after overseeing meetings of their delegations at the 17th Communist Party Congress in Beijing.
Both men were careful to refer to Chinese President Hu Jintao and his key themes at the Party Congress, including Hu's call for "scientific development" that balances economic growth with protecting the environment.
The 52-year-old Li and 54-year-old Xi are seen as possible contenders to replace Hu and other leaders when they step down five years from now.
Hu opened the Party Congress on Monday by saying political reform and economic growth in China must continue. He also emphasized that the Communist Party will remain in charge.
Hu pledged to allow more public participation in politics but offered few details. He warned that the Communist Party will not tolerate corruption.
China's Communist Party has been rocked in recent years by high-level corruption cases, including the arrest of a party boss in Shanghai.
The seven-day Party Congress is taking place at a time of increasing social unrest in China. Security is tight in Beijing, with reports of dissidents and other activists being detained to prevent unrest during the meeting.
The Party Congress is a crucial moment for Hu, as he sets Chinese policy for the next five years.
Party delegates are expected to re-elect Hu to another five-year term. They also will choose nine new members for the party's executive organization, the Political Bureau Standing Committee.
Post Script: The fifth generation of leaders consists of many "sent-down youth," who are often referred to as members of "the lost generation" of the Cultural Revolution.
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 5:11 AM
Chinese President Addresses Party Congress
China's week-long Communist Party Congress has opened in Beijing. Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to deliver balanced economic development, greater environmental protection and moderate political reforms. As VOA's Heda Bayron reports from the Chinese capital, this is the country's most important political meeting in five years.
In a two-and-a-half hour speech at the Great Hall of the People Monday, Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to improve living conditions for millions of poor Chinese.
Hu acknowledged that China's rapid but lopsided economic development over the past two decades has made life difficult for many.
Among the related problems, he mentioned the growing income gap between rich and poor, inadequate social welfare, corruption, and pollution.
In the next five years, Hu wants China to move more delicately toward what he called a "moderately prosperous society" with balanced and sustainable development.
Hu's speech to the 2,200 delegates to the Congress was partly aimed at appeasing growing rural discontent that has, at times, erupted into violent protests. He promised social security reforms, such as a medical cooperative for rural residents, plans for an old-age insurance system, and increased subsistence allowances to the poor.
Hu also promised to improve the public complaints system, fight corruption and increase democracy within the Communist Party by introducing a voting system to decide on major issues and official appointments to local party committees.
The Chinese leader also said Beijing wants a "peace agreement" to end the "state of hostility" with Taiwan, but only under the "one-China" principle. China considers Taiwan part of its territory that must be reunified with the mainland eventually, by force if necessary.
Security is extremely tight around the Great Hall of the People. The usually crowded Tiananmen Square is cordoned off and blanketed with police.
Human rights groups say many dissidents, petitioners and whistleblowers were detained and harassed weeks ahead of the Congress to prevent them from disrupting the proceedings.
Political analysts say a lot is riding on Hu's successful implementation of his agenda for the next five years. He is expected to retire in 2012 and this 17th Party Congress will likely encapsulate his legacy.
The delegates will later elect new senior party officials, who will take over from the current leadership.
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 1:46 PM
Pressured by the PLA, Hu Leans to the Left
Chinese President Hu Jintao is leaning to the Left.
Correction: China's military is leaning on Hu to lean leftward. The People's Liberation Army--which really rules rising China--fears the country could be spinning out of control. This explains why Hu, in his address to China's 17th Communist Party Congress, four times hailed the "Four Cardinal Principles," which were cited by Deng Xiaoping to justify the PLA's crackdown on the 1989 student movement. The principles--Marxist-Leninist-Mao Zedong thought, strict party leadership, the socialist road and the "proletariat dictatorship"--contradict China's embrace of free-wheeling, state-sponsored capitalism.
The PLA wants Hu to get tough with all domestic dissidents and perceived foreign foes--from envelope-pushing journalists and protesting peasants to Taiwan and Tibet.
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 4:36 AM
"
Entretanto, de Pequim, o correspondente da AFP dava a sua visão do congresso :
Chine : Hu Jintao aux commandes pour cinq nouvelles années

Hu Jintao a été reconduit lundi pour cinq ans à la tête de la Chine, en obtenant un second mandat de secrétaire général du Parti communiste dont la direction légèrement remaniée a sans doute accueilli son successeur.
Agé de 64 ans, le président Hu Jintao , qui dirige depuis 2002 le pays le plus peuplé de la planète, conserve également le poste de chef des armées.
Sa réélection au poste de leader du Parti communiste chinois (PCC), par le Comité central, était attendue.
Si la direction restreinte du parti au pouvoir, maintenue à neuf membres, a vu l'entrée de quatre nouveaux, les poids lourds restent aux commandes. La moyenne d'âge, 62 ans, ne change pas par rapport à 2002.
Outre Hu, le Premier ministre Wen Jiabao et le président du parlement, Wu Bangguo, ont notamment été réélus au lendemain de la clôture du 17e congrès du PCC.
La refonte du Comité permanent du Bureau politique, qui doit permettre à Hu Jintao d'avoir une marge de manoeuvre élargie pour diriger, n'en marque pas moins un savant dosage destiné à assurer l'équilibre entre les différentes factions du parti.
L'un des quatre nouveaux devrait succéder à Hu Jintao en 2012, qui ne peut briguer un troisième mandat.
Xi Jinping, 54 ans, numéro un du Parti à Shanghai, et Li Keqiang, 52 ans, actuel patron de la province industrielle du Liaoning (nord-est), sont les plus souvent cités par les observateurs pour prendre les rênes du pays dans cinq ans.
D'ici là, le PCC devra trouver les moyens de poursuivre le formidable développement du pays tout en évitant une implosion sociale, voire politique.
"Nous sommes parfaitement conscients de la tâche difficile qui nous attend et de nos responsabilités", a déclaré Hu, lundi devant la presse, après sa réélection.
"Nous nous engageons à faire du développement du pays la priorité de notre gouvernance", a-t-il ajouté en présentant la nouvelle direction à 500 journalistes qui n'ont pas pu poser de questions.
Hu a une nouvelle fois appelé le parti et le peuple chinois à s'unir pour "la cause du socialisme à la chinoise".
Les dirigeants du parti unique, au pouvoir depuis 1949, ne cessent depuis des années de tirer la sonnette d'alarme au vu de la dégradation du tissu social.
Si la croissance de la quatrième économie mondiale continue d'engranger des records à deux chiffres, les inégalités, les injustices et la corruption ternissent l'image d'une Chine triomphante.
Devant la hausse des coûts de la santé et de l'éducation, les problèmes s'accumulent pour les Chinois et, tout aussi rapide qu'elle soit, la croissance ne génère pas assez d'emplois pour une population aussi vaste (1,3 milliard d'habitants).
"Nous allons persévérer dans la politique de réforme et d'ouverture (...) et dans un développement complet, équilibré et durable", a martelé Hu, lundi, comme il l'a fait à plusieurs reprises devant le congrès.
Depuis son arrivée au pouvoir en 2002, Hu s'est fait le chantre d'un développement plus rationnel et plus équitable ainsi que de l'"harmonie sociale".
Cette ligne ne devrait pas bouger. Au vu des résolutions entérinées par le 17e congrès et de la composition de la nouvelle équipe dirigeante, son deuxième mandat ne sera pas non plus marqué par des bouleversements politiques.
Hu et le Premier ministre Wen Jiabao se font avocats d'une démocratie interne au PCC, d'une gouvernance plus efficace, mais rejettent le système politique occidental.
Les voix dissidentes continuent d'être muselées comme en ont témoigné, pendant le congrès, l'uniformité d'une presse aux ordres et les interpellations d'opposants. © AFP.

MAIS LEGISLAÇÃO CONTRA O CO2
Vem aí, de Bruxelas, um novo pacote CO2, com muito apoio às energias renováveis... Lá para meados de Janeiro. Atenção aos subsídios...
EU climate and energy proposals delayed
The Commission has confirmed that an important package of legislative measures necessary for meeting Europe's climate change targets, including the promotion of renewable energies, will be delayed until at least mid-January.
CIMEIRA UE-RÚSSIA
ou Putine em Mafra
![[v-putin.jpg]](http://bp1.blogger.com/_N8SUTnnAwU4/RyFPVpOYRWI/AAAAAAAABmM/UQeybq1h6kI/s1600/v-putin.jpg)
Alguns takes da EuroActiv de hoje para ajudar a entender o ponto de vista europeu (bastante naif em relação ao russo...) sobre a cimeira de hoje, em Mafra:
EU, Russia play down ambitions at summit

Energy and trade are high on the agenda in high-level talks between the EU and Russia taking place today (26 October) in Mafra, Portugal. However, both sides have scaled down their expectations of what the summit will actually deliver.
Analysis: Europe's external energy policy: The Russian dimension
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A new start? EU-Russia summit raises expectations
The arrival of a new government in Poland has sparked optimism that Friday's (26 October) EU-Russia summit will produce progress on a new partnership agreement. But other points of contention remain, particularly in the energy sector, and the extent to which Poland's new leaders will change their stance on Russia remains unclear.
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Sommet : l'UE et la Russie revoient leurs ambitions à la baisse
L'énergie et le commerce sont prioritaires à l'ordre du jour des négociations à haut niveau entre l'UE et la Russie qui doivent commercer aujourd'hui, 26 octobre, à Mafra au Portugal. Cependant, les deux parties ont revu leurs attentes à la baisse
News: A new start? EU-Russia summit raises expectations
PORTUGAL VISTO POR UM ESPANHOL
que se despede ao fim de uns anos em Lisboa
«Gosto muito de Portugal, e os meus filhos têm uma camisola do Sporting, no entanto, não tenho grande confiança no futuro destas duas instituições. Em relação ao mais importante, isto é, o país, assusta-me a mediocridade da classe política, a sua falta de ambição, o seu tom especulativo.
É verdade que as coisas têm melhorado ligeiramente nos últimos tempos, porém, o reformismo posto em prática é tíbio, com horizontes reduzidos e sem grandes objectivos. E assim não é possível chegar a bom porto. Enquanto o mundo roda a uma velocidade vertiginosa, Portugal continua ancorado nas discussões bizantinas, agarrado a uma pequenez estratégica.
E é pena, porque em Portugal, à semelhança do que acontece em muitos locais do mundo, existe talento mais do que necessário para recolocar o país no local que merece, historicamente falando. Prova disto é este jornal, um exemplo fascinante de ambição, que exibe uma mistura de inconformismo, de perfeccionismo e de uma ansiedade saudável que é apanágio de todos os que aqui trabalham e que lutam para que o produto de cada dia seja o melhor possível.
Como seria Portugal se o país funcionasse com o mesmo grau de exigência, de responsabilidade e de ilusão que caracteriza os meus colegas do Diário Económico? Sem dúvida que teria um horizonte mas amplo e prometedor. Para que vejam como sou imparcial dir-lhes-ei que tudo o que digo acerca de Portugal se aplica, em boa parte, a Espanha...
O jornalista espanhol Miguel Angel Belloso, in Diário Económico
SHELL HUMILHADA NA INTERNET
um exemplo de guerra económica
Um dos suspiradores do “Teoria da Suspiração”, um dos poucos blogs portugueses de “inteligência” (Ver lista na coluna do lado) chamou-me a atenção para este caso exemplar de guerra económica que humilha e destrói a reputação da Shell e lhe limita severamente o campo de manobra. Exemplar. A pequena dimensão e o consequente carácter pouco incomodativo das empresas portuguesas têm evitado aos empresários portugueses este tipo de experiências. Mas cuidado… podem encontrar-se com elas quando menos esperam! Quando acontecer não façam o habitual. Procurem quem conhece estas “gramáticas” ou estão feitos. Aqui fica o registo como alerta.

October 22nd, 2007 by johnadonovan
How would you feel if an ”in your face” 24/7 global arch critic of your business was legally intercepting some of your private email, including job applications, business proposals and other highly sensitive and confidential communications all meant for your company and worse still, was communicating with the senders of the email? This is the highly embarrassing and truly bizarre predicament in which the multinational oil giant Shell currently finds itself.
Unbelievable as this may seem, it happens to be true, as the Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr Michiel Brandjes would reluctantly have to confirm. All such communications are passed on personally to him by John Donovan (the author of this article), who is a Shell shareholder and long term critic of Shell senior management. He is also the co-owner of the website www.royaldutchshellplc.com which happens to be the precise dotcom domain name for Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
According to an FT report on 19 October 2007, Royal Dutch Shell Plc has a market capitalisation of $273bn. The multinational is active in more than 130 countries and territories, with over 40,000 petrol stations and 47 Oil refineries and employs over 108,000 people worldwide. Shell has a significant presence on the Internet operating more than 200 websites spanning 80 countries in 25 languages.
Yet if you run an MSN Live search for “Royal Dutch Shell Plc” the first two websites listed on the first page of 629,000 results (as of 22 October 2007) are for what Reuters recently described as the “unofficial” company website – www.royaldutchshellplc.com. The same search carried out on the same date on Google found the unofficial site listed at number 3 on the first page of results and on Yahoo, also at number 3.
Fortune Magazine has recommended two websites for information about Shell, the Shell portal site www.shell.com and royaldutchshellplc.com which attracts vastly more traffic than any Shell website. It receives up to 4.6 million hits per month. It achieves this domination by providing a free news service focussed on Shell which publishes all news stories about Shell, positive or negative, mixed in with candid articles authored by Shell insiders or the owners of the website. There is also a popular interactive “Live Chat” feature on which Shell insiders exchange information or post revelations. Leaked Shell internal documents and communications are also published on a regular basis. Over 17,000 articles and documents are freely available for online research purposes. The site is entirely non-commercial - there are no charges of any kind. Because there are so many royaldutchshellplc.com articles on the Internet, anyone searching for information about Shell inevitably quickly stumbles across the website.
On 22 September 2007, The Times newspaper reported on the “war” between Shell and the owners of the website, 90 year old Alfred Donovan and his 60 year old son, John. There have been six High Court battles over the years. Currently eight Royal Dutch Shell companies are collectively suing a Shell whistleblower, Dr John Huong, for alleged defamation in articles published on the Donovan website. The Shell litigation includes multiple injunctions relating to articles on the site and a contempt action demanding the imprisonment of Dr Huong. There are no current proceedings directly against the website or its owners.
In 2005, Shell unsuccessfully attempted in proceedings brought via the World Intellectual Property Organisation to seize the royaldutchshellplc.com domain name. The battle attracted worldwide publicity including a major article in The Wall Street Journal. An application to Shell under the UK Data Protection Act forced Shell to handover internal documents relating to the Donovan’s and their website. The documents revealed that Shell had set up a team with gung-ho battle plans to try to counter the impact of the website. Thus far their efforts have been a dismal failure. Shell recently admitted that it was also behind an unsuccessful attempt to close down the site which is a continuing source of humiliation for Shell and even worse, has had a profound financial impact on the company and on its reputation.
There is more publicity about the unofficial website than any of the Shell owned sites. All of the featured quotes below come from articles published in 2007.
Prospect magazine said “The Donovan website has become an open wound for Shell” but “Essential reading for anyone who covers Shell”.
The Financial Times described it as “an anti-Shell website… that has been a long-running thorn in the company’s side”
The Daily Mail said Shell has been “rattled” and put on the “back foot” by the site.
The Donovan’s were recently described by The Sunday Telegraph in a whole page article as “Online Revolutionaries”.
The One World Trust, an independent research organisation associated with the UK legislature and the United Nations, said in a recent newsletter: “As The Royal Dutch Shell plc website shows, a gripe site can have a profound impact on global organisations”. The newsletter went on to say: “The site has played a watchdog function on the activities of Shell, and has acted as a central point for the gathering of complaints….” “The site has not only cost Shell billions of dollars in Russia… “even Shell insiders unhappy with the company use it”.
Despite the fact that the site prominently displays notices making it clear that it is not affiliated with Royal Dutch Shell, it still receives job applications (some with CV’s), business proposals, general enquiries and even terrorist threats, all meant for Shell (and passed on to Michiel Brandjes). Several such emails were sent to Mr Brandjes today.
The website serves as the unofficial heart and conscience of Shell, with conversation and debate on the Live Chat facility involving current and former Shell employees and other parties with an interest in Shell, including Shell shareholders. It allows retired Shell employees to feel that they are retaining a connection with Shell. The site benefits from their immense experience and wisdom. One example is Mr Paddy Briggs, a former Shell executive of 37 years standing. Another is Mr Bill Campbell, the equally highly respected former Group Auditor of Shell International Limited who is leading an employee safety campaign targeting Shell following the Brent Bravo Scandal in which Shell employees lost their lives in an avoidable accident.
Shell’s own internet discussion forum “TellShell” was “suspended” in November 2005 because it attracted a great deal of negative contributions relating for example to the Shell reserves fraud in 2004, the Corrib pipeline debacle and events in Nigeria, where Shell has a horrendous track record, including a commercial relationship with the leadership of militants attacking Shell installations. “TellShell” has recently been replaced with “Shell Dialogues”, a big step backwards as it has no live interactive dimension.
Royaldutchshellplc.com has been used to publish appeals on behalf of a number of parties who wanted to reach Shell shareholders or Shell employees. These include appeals by the WWF, The World Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, U.S. PIRC, Ogoni activist organisations, Friends of the Earth and by Bernstein Liebhard & Lifshitz, the New York attorneys acting for the lead plaintiff in the remaining class action lawsuit arising from the Shell reserves fraud. Shell has already set aside $500 million towards settling the claim. Bernstein has acknowledged that they received information from Shell insiders responding to the appeal made on the Donovan website. More recently, following a further appeal on the website within a U.S. federal court imposed deadline, a Shell shareholder was found to represent all non-American Shell shareholders in an expanded global class action. The site has therefore played a significant role in the litigation.
Many articles in the news media have resulted from information passed to the website by Shell insiders. For example, on 6 June 2007, the Financial Times published a front page article under the headline: “Pipeliners All!’ Shell’s memo to Sakhalin”. The article was about a (…) “
SECURITÉ GLOBALE
registo e boas-vindas à nova revista
Uma nova revista dedicada aos assuntos de segurança, "consacrée aux questions de sécurité intérieure et aux enjeux sécuritaires internationaux", apareceu nas bancas em França, "Securité Globale". Na sua primeira edição, a SG publica um interessante dossier sobre o terrorismo, com a contribuição de assinaturas reconhecidas como a de Jean-François Daguzan, um velho conhecido de Portugal, e de François-Bernard Huygue, um velho conhecido aqui do CLARO. Este número da SG trata ainda de "Stratégies industrielles et sécurité globale; Biométrie et libertés fondamentales; Les Etats-Unis face à la Mafia"
Registo para o sumário completo desta primeira edição de SG:
Éditorial
Jean-François Daguzan, Pascal Lorot
Point de vue
- Une stratégie pour piloter la sécurité globale (Jacques Roujansky)
Dossier / Terrorisme
- Qu'est-ce-que le terrorisme ? Catégories et concepts (Jean-François Daguzan)
- Al-Qaida en Irak : un bilan sanglant (Fernando Reinares, Olga Arroyo, Raquel Fontecha)
- La menace terroriste globale vue depuis les États-Unis (Michael A. Wermuth)
- Message et terreur, acteurs et vecteurs (François-Bernard Huygue)
- Relever le défi ! La stratégie des Nations unies contre le terrorisme (Jean-Paul Laborde)
- Terrorisme NRBC : sommes-nous prêts ? (Christian Sommade)
Varia
- Nouvelles technologies, lutte antiterroriste et libertés fondamentales en Europe (Anna Bednik)
- L'application des principes de prévention et de précaution en matière de sécurité globale (Matthieu Meerpöl)
- Résilience mafieuse : un siècle de domination des docks de la côte Est des États-Unis par la Mafia (Jean-François Gayraud)

GÉNIO…
Vasco Pulido Valente, no Público, descasca com vara de marmeleiro um “romancista de aeroporto”, Miguel Sousa Tavares. Uma estória camiliana…
«Há uns tempos, Miguel Sousa Tavares escreveu um romance chamado Equador. Era "um romance de aeroporto" implausível e pueril, que seguia a receita do género: um lugar exótico, longas descrições de paisagens, muito sexo e muita atenção à cozinha e à roupa. Até dois terços, não se lia mal, como se lêem os livros deste género: sem esforço, com meia atenção, para descansar. No meu caso, li a coisa no hospital, numa altura em que não tinha cabeça para mais nada. Hoje só me lembro, e vagamente, do herói: uma espécie de super-Miguel, um pouco ridículo, com o seu arzinho aristocrático e a sua obrigatória consciência de esquerda. A certa altura, o Equador desapareceu (por falta de espaço) na limpeza de uma estante qualquer e não tornei a pensar no assunto. Nunca me ocorreu que Miguel Sousa Tavares se tomasse por um escritor. Afinal muita gente, sobretudo em Inglaterra e na América, vive de produzir prosa para consumo de massa, que ninguém confunde com literatura. É uma maneira como outra de ganhar a vida. Honesta, ainda por cima. Mas Miguel Sousa Tavares parece que não se considera light e pretende que o levem a sério. Só isso explica que volte agora a meia dúzia de comentários sobre o Equador (não especialmente lisonjeiros) que publiquei há anos numa carta a este jornal. Para explicar essa minha absurda aberração, Miguel Sousa Tavares revelou ontem ao Expresso que eu, quando o critiquei, não tinha lido o livro e que depois, quando de facto o li, o achei óptimo. Quem lhe contou foi um amigo anónimo, presumivelmente tão analfabeto como ele; e em que ele, claro, piamente acredita. Fora a acusação de fraude (que me incomoda), Miguel Sousa Tavares trata com condescendência o meu putativo pessimismo e lamenta que o meu conhecimento do mundo não vá muito além de Oxford e do Gambrinus (para quem não saiba, um restaurante de Lisboa). Esta estupidez não é inocente, é profiláctica. Serve para me desqualificar, se por acaso eu disser o que penso (e não disser bem) sobre o Rio das Flores, um segundo romance que já saiu ou vai sair daqui a poucos dias. Mesmo vendendo como vende, Miguel Sousa Tavares não consegue suportar que diminuam o que ele julga ser o seu imenso brilho. A mim, não me aflige que ele se apresente como um génio literário. Desde que não ande por aí a espalhar mentiras.»
Que significa “crise do modelo”?
Fala-se frequentemente de “crise estrutural” ou de “crise do modelo”. Face ao desmoronar de sectores inteiros da economia, antes prósperos, ou face ao aparecimento de disfunções em instituições-quadro ou mesmo em quadros jurídicos, ouve-se dizer que “o modelo entrou em crise”. Mas que significa isto? Quer dizer o aparecimento gradual mas firme de, pelo menos, três coisas:
- novas indústrias motoras,
- novo quadro de concorrência
- alteração profunda do estatuto da empresa
É o emergir e o afirmar de tudo isto que constrói um novo modelo económico global, indispensável para ultrapassar a "crise do modelo" ou "crise estrutural"... Até que anos ou décadas mais tarde surja nova "crise do modelo".
A TURQUIA COMO POTÊNCIA REGIONAL
“(…) Based on prior PKK attacks, the Turkish parliament last week authorized the use of force in Iraq. This latest attack, therefore, was clearly designed to challenge that decision. Even before the dust had settled Oct. 21, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, rejected an earlier demand from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Baghdad shut down all PKK camps in Iraqi territory and hand over PKK leaders. Talabani said Iraq cannot solve Turkey's problem, given that PKK leaders hide out in rugged mountains and even the "mighty" Turkish military has failed to kill or capture them. Specifically, he said, "The handing over of PKK leaders to Turkey is a dream that will never be realized."
If that position holds, it is difficult to imagine that the Turks won't move into northern Iraq and re-establish the sphere of influence and security they had during the Saddam Hussein era. The United States is working furiously to satisfy Turkey by taking responsibility for controlling the PKK. It is not clear whether the United States can deliver, nor is it clear whether the Turks are prepared to rely on the United States. Some move into Iraq is likely, in our mind, but even if it doesn't happen in this particular case, tensions between Turkey and the United States will remain. More important, Turkey's willingness to play a secondary role in the region is declining.

This is not really new. The Turks refused to allow the United States to invade Iraq from Turkish territory, even though Washington offered them free room to maneuver in northern Iraq in exchange for their cooperation. The Turks, however, were not unhappy with the status quo in Iraq. They also were concerned about the consequences of an American invasion and were not eager to be seen as a tool of the United States in the Islamic world.
At the same time, the Turks did not want a rupture with the United States -- given that the relationship has been the foundation of Turkish foreign policy since World War II. The refusal of the European Union to admit Turkey in particular made it necessary for Ankara to preserve its relationship with Washington. Therefore, although the invasion was problematic for the Turks, they have cooperated with the United States, allowing a large portion of the supplies for U.S. troops in Iraq to come through Turkey.
(…) In looking at current U.S. strategy in Iraq, the Turks have drawn two conclusions. The first is that the United States, focused on Iraq's Sunni and Shiite areas, has little interest in controlling the Kurdish region -- the one area that is fairly unambiguously pro-American. The second is that the Iranians and Shia want an Iraq divided into three regions -- or even independent states -- and that a U.S. policy designed to create a federal state with a strong central government will fail.
Therefore, Turkey's perception is that it already is dealing with the post-war world, one in which an increasingly bold Iraqi Kurdistan is pursuing a policy of expanding Kurdish autonomy by facilitating a guerrilla war in Turkey. The PKK's actions in recent weeks confirm this view in their mind. They also believe they cannot deal with the Kurdish challenge defensively, and therefore they must defend by attacking. Hence, the creation of a security zone in Iraq.
From the Kurds' point of view, if there ever was a moment to assert their national rights, this is it. However, their highly risky gamble is that the United States will not chance an anti-American uprising in Iraq's Kurdish areas and so will limit the extent to which Turkey can intervene. Moreover, with the United States at odds with Iran, it might support a Kurdish uprising there. Hence, though the stakes are high, the Kurdish gamble is not irrational.
The Kurds in Iraq are correct in their view that the United States does not want conflict in the one area in Iraq that is not anti-American. They also are correct that this is a unique moment for them. But they are betting that the Turks don't recognize the danger and thus will place their interests second to those of the United States -- which is more concerned with stability in Iraqi Kurdistan than with suppressing attacks in Turkey's Kurdish areas. Although this might have been true of Turkey 10 years ago, it no longer is true today. The U.S.-Turkish relationship has flipped. The United States needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the United States -- for reasons beyond getting supplies to Iraq.
(…)Its current stance on the Kurdish issue is merely a first step. What makes that position important is that Turkey is pursuing its interests indifferent to European or American views. Additionally, the reversal of dependency between the United States and Turkey is ultimately more important than whether Turkey goes into Iraq. The U.S. invasion of Iraq kicked off many processes in the world and created many windows of opportunity. Watching Turkey make its moves, we wonder less about the direction it is going than about the limits of its ambition. “
Continuar a ler Aqui
O PROBLEMA DA RÚSSIA
quando Putine chega a Lisboa
Putine chega hoje a Lisboa para uma cimeira europeia e vários encontros com as autoridades portuguesas. A Rússia de Putine atravessa um momento delicado em que muita coisa se joga. As relações históricas de Portugal com a Rússia (não confundir com a URSS e o seu PCUS de péssima memória) sempre foram muito interessantes para ambas as partes, desde pelo menos o tempo de Catarina, a Grande. É altura de retomar essas relações, depois do intervalo soviético. A Stratfor, há dias, analisava o problema da Rússia, do seguinte modo:
“The Russia Problem
By Peter Zeihan
For the past several days, high-level Russian and American policymakers, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Russian President Vladimir Putin's right-hand man, Sergei Ivanov, have been meeting in Moscow to discuss the grand scope of U.S.-Russian relations. These talks would be of critical importance to both countries under any circumstances, as they center on the network of treaties that have governed Europe since the closing days of the Cold War.
Against the backdrop of the Iraq war, however, they have taken on far greater significance. Both Russia and the United States are attempting to rewire the security paradigms of key regions, with Washington taking aim at the Middle East and Russia more concerned about its former imperial territory. The two countries' visions are mutually incompatible, and American preoccupation with Iraq is allowing Moscow to overturn the geopolitics of its backyard.
The Iraqi Preoccupation
After years of organizational chaos, the United States has simplified its plan for Iraq: Prevent Iran from becoming a regional hegemon. Once-lofty thoughts of forging a democracy in general or supporting a particular government were abandoned in Washington well before the congressional testimony of Gen. David Petraeus. Reconstruction is on the back burner and even oil is now an afterthought at best. The entirety of American policy has been stripped down to a single thought: Iran.
That thought is now broadly held throughout not only the Bush administration but also the American intelligence and defense communities. It is not an unreasonable position. An American exodus from Iraq would allow Iran to leverage its allies in Iraq's Shiite South to eventually gain control of most of Iraq. Iran's influence also extends to significant Shiite communities on the Persian Gulf's western oil-rich shore. Without U.S. forces blocking the Iranians, the military incompetence of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar could be perceived by the Iranians as an invitation to conquer that shore. That would land roughly 20 million barrels per day of global oil output -- about one-quarter of the global total -- under Tehran's control. Rhetoric aside, an outcome such as this would push any U.S. president into a broad regional war to prevent a hostile power from shutting off the global economic pulse.
So the United States, for better or worse, is in Iraq for the long haul. This requires some strategy for dealing with the other power with the most influence in the country, Iran. This, in turn, leaves the United States with two options: It can simply attempt to run Iraq as a protectorate forever, a singularly unappealing option, or it can attempt to strike a deal with Iran on the issue of Iraq -- and find some way to share influence.
Since the release of the Petraeus report in September, seeking terms with Iran has become the Bush administration's unofficial goal, but the White House does not want substantive negotiations until the stage is appropriately set. This requires that Washington build a diplomatic cordon around Iran -- intensifying Tehran's sense of isolation -- and steadily ratchet up the financial pressure. Increasing bellicose rhetoric from European capitals and the lengthening list of major banks that are refusing to deal with Iran are the nuts and bolts of this strategy.
Not surprisingly, Iran views all this from a starkly different angle. Persia has historically been faced with a threat of invasion from its western border -- with the most recent threat manifesting in a devastating 1980-1988 war that resulted in a million deaths. The primary goal of Persia's foreign policy stretching back a millennium has been far simpler than anything the United States has cooked up: Destroy Mesopotamia. In 2003, the United States was courteous enough to handle that for Iran.
Now, Iran's goals have expanded and it seeks to leverage the destruction of its only meaningful regional foe to become a regional hegemon. This requires leveraging its Iraqi assets to bleed the Americans to the point that they leave. But Iran is not immune to pressure. Tehran realizes that it might have overplayed its hand internationally, and it certainly recognizes that U.S. efforts to put it in a noose are bearing some fruit. What Iran needs is its own sponsor -- and that brings to the Middle East a power that has not been present there for quite some time: Russia.
Option One: Parity
The Russian geography is problematic. It lacks oceans to give Russia strategic distance from its foes and it boasts no geographic barriers separating it from Europe, the Middle East or East Asia. Russian history is a chronicle of Russia's steps to establish buffers -- and of those buffers being overwhelmed. The end of the Cold War marked the transition from Russia's largest-ever buffer to its smallest in centuries. Put simply, Russia is terrified of being overwhelmed -- militarily, economically, politically and culturally -- and its policies are geared toward re-establishing as large a buffer as possible.
As such, Russia needs to do one of two things. The first is to re-establish parity. As long as the United States thinks of Russia as an inferior power, American power will continue to erode Russian security. Maintain parity and that erosion will at least be reduced. Putin does not see this parity coming from a conflict, however. While Russia is far stronger now -- and still rising -- than it was following the 1998 ruble crash, Putin knows full well that the Soviet Union fell in part to an arms race. Attaining parity via the resources of a much weaker Russia simply is not an option.
So parity would need to come via the pen, not the sword. A series of three treaties ended the Cold War and created a status of legal parity between the United States and Russia. The first, the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), restricts how much conventional defense equipment each state in NATO and the former Warsaw Pact, and their successors, can deploy. The second, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), places a ceiling on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles that the United States and Russia can possess. The third, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), eliminates entirely land-based short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles with ranges of 300 to 3,400 miles, as well as all ground-launched cruise missiles from NATO and Russian arsenals.
The constellation of forces these treaties allow do not provide what Russia now perceives its security needs to be. The CFE was all fine and dandy in the world in which it was first negotiated, but since then every Warsaw Pact state -- once on the Russian side of the balance sheet -- has joined NATO. The "parity" that was hardwired into the European system in 1990 is now lopsided against the Russians.
START I is by far the Russians' favorite treaty, since it clearly treats the Americans and Russians as bona fide equals. But in the Russian mind, it has a fateful flaw: It expires in 2009, and there is about zero support in the United States for renewing it. The thinking in Washington is that treaties were a conflict management tool of the 20th century, and as American power -- constrained by Iraq as it is -- continues to expand globally, there is no reason to enter into a treaty that limits American options. This philosophical change is reflected on both sides of the American political aisle: Neither the Bush nor Clinton administrations have negotiated a new full disarmament treaty.
Finally, the INF is the worst of all worlds for Russia. Intermediate-range missiles are far cheaper than intercontinental ones. If it does come down to an arms race, Russia will be forced to turn to such systems if it is not to be left far behind an American buildup.
Russia needs all three treaties to be revamped. It wants the CFE altered to reflect an expanded NATO. It wants START I extended (and preferably deepened) to limit long-term American options. It wants the INF explicitly linked to the other two treaties so that Russian options can expand in a pinch -- or simply discarded in favor of a more robust START I.
The problem with the first option is that it assumes the Americans are somewhat sympathetic to Russian concerns. They are not.
Recall that the dominant concern in the post-Cold War Kremlin is that the United States will nibble along the Russian periphery until Moscow itself falls. The fear is as deeply held as it is accurate. Only three states have ever threatened the United States: The first, the United Kingdom, was lashed into U.S. global defense policy; the second, Mexico, was conquered outright; and the third was defeated in the Cold War. The addition of the Warsaw Pact and the Baltic states to NATO, the basing of operations in Central Asia and, most important, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine have made it clear to Moscow that the United States plays for keeps.
The Americans see it as in their best interest to slowly grind Russia into dust. Those among our readers who can identify with "duck and cover" can probably relate to the logic of that stance. So, for option one to work, Russia needs to have leverage elsewhere. That elsewhere is in Iran.
Via the U.N. Security Council, Russian cooperation can ensure Iran's diplomatic isolation. Russia's past cooperation on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power facility holds the possibility of a Kremlin condemnation of Iran's nuclear ambitions. A denial of Russian weapons transfers to Iran would hugely empower ongoing U.S. efforts to militarily curtail Iranian ambitions. Put simply, Russia has the ability to throw Iran under the American bus -- but it will not do it for free. In exchange, it wants those treaties amended in its favor, and it wants American deference on security questions in the former Soviet Union.
The Moscow talks of the past week were about addressing all of Russian concerns about the European security structure, both within and beyond the context of the treaties, with the offer of cooperation on Iran as the trade-off. After days of talks, the Americans refused to budge on any meaningful point.
Option Two: Imposition
Russia has no horse in the Iraq war. Moscow had feared that its inability to leverage France and Germany to block the war in the first place would allow the United States to springboard to other geopolitical victories. Instead, the Russians are quite pleased to see the American nose bloodied. They also are happy to see Iran engrossed in events to its west. When Iran and Russia strengthen -- as both are currently -- they inevitably begin to clash as their growing spheres of influence overlap in the Caucasus and Central Asia. In many ways, Russia is now enjoying the best of all worlds: Its Cold War archrival is deeply occupied in a conflict with one of Moscow's own regional competitors.
In the long run, however, the Russians have little doubt that the Americans will eventually prevail. Iran lacks the ability to project meaningful power beyond the Persian Gulf, while the Russians know from personal experience how good the Americans are at using political, economic, military and alliance policy to grind down opponents. The only question in the Russian mind pertains to time frame.
If the United States is not willing to rejigger the European-Russian security framework, then Moscow intends to take advantage of a distracted United States to impose a new reality upon NATO. The United States has dedicated all of its military ground strength to Iraq, leaving no wiggle room should a crisis erupt anywhere else in the world. Should Russia create a crisis, there is nothing the United States can do to stop it.
So crisis-making is about to become Russia's newest growth industry. The Kremlin has a very long list of possibilities, which includes:
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Destabilizing the government of Ukraine: The Sept. 30 elections threaten to result in the re-creation of the Orange Revolution that so terrifies Moscow. With the United States largely out of the picture, the Russians will spare no effort to ensure that Ukraine remains as dysfunctional as possible.
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Azerbaijan is emerging as a critical energy transit state for Central Asian petroleum, as well as an energy producer in its own right. But those exports are wholly dependent upon Moscow's willingness not to cause problems for Baku.
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The extremely anti-Russian policies of the former Soviet state of Georgia continue to be a thorn in Russia's side. Russia has the ability to force a territorial breakup or to outright overturn the Georgian government using anything from a hit squad to an armored division.
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EU states obviously have mixed feelings about Russia's newfound aggression and confidence, but the three Baltic states in league with Poland have successfully hijacked EU foreign policy with regard to Russia, effectively turning a broadly cooperative relationship hostile. A small military crisis with the Balts would not only do much to consolidate popular support for the Kremlin but also would demonstrate U.S. impotence in riding to the aid of American allies.
Such actions not only would push Russian influence back to the former borders of the Soviet Union but also could overturn the belief within the U.S. alliance structure that the Americans are reliable -- that they will rush to their allies' aid at any time and any place. That belief ultimately was the heart of the U.S. containment strategy during the Cold War. Damage that belief and the global security picture changes dramatically. Barring a Russian-American deal on treaties, inflicting that damage is once again a full-fledged goal of the Kremlin. The only question is whether the American preoccupation in Iraq will last long enough for the Russians to do what they think they need to do.
Luckily for the Russians, they can impact the time frame of American preoccupation with Iraq. Just as the Russians have the ability to throw the Iranians under the bus, they also have the ability to empower the Iranians to stand firm.
On Oct. 16, Putin became the first Russian leader since Leonid Brezhnev to visit Iran, and in negotiations with the Iranian leadership he laid out just how his country could help. Formally, the summit was a meeting of the five leaders of the Caspian Sea states, but in reality the meeting was a Russian-Iranian effort to demonstrate to the Americans that Iran does not stand alone.
A good part of the summit involved clearly identifying differences with American policy. The right of states to nuclear energy was affirmed, the existence of energy infrastructure that undermines U.S. geopolitical goals was supported and a joint statement pledged the five states to refuse to allow "third parties" from using their territory to attack "the Caspian Five." The last is a clear bullying of Azerbaijan to maintain distance from American security plans.
But the real meat is in bilateral talks between Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the two sides are sussing out how Russia's ample military experience can be applied to Iran's U.S. problem. Some of the many, many possibilities include:
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Kilo-class submarines: The Iranians already have two and the acoustics in the Persian Gulf are notoriously bad for tracking submarines. Any U.S. military effort against Iran would necessitate carrier battle groups in the Persian Gulf.
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Russia fields the Bal-E, a ground-launched Russian version of the Harpoon anti-ship missile. Such batteries could threaten any U.S. surface ship in the Gulf. A cheaper option could simply involve the installation of Russian coastal artillery systems.
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Russia and India have developed the BrahMos anti-ship cruise missile, which has the uniquely deadly feature of being able to be launched from land, ship, submarine or air. While primarily designed to target surface vessels, it also can act as a more traditional -- and versatile -- cruise missile and target land targets.
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Flanker fighters are a Russian design (Su-27/Su-30) that compares very favorably to frontline U.S. fighter jets. Much to the U.S. Defense Department's chagrin, Indian pilots in Flankers have knocked down some U.S. pilots in training scenarios.
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The S-300 anti-aircraft system is still among the best in the world, and despite eviscerated budgets, the Russians have managed to operationalize several upgrades since the end of the Cold War. It boasts both a far longer range and far more accuracy than the Tor-M1 and Pantsyr systems on which Iran currently depends.
Such options only scratch the surface of what the Russians have on order, and the above only discusses items of use in a direct Iranian-U.S. military conflict. Russia also could provide Iran with an endless supply of less flashy equipment to contribute to intensifying Iranian efforts to destabilize Iraq itself.
For now, the specifics of Russian transfers to Iran are tightly held, but they will not be for long. Russia has as much of an interest in getting free advertising for its weapons systems as Iran has in demonstrating just how high a price it will charge the United States for any attack.
But there is one additional reason this will not be a stealth relationship.
The Kremlin wants Washington to be fully aware of every detail of how Russian sales are making the U.S. Army's job harder, so that the Americans have all the information they need to make appropriate decisions as regards Russia's role. Moscow is not doing this because it is vindictive; this is simply how the Russians do business, and they are open to a new deal.
Russia has neither love for the Iranians nor a preference as to whether Moscow reforges its empire or has that empire handed back. So should the United States change its mind and seek an accommodation, Putin stands perfect ready to betray the Iranians' confidence.
For a price.”
.
Ler também:
Russia, EU: Partnership Agreement Extended
October 24, 2007
1549 GMT
O NEGÓCIO DOS BIO-CARBURANTES
OU DA ESPERANÇA À CALAMIDADE
O Líbé abriu um forum de discussão com um título que é todo um programa: Les carburants verts, espoir ou calamité ?
Este forum surge, obviamente, na sequência de uma série de notícias reveladoras do início de uma calamidade provocada pelos combustíveis verdes.
Ainda há dias, o Jornal de Notícias explicava como o mundo está à beira de uma crise de cereais. «Os preços dos cereais atingiram níveis recorde e as reservas desta base de alimentação estão ao nível mais baixo desde há 25 anos. O alerta foi lançado recentemente pela Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura (FAO), que antevê os impactos mais graves desta realidade "preocupante" nos países em desenvolvimento, os que menor acesso costumam ter a esta produção agrícola.
"Desde o começo do corrente ano que o preço dos cereais tem vindo a subir no mercado internacional e já atingiu o nível mais alto de sempre. Isto deve-se ao aumento da procura e à diminuição das reservas mundiais, bem como à subida em flecha dos custos de transporte. Especialistas têm também alertado para os riscos da substituição da cultura de cereais para alimentação pelas oleaginosas destinadas a produzir biocombustíveis. Inundações também causaram alguma perda nas culturas mas, de acordo com a FAO, não foram decisivas para esta crise. As reservas de cereais manter-se-ão a níveis muito baixas nos próximos anos, prevê este departamento das Nações Unidas. Isto, apesar de outra previsão a de que os preços mais altos para os produtores aumentem a área de cultivo dos cereais. A FAO admite que, na Europa, tal aconteça também com a retirada, pela Comissão, da obrigatoriedade do regime de set-a-side (pousio) em muita da terra arável. »
Outras fontes sobre o mesmo tema:
The Biofuels Boom: Implications for Agriculture, Energy, and Automotive
WHY CLIMATE CHANGE CAN'T BE STOPPED
By Paul J. Saunders and Vaughan Turekian
Environmental advocates have finally managed to put the issue of global warming at the top of the world's agenda. But the scientific, economic, and political realities may mean that their efforts are too little, too late. “
Ou seja, todo o chamado “bio-diesel” e aparentados são um negócio aparentemente nobre pela invocação da problemática ambiental e viável e sustentável graças à subsidiação… As consequências vão começar a ver-se em breve.
Isso mesmo é posto em destaque por Hans-Werner Sinn, da universidade de Munique, que aponta ainda o carácter inético da coisa:.
Food or Fuel? European Economist Says Using Cropland for Feedstock is Illogical and Unethical
Another blow to the biofuels boom.
Germany's top economist says food prices are rising in Europe (a) because the climate has been too hot and dry, and (b) because farmland is increasingly being used for biofuels instead of food production.
Hans-Werner Sinn, President of the Institute for Economic Research and Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Munich speculates that food prices may one day be coupled to energy prices.
He contents that current German environmental policy is "deficient" as it seeks to reduce the greenhouse effect by promoting biofuels, and cites the Mexican situation, where the price of maize has more than doubled in the space of a year due to its increased production for use as a feedstock for ethanol production.
Sinn claims that until it is made clear where the extra land to be used for production will come from, "it is hard to see the logic in the promotion of biofuels."
He outlines three ways of procuring land to cultivate biofuels: "Firstly, land can be withdrawn from the production of food. Secondly, from the production of natural materials, wood in particular. And thirdly from nature."
There is no surplus food production on a global scale, so withdrawing land from producing food in order to grow biofuels "cannot be done with a clear conscience," Sinn says. Moreover, he says, growing crops for biofuels increases food prices.
Sinn concludes that "it makes little sense to take land in whatever form and use it for the production of biofuels," and adds that their production is only justified in environmental and social terms if they can be produced without the use of additional land.
# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 4:15 AM "

ROCARD E BAUER QUEREM CONSELHO DE SEGURANÇA NACIONAL
Michel Rocard e o seu antigo adjunto para as questões de segurança assinam, na última edição da revista "Défense Nationale et Sécurité Collective" um texto conjunto em defesa da urgente constituição de um Conselho de Segurança Nacional, "depois de terem analisado as ameaças" e encaram "todas as opções sem o menor tabu". Este CSN tinha sido um dos pontos fortes do discurso do candidato presidencial Nicholas Sarkozy:
Pour un Conseil de sécurité nationale
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Plaidoyer pour la mise en place du Conseil de sécurité nationale qu'avait souhaité le candidat Nicolas Sarkozy. Après une analyse des menaces, Michel Rocard et Alain Bauer étudient les contours de ce Conseil qui nécessitera une évolution constitutionnelle notable, et envisagent les options possibles sans le moindre tabou.
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Inteligência Económica e Estratégica
Sabermos onde investir, sabermos valorizar o território, sabermos identificar as novas áreas do conhecimento (as que nos interessam) e ultrapassar a visão rectangular do País…
É Isto o out-put urgente de um processo de inteligência económica e estratégica… Ora, eu não vejo nenhum dispositivo para tal e nem sequer vejo a consciência dessa necessidade…
É imprescindível ver e estudar com urgência o que, neste campo, se passa nos USA (desde Clinton), na Inglaterra, na Finlândia, na Alemanha (onde é mais opaco e difícil de ver) e na França.
DISFUNÇÕES E DÉFICE
DESTE NOSSO ESTADO
No país Portugal, o défice deste Estado (que temos e a que chegámos) exprime o quê? Exprime as disfunções dele…
Concebido, montado e programado por Salazar para ser um estado barato, tampão e condicionante da iniciativa do país e da sociedade (este estado-tampax, bem retratado na “lei 2005 do condicionalmente industrial”, é uma espécie de estado contra o país), mantém ainda hoje quase toda essa cultura. Quando já não é, nem pode ser, barato. Quando o seu número de funcionários-burocratas explodiu assustadoramente. Quando os seus raios e tentáculos se multiplicaram e invadiram todos os cantos e recantos do país e da sua vida. Quando as suas despesas com pessoal tiveram uma progressão geométrica. Quando as suas despesas de welfare (saúde, solidariedade, educação…) só surgiram no pós-Salazar…
Este desajustamento entre a realidade e a cultura/consciência do Estado é o que lhe dá a sua personalidade de monstro e é também o que explica, por exemplo e entre muito outro, que ainda não tenha “percebido” que para ter o dinheiro que precisa é necessário que as empresas o possam ganhar e terem bons lucros para lhe pagarem bons impostos… “Perceber” isto exigir-lhe-ia que deixasse de ser salazarento, condicionante e tampão, que deixasse de ser o estado/tampax. Obviamente, não pode “perceber”…
Ou seja, o dinheiro que este estado precisa só pode aparecer com… outro tipo de Estado. Esta disfunção coloca o Estado como o grande obstáculo ao desenvolvimento de Portugal. E coloca Portugal num risco de sobrevivência e de colapso.
Que forças da inércia (além dos burocratas do próprio Estado) têm nisto interesse e contribuem para manter o bloqueio é outro tipo de questão, que exige análise urgente e de malha fina. E uma actuação política em conformidade. No fundo, existem hoje em Portugal dois grandes partidos: as forças da inércia do complexo salazarento e neo-corporativo e as forças da mudança. Neste quadro, o que é a esquerda e o que é a direita? Um quadro a precisar de ser arrumado…
Et voilá porque continuo a votar e a apoiar…José Sócrates.
Portugal ou a tragédia
da falta de estratégia...
Nietzsche pensou muito a tragédia… Faltou-lhe correlacionar o conceito com o de estratégia. E ver o que significa, no campo da primeira, a ausência da segunda…
Se a tragédia nem sempre significa ausência da estratégia, é certo que esta ausência significa sempre uma tragédia. E este é, nas últimas décadas, o nosso caso, o caso deste Portugal tão trágico… por falta da inteligência subjacente à estratégia e, consequentemente, de estratégia.
Temos, portanto, isto: Portugal ou a tragédia da falta de estratégia… Tivesse Nietzsche conhecido esta nossa realidade e muito mais longe teria levado a sua reflexão sobre a tragédia.
O PARADOXO DE BARRETO E
A FALTA DA SALA DE MAPAS
O mais europeu dos políticos portugueses, aquele que mais viveu a Europa e o que a Europa mais formou e que, por isso mesmo, é o menos “português” dos políticos que temos, tornou-se o menos europeísta! Paradoxo? Só aparente… António Barreto explicou-se no Público:
«A glória e a euforia são de rigor. O sorriso aberto e satisfeito. A sensação de vitória vê-se na linguagem do corpo. Sócrates venceu. Portugal venceu. A Europa venceu. Todos e cada país venceram. Como previsto, Barroso, Merkel e Sarkozy venceram. Prodi também. E os gémeos polacos igualmente. Percebo por que tanta gente ri de alegria e prazer. Percebo, mas não compreendo. O monstro acabado de criar não dá motivos para rir. Nem sequer sorrir. Mas o Dr. Frankenstein também sorria.
Depois de ter prometido a ultrapassagem da América nos domínios do crescimento, da ciência, da inovação e do emprego, a "Estratégia de Lisboa" foi um monumental fiasco. Segue-se-lhe o "Tratado de Lisboa", adornado de ainda mais euforia e de ainda mais ilusões vencedoras. Este desastre de Lisboa não ficará conhecido por aqui se ter decretado uma Europa federal, comandada por franceses e alemães, distante dos povos, alheada dos problemas sociais e políticos do continente e contrária à diversidade secular dos seus povos. Não será isso, pela simples razão de que essa Europa federal nunca terá existência. O desastre de Lisboa ficará na história porque aqui se assinou um tratado que consagrou a não democracia como regime europeu e consolidou a burocracia e a Nomenclatura europeias. Ao fazê-lo, confirmou a caminhada futura para uma ilusão senil, irrealizável e não democrática. Ao tentar construir uma impossibilidade, prepararam a destruição do possível. Ao querer uma União federal, eliminam a hipótese de uma verdadeira Comunidade.»
António Barreto sabe bem que, nesta península acoplada à imensa Ásia, as periferias marítimas sempre derrotaram os imperiais sonhos continentalistas de todos os Carlos Magno… Nós é que deixámos de estudar geografia (que como dizia o outro “serve antes de tudo para fazer a guerra”…) e ainda não começámos a estudar a sério geo-política e muito menos geo-economia e, é claro, temos toda uma história a descobrir. Virgílio de Carvalho sintetizava este défice de inteligência estratégica numa fórmula lapidar: “Falta uma sala de mapas em Lisboa”… No fundo, é disso que Barreto agora fala. O que nada tem que ver com a magnífica vitória de Sócrates e Amado e também da diplomacia portuguesa que parece estar agora a ressuscitar.
A PEREGRINAÇÃO DO DALAI LAMA
« Bush et le Congrès honorent
le dalaï lama malgré la colère chinoise
Le président et le Congrès américains ont rendu mercredi un hommage sans précédent au dalaï lama, passant outre à la colère de la Chine pour honorer un "symbole universel de paix et de tolérance" selon les mots de George W. Bush. Pour la première fois, un président américain est apparu en public au côté du dalaï lama, malgré les protestations véhémentes de la Chine, pour laquelle le leader tibétain est un dangereux séparatiste en exil.
M. Bush a remis au dalaï lama, revêtu de la robe safran et bordeaux des moines bouddhistes, la plus haute distinction civile du Congrès, au cours d'une cérémonie déployant toute la pompe américaine sous la majestueuse coupole du Capitole.

George W. Bush et le dalaï lama arrivent pour la cérémonie de la remise de la médaille du Parlement, le 17 octobre 2007 à Washington
Risquant d'ajouter à l'irritation de Pékin, M. Bush et les orateurs qui l'ont précédé ont dénoncé la répression religieuse qui continue à sévir au Tibet selon les Etats-Unis, en des termes accusant plus ou moins explicitement le gouvernement chinois.
Ils ont pressé le gouvernement chinois d'engager le dialogue avec le dalaï lama, qu'il refuse obstinément de recevoir.
Et ils ont fourni au dalaï lama une tribune exceptionnelle pour réclamer l'autonomie devant la classe politique américaine rassemblée, l'acteur Richard Gere et le Prix Nobel de la Paix Elie Wiesel.
"Les Américains ne peuvent pas voir réprimer la liberté de religion et fermer les yeux ou se détourner. C'est pourquoi je continuerai à presser les dirigeants chinois d'accueillir le dalaï lama en Chine; ils se rendront compte que cet homme bon est aussi un homme de paix et de réconciliation", a déclaré M. Bush, qui avait dit auparavant son admiration pour le leader tibétain.
La Chine, elle, a continué ses récriminations. Elle "éprouve un fort ressentiment" après que M. Bush eut reçu le dalaï lama dans ses appartements privés mardi, a déclaré le porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, Liu Jianchao.
Il a dénoncé ces entretiens comme une "grossière ingérence dans les affaires intérieures chinoises".
La Chine craint que les Etats-Unis ne renforcent la stature internationale du dalaï lama, prix Nobel de la paix, qui personnifie à l'étranger l'opposition au régime communiste.

Carte des récentes rencontres internationales du dalaï lama
Elle s'inquiète de tout ce qui pourrait favoriser les menées séparatistes qu'elle lui prête alors que le Tibet est selon elle partie inaliénable de la Chine.
"Permettez-moi de saisir cette occasion pour réaffirmer de manière catégorique que je ne cherche pas l'indépendance. Je cherche une autonomie significative pour les Tibétains au sein de la République populaire de Chine", a répondu le dalaï lama, qui a fui le Tibet après la répression meurtrière d'un soulèvement contre l'autorité chinoise en 1959 et qui vit en Inde.
CHARLIZE THERON
ELEITA A MAIS SEXY
olha, que novidade...!

NUNCA DEIXE QUE O AMOR LHE VENHA
ESTRAGAR UMA BOA HISTÓRIA DE SEXO
um bom conselho do cartoonista Bouchard no "Le Point"

OS CUSTOS DE UMA POLÍTICA
ECONÓMICA CONSERVADORA
.
«Há dois milhões de pobres em Portugal. Um quinto dos portugueses vive com menos de 360 Euros por mês .»
TANTA HISTÓRIA POR DESCOBRIR
e um museu único em Almodôvar
.
E a matriz judaico-cristã, pergunta o jornalista, a propósito do novo tratado europeu. Sim, mas não é a única, há também a greco-romana, responde Mário Soares. Então e a matriz de base de toda a Europa, dos Dardanelos à Irlanda, da Europa Central até à terra que se acaba onde o mar começa...então e essa matriz fundamental, a celta? E a que já “cá” estava quando no Mediterrâneo se ouviu pela primeira vez o grito de guerra dos Dórios e ainda Moisés não pensava ser educado no Egipto, a da primeiríssima civilização neolítica que ainda hoje encontramos nos nossos pratos? Então…? Tanta história por descobrir! Abriu hoje em Almodôvar um museu excepcional, único, mesmo, que é urgente que o cidadão Soares visite e estude um pouco…
.
Tratado Europeu, Tratado de Lisboa
parabéns a Sócrates e a Luís Amado
José Sócrates está mesmo de parabéns. Resolveu da melhor maneira o berbicacho imenso do novo tratado europeu que fica a chamar-se tratado de Lisboa. Sócrates e Luís Amado fizeram com êxito tudo o que havia a fazer. Parabéns, portanto. Foi um grande dia.
Se este tratado será ou não bom e para que Europa, saber isso é outra discussão. Uma discussão que não pode ser levantada dentro de perspectiva "periféricas"... Para Portugal, é fundamental analisar e debater (e concluir alguma coisa) o tipo de horizontes que este tratado abre e para que Europas. E é fundamental fazê-lo com conceitos e instrumentos de carácter geo-económico e de carácter geo-político, com inteligência económica e com inteligência estratégica. Nada de parolos discursos politiqueiros de políticos "periféricos" e sem inteligência de espécie alguma. Mas isso é, como disse, outra discussão a ter com urgência mas de natureza diferente. Hoje, importa dar os parabéns a José Sócrates e a Luís Amado.
Nicholas Sarkozy/Cecilia Sarkozy e Ségolène Royal/François Hollande
UMA ELEIÇÃO, DOIS DIVÓRCIOS
Depois do folhetim da separação entre a perdedora candidata dos socialistas às presidenciais francesas e o secretário geral do Partido socialista, surge agora o epílogo dos romances deste verão com a notícia da separação oficial por mútuo consentimento entre o candidato ganhador das ditas eleições e, consequentemente, actual presidente de França e a até agora sua ex-modelo desde há uns tempos muito apaixonada por New York e pela comunicação política... Que passem todos muito bem! Sarkozy continua a introduzir inovações e a arejar uma França que já cheirava a naftalina e a tia de província, com a sua dupla moral mitterrantiana... Bravo, Sarko! Quanto a Cecília, com a costumeira irreverência, o Libé vê-a em "dona de casa desesperada"... nada que uma boa estada em New York não lhe resolva. 
CHINA - DAS SUAS GRANDES FRAQUEZAS
Uma experiência de séculos, senão mesmo de milénios, deu aos marinheiros portugueses a sabedoria que passou para o registo popular na fórmula brilhante de "grande nau, grande tormenta"... Hoje, quando olham para a China, recém-chegada ao mercado mundial e tornada o aspecto principal da "globalização", os analistas e peritos ocidentais (nascidos, entretanto, como cogumelos depois da chuva... e sem sequer saberem chinês ou ao menos terem lido Lucien Bodard) vêem apenas a "grande nau" e, sistematicamente, escapa-lhes a "grande tormenta". É nesta última que Gilbert Etienne procura colocar o foco, sem perder de vista a "grande nau"
Gilbert Etienne : « Les Occidentaux ont une fâcheuse tendance à penser que ces pays sont des réservoirs sans fond de talents. Il y a environ 20 % d'ingénieurs vraiment compétents en Inde et 10 % en Chine »
Chine-Inde : au-delà des idées reçues, que savons-nous vraiment de l'histoire et de l'évolution de ces deux géants asiatiques ?
Dans Chine-Inde : la grande compétition (Dunod, octobre 2007), Gilbert Etienne, spécialiste reconnu de ces deux pays, propose une analyse innovante et très documentée des enjeux de développement de ces deux pays à l'échelle internationale. Une synthèse enrichie de l'expérience personnelle de l'auteur. Un ouvrage indispensable à l'ouverture au monde.
Lire l'interview
Analysez avec Gilbert Etienne les performances de la Chine, mais aussi ses graves faiblesses dans les domaines politique et social, Chine - Inde : La grande compétition
La Chine à la une !
Avec la nouvelle édition de Comprendre et appliquer Sun Tzu de Pierre Fayard, un best seller éditorial depuis sa parution en 2004, découvrez aussi la théorie chinoise du management : Etes-vous plutôt Bois, Métal ou Eau ? dans Manager avec la théorie des 5 éléments de Michel Roux (Lire l'interview de l'auteur).
RAMSES 2008
"La présentation du RAMSES 2008 - segundo o próprio director do IFRI e responsável máximo da publicação, Thierry de Montbrial - a constitué, le 20 septembre dernier, un événement. Ouverte par un discours de Jean-Pierre Jouyet, secrétaire d’État auprès du ministre des Affaires étrangères (disponible sur www.ifri.org), la séance s’est poursuivie par des échanges animés autour de la partie introductive, les Perspectives 2007-2008, et autour de quatre thématiques géopolitiques d’actualité : les incertitudes turques, les dangers iraniens, les enjeux sahéliens et africains. Ces quatre problématiques actuelles ont été traitées par de jeunes chercheurs ce qui nous a permis d’affirmer clairement l’un de nos objectifs : identifier et former à l’Ifri une génération montante de chercheurs ouverts aux questions de relations internationales avec une orientation policy oriented."
O editor releva a nova fórmula, na edição 2008, deste clássico:
Nouvelle formule pour Ramsès, après le 25e anniversaire. 7 parties. 60 entrées par pays et/ou thèmes. Le monde en cartes (16 pages quadri) ; Le monde en chiffres : 150 pays. Chronologie. Des articles plus compacts, mais toujours la même pertinence dans la sélection et l'analyse des tendances mondiales.
Sommaire :
Perspectives de Thierry de Montbrial. Questions mondiales. Ordre nucléaire. Enjeux monétaires. Pétrole. Changement du climat. Espace. Europe. Processus constitutionnel européen. Nouveaux Etats-membres. Frontières de l'Union. Allemagne : économie, politique intérieure. Allemagne : politique étrangère. Espagne : autonomies régionales. Italie. Pologne, Royaume-Uni. Monde russe. Oligarques russes. Organisations russes de sondage. Démographie. Russie : économie. Arme pétrolière. Russie : politique étrangère. Caucase. Asie centrale. Moyen-Orient. Arabie saoudite et Golfe. Iran. Irak. Israël. Liban. Palestine. Islamismes maghrébins. Asie-Pacifique. Asie : 10 ans après la crise économique. Enjeux énergétiques en Asie. Asie du Sud-Est. Chine. Inde. Pakistan. Afghanistan. Japon. Péninsule coréenne. Afrique. Afrique du Sud. Corne de l'Afrique. Côte d'Ivoire. Darfour-Tchad-RCA. Sénégal. Eglises protestantes en Afrique. Amériques. Etats-Unis : politique intérieure. Etats-Unis : politique étrangère. Amérique latine : populisme. Brésil. Chili. Cuba. Mexique. Venezuela. Repères. Monde en cartes. Monde en chiffres. Chronologie. Index.
Mots-clés :
stratégie, économie internationale, économie mondiale, politique internationale, politique étrangère, relations internationale, science politique, mondialisation, développement durable, commerce international, investissements internationaux.


Thierry de Montbrial : « Ramses est un instrument d'aide à l'information et à la réflexion pour mieux comprendre les questions internationales ».
Ramses 2008 Rapport annuel mondial sur l'économie et les stratégies (Dunod, septembre 2007). Des articles plus nombreux et plus synthétiques, une maquette simplifiée, c'est la nouvelle formule du Ramses 2008 !
L'objectif est de répondre au besoin de repères et d'analyses des étudiants, des enseignants et des professionnels et, plus largement, du grand public afin de mieux comprendre les questions économiques et internationales. Rencontre avec Thierry de Montbrial, directeur de l'IFRI (Institut Français des Relations Internationales).
Lire l'interview
O OLHAR DO PINTOR SOBRE ESTE PSD
O olhar do pintor viu tudo num relance... E o pintor soube logo a dar a ver o que tinha visto!
"Biografia
Demora três minutos a ler a biografia de Luís Filipe de Menezes. Diz que mantém suspensa a actividade profissional no quadro da Siderurgia Nacional em Gaia. Tem uma profissão.
Agora, pois, um médico na liderança. Pediatra. Neurologia Infantil. Crianças. Há aqui qualquer de diferente. E provavelmente um percurso interessante para narrar, desde a escolha da especialidade na medicina, até à liderança do PSD. Quem sabe, talvez seja objecto dos "Momentos em Tempo Real", do Abrupto.
Blog Luís Filipe de Menezes
As elites ?…
XXX Congresso do PSD. Não necessita de legenda. Foto de Nuno Veiga.
Sapo > Foto do dia
VISITAS DE CORTESIA...

O "Conquilhas" descobriu os dois polícias que estiveram na visita de cortesia ao sindicato, na Covilhã. "Uma idiotice, obviamente. E tal idiotice deve ser tratada no quadro da corporação policial para que não se volte a repetir. Agora, dizer que o Governo praticou um «atentado à democracia»? Se um polícia for apanhado, às 2 da manhã, a mijar nas escadas de um prédio vão acusar o Governo de atentado aos bons costumes? Haja bom senso." Certo, está bem, mas "bom senso" com dois agentes deste quilate...!? Caso para, realmente, dizer: "Haja bom senso!"
“VERDE, QUE TE QUERO VERDE…!”
EU to help small businesses go 'green'
The Commission has announced new measures aimed at helping small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cope with increasingly burdensome environmental legislation and take advantage of the potential economic benefits offered by improved environmental management.
Continua Aqui
.
Links: Industry federations and trade unions
PROFESSOR...?!

Você entregava o seu filho a este indivíduo...?
EUROPA EM DESNORTE
NUMA ENCRUZILHADA
e vai perceber que a "comunicação" sozinha
não resolve os problemas da "emptiness"...
Querer que os cidadãos se “engagem” num processo político mas não admitir que eles decidam, eis o drama desta Europa exposto pela comissária de Comunicação de Bruxelas. E, parece-me, que a senhora comissária, a quem Barroso (o de “Europe, the empire of emptiness”) encomendou uma estratégia de comunicação que resolva esta contradição, tem pela frente uma tarefa impossível… O “empire of emptiness”, diz Olaf Cramme, “must politicise or die”, enquanto Barroso “opens 'no-taboos' debate on EU spending priorities”, como se pode ver a seguir, numa série de despachos de hoje da EuroActiv:
Wallström wants more citizens' engagement but no referenda
With just weeks to go before she presents new plans to overhaul the EU's communication policy, Communication Commissioner Margot Wallström has called for 'citizen assessments' to improve participatory democracy, but avoids the sensitive issue of European referenda for the EU's new Reform Treaty.
Wallström in push to change EU communications strategy
In a new plan to be unveiled today (3 October), the Commission will propose that member states and EU institutions put an end to the "Brussels blame game" and join forces around a common communications strategy in order to win back support from citizens for the 2009 European elections.
Brussels to scale down EU communications proposal
A new plan, to be adopted this week, will propose greater cooperation between institutions and a stronger role for national governments in an attempt to improve the way the EU communicates with its citizens ahead of European elections in 2009. But resistance from Parliament has forced the Commission to scale down its ambitions, according to a draft seen by EurActiv.
Europe must politicise or die
Europe "urgently needs a proper debate as well as choices about its political direction" if it is to "regain the interest of its citizens" and include them in its deliberations, writes Olaf Cramme for Open Democracy.
Europe: The empire of emptiness
"Sometimes I like to compare the EU as a creation to the organisation of empire," stated President José Manuel Barroso recently. Even though there is no "imperialist temptation" in the EU, this statement reveals a number of tensions that are pressing the EU to rethink its organisation, nature and overall strategy, argues Jean-Thomas Lesueur.
Barroso opens 'no-taboos' debate on EU spending priorities
Commission President José Manuel Barroso made it clear, at the start of a public consultation on the review of the EU's euro 126.5 billion/year budget, that he regards the exercise as a unique opportunity to put all of the Union's political priorities up for discussion.
Interview: Support for EU 'quite low' in the Netherlands
Frans Timmermans, Dutch Minister for EU Affairs, is confident that Parliament will support the government's decision to avoid a referendum on the new EU treaty. But at the same time, he concedes that more needs to be done to gain the support of the Dutch public, which he says is currently "quite low". He shared his views on this and other EU topics with EurActiv Slovakia.
Davignon: 'Closer integration and greater solidarity' for Europe of 2020
Closer integration and greater solidarity among EU member states is required if its citizens are to prosper and Europe is to have an effective influence on the world stage, says Etienne Davignon, President of 'Friends of Europe', in an interview with EurActiv.
Deliberative democracy can help EU address democratic deficit
Consulting elites offers deliberation but without political equality, whereas consulting the people offers political equality but without deliberation, writes James Fishkin of Stanford University for the Tomorrow's Europe project.
The EU after the Reform Treaty
The Reform Treaty is a "relatively small step" in the EU's institutional development, marking "neither a major development" nor a "substantial change of direction" in that process, writes Brendan Donnelly of the Federal Union.
Reform Treaty awaits EU leaders' approval
The Portuguese Presidency has unveiled a legally-updated version of the EU's new Reform Treaty, ahead of a key summit in Lisbon on 18-19 October. But Poland has already threatened to reject the text, which fails to satisfy its demands for stronger voting rights.
SARKOZY FUNDE DOIS
"SERVIÇOS" FRANCESES
para obter melhores perfomances na luta ao terrorismo
O Libération entrevistou os patrões dos dois "serviços" que o presidente Sarkozy levou à fusão e falou com eles acerca da fusão mas sobretudo do terrorismo e da sua guerra:
"Antiterrorisme : les patrons parlent

ENTRETIEN EXCLUSIF
Avant la fusion de leurs deux services en 2008, les directeurs des RG et de la DST font le point pour «Libération» sur les menaces que la mouvance Al-Qaeda fait peser sur la France.
Interviewés pour la première fois ensemble, à l’initiative de Libération, les patrons de la Direction de la surveillance du territoire (DST), Bernard Squarcini, et des Renseignements généraux (RG), Joël Bouchité, mettent fin aux rivalités entre ces deux services de police pour soutenir la «fusion», dans une même direction, du renseignement intérieur, afin de contrer le terrorisme islamiste de plus en plus menaçant.
La menace terroriste en France est-elle montée dans le rouge après les consignes de Ben Laden et d’Al-Zawahiri de frapper «les fils de France» et depuis les attentats en Algérie ?
Bernard Squarcini. C’est un élément complémentaire qui s’inscrit dans un contexte préalable où la menace se situe déjà à un niveau élevé, pour notre territoire national ou nos intérêts à l’étranger. L’allégeance des maquis algériens à la mouvance Oussama ben Laden, ex-Groupe salafiste pour la prédication et le combat (GSPC) devenu Al-Qaeda au Maghreb islamique (AQMI), nous pose un problème. Car nous nous retrouvons sous une double menace, à savoir la menace venant de la mouvance internationaliste, donc Ben Laden, mais également la proximité de l’Algérie, et donc un risque de récidive par rapport à ce que l’on a connu dans les années 94-95.
Joël Bouchité. Le fait d’obtenir ce label Al-Qaeda Maghreb islamique représente un grand danger pour les intérêts français et la France, et les trois pays du Maghreb. Puisqu’un groupe circonscrit au territoire algérien s’inscrit désormais dans le jihadisme international, et associe le pouvoir algérien, qu’il conteste fortement, au pouvoir français.
Contrairement à l’Espagne et à la Grande-Bretagne, qui ont été attaqués de plein fouet par Al-Qaeda, comment expliquez-vous que l’Hexagone ait été relativement épargné ?
B.S. Depuis 94-95, il y a un savoir-faire. Le système à la française, qu’il soit le fait du travail très étroit, très précis effectué sur le territoire national par les RG ou du système de renseignement et de traitement judiciaire de la DST, permet de neutraliser avant même le passage à l’acte tout groupe ou individus susceptibles de commettre une action en France. Donc nous adoptons le principe de précaution et l’action préventive.
J.B. Le dispositif français repose sur l’humain. Il est indispensable d’être à l’heure technologique, mais notre capital, depuis 1995, c’est d’avoir continué à miser sur les sources humaines.
Comment vous répartissez-vous actuellement les tâches entre les RG et la DST en matière de lutte antiterroriste ?
J.B. Aux RG, on assure en amont la détection d’islamistes radicaux. Ensuite, on analyse et on construit des dossiers de renseignements. Puis on essaie de les neutraliser sur un plan administratif. Ce à quoi il faut ajouter l’action préventive menée avec les déchéances de nationalité et les expulsions d’islamistes radicaux : 60 depuis quatre ans, 20 depuis le début de l’année.
Dans quels milieux essayez-vous de les détecter ?
J.B. On travaille sur des mouvements de réislamisation, sur des prédicateurs, sur des gens qui embrigadent. Les lieux propices, ce sont certaines mosquées, des associations avec des buts dissimulés, le milieu carcéral - où se côtoient les condamnés de 95 - et des filières afghanes - avec des individus récupérés pour des délits de droit commun. Et là, nous avons un très gros souci. La preuve, c’est que le réseau de Trappes démantelé par la DST avait été monté en 2005 par Safé Bourada, qui avait participé au réseau terroriste de 95, puis était sorti de prison en 2003.
B.S. Nous travaillons également sur le phénomène des convertis à l’islam et des filières. Nous ne sommes plus dans la même configuration qu’en 1995. Nous avions des réseaux déjà installés sur le territoire national, à Lyon et à Chasse-sur-Rhône, que des imams sont venus exhorter au passage à l’acte. Aujourd’hui, on est face à de l’individuel, de la conversion de Français, de l’expatriation sur un théâtre d’opérations, à un moment la Tchétchénie, aujourd’hui l’Irak et à nouveau la zone pakistano-afghane. Donc des choses plus difficiles à détecter. Un parcours idéologique peut se faire en trois mois sur Internet. Un individu peut, le soir chez lui, s’autoradicaliser via Internet et entrer en contact avec des membres haut placés des organisations terroristes. Pour nous, le format de veille opérationnelle doit changer si on veut être capable d’anticiper ou de neutraliser par avance ce qui peut nous arriver.
Que peut apporter la fusion prochaine de vos deux services dans une même direction du renseignement intérieur ?
B.S. Ce service unique, conformément aux instructions du président de la République, relayées par une lettre de mission à la ministre de l’Intérieur, verra le jour en 2008, et devra être tiré vers le haut en méthodes d’action et capacités technologiques. La méthode française des années 95 a été payante, et on a su garder une longueur d’avance. Il est temps de revoir la voilure et de l’adapter aux nouvelles menaces. Nous avons un besoin de relations plus étroites avec tous les services de renseignement étrangers. Car nous ne cherchons plus uniquement des réseaux ou des groupes, mais aussi des individus tout seuls, capables d’actions de type kamikaze. Pour nos démocraties et la protection de nos concitoyens, nos systèmes de veille doivent évoluer pour chercher des cibles tête d’épingle. Si on devait raisonner plus matériellement, la maille du filet doit absolument changer, et devenir plus petite. Ceci ne peut se faire en l’état actuel, car il y a trop de déperdition, trop de missions. A partir des savoir-faire et des cultures des deux services, il faut monter un pôle d’excellence dévolu au contre-terrorisme.
J.B. Face à l’étendue des nouvelles menaces, il faut absolument que nos deux services soient totalement intégrés l’un à l’autre pour travailler en commun, sur le plus petit élément isolé jusqu’à éventuellement la projection d’une source à l’extérieur afin de suivre le groupe dangereux. Quand trois services se retrouvent en 1995 sur le même point de surveillance, en 2007 ça devient néfaste. Il faut avoir un fonctionnement interactif, car le contexte international nous oblige à une riposte extrêmement rapide. Alors ce ne sera pas une DST renforcée de RG, ni des RG renforcés de technologies, mais une nouvelle maison du renseignement intérieur.
Entre les RG et la DST, vous partagez des sources communes, infiltrées ou envoyées à l’étranger ?
B.S. Oui, nous partageons des sources communes. Pour éviter les doublons et les failles. Pour une couverture maximale de tout ce que l’on doit voir passer sur nos écrans radar. Nous avons des opérations communes, mais nous en avons également avec les services relevant du ministère de la Défense. Nous avons besoin de l’extérieur et de renforcer nos relations internationales. Car il faut aller chercher très loin ce qui risque de nous revenir sur le territoire national. Un guichet unique évitera des déperditions ou des subtilités qui ont entraîné pour nous souvent le fait d’être actionnés chacun de notre côté par les services étrangers sur notre territoire national.
Comment analysez-vous que cette fusion voulue et soutenue par la gauche ne soit mise en place qu’en 2008, sous Sarkozy ?
B.S. Le projet, dans les années 90, du préfet Jacques Fournet, qui fut patron des RG, puis de la DST, a été vendu à la partie suivante, la droite, mais n’a pas pu aboutir, car il y a eu un choc culturel. Ce projet n’a pas pu voir le jour il y a quatre ans, car le ministre de l’Intérieur de l’époque, Nicolas Sarkozy, n’a pas réussi à convaincre le Président.
J.B. Pour aboutir dans la réforme du service de renseignement, il faut une volonté politique forte et homogène, et il faut arriver à la produire à froid, sans scandale, sans acte terroriste. Et il faut des hommes engagés, qui agissent en harmonie, en intelligence et pour lesquels les enjeux de structure vont primer sur les enjeux de personnes. Les conditions sont actuellement réunies.
B.S. On a aussi une nouvelle génération, un rajeunissement qui permet de faire fi du passé, d’un certain emploi des services. Il faut se tourner résolument vers l’avenir à un moment où il n’y a ni scandale, ni autre chose. On n’est pas sous l’effet du pasteur Doucé [disparu alors qu’il était surveillé par des RG de la préfecture de police de Paris en 1990, ndlr] ou du congrès du PS à la Villette [espionné par des RG]. On est en situation calme et sereine, où l’on peut réfléchir.
Les RG ont une réputation sulfureuse, de coups tordus…
J.B. Les services de renseignement suscitent des affaires d’Etat lorsqu’ils sortent de leur rôle. Le mouvement de modernisation des services débarrassés des anciens systèmes et des anciennes méthodes permet de rester garde haute sur l’essentiel.
B.S. Au niveau européen, tous les services se réforment dans le même sens. Tous ces gens qui ont travaillé ensemble contre l’ultragauche européenne - Action directe, Fraction armée rouge, Brigades rouges, organisation du 17 novembre - et qui s’entendent parfaitement bien aussi sur la lutte anti-ETA constatent chacun dans leur coin la nécessité de revoir le format. Puisque nous passons à une menace plus diffuse, difforme, constante, qui va s’étaler sur plusieurs dizaines d’années, un Jihad islamique, basé sur du fondamentalisme religieux et non plus du support terroriste d’Etat.
Avez-vous déjoué récemment des attentats ou arrêté des types seuls qui auraient pianoté sur Internet et fabriqué leur bombe ?
B.S. Notre veille opérationnelle a permis d’arrêter quelqu’un à Nancy qui, manifestement, offrait ses services, en martyr de la cause, à l’organisation et préparait un passage à l’acte sur notre territoire. A Mulhouse, on a capté un message inquiétant d’un individu au profil intéressant qui indiquait que «le 6 septembre, pour Nicolas Sarkozy, ça allait être le 11 Septembre». Comme le Président se déplaçait à Mulhouse, l’affaire a été bouclée en quarante-huit heures : il s’agissait d’un simple dossier camisole, et ça a fini par un internement administratif.
La vidéo de Ben Laden qui ressort au bout de trois ans de silence vous paraît-elle authentique ?
B.S. Concernant l’authenticité de la vidéo, il y a effectivement une réflexion qui s’impose sur l’aspect technique, décors, couleurs, intonations, mouvements et autres.
Parce qu’il n’a pas l’air de trop bouger et d’avoir les bras coincés ?
B.S. Vous savez tout. Des services du ministère de la Défense ont examiné la bande et arrivent à certaines conclusions proches de ce que vous analysez.
C’est-à-dire ? C’est Ben Laden qui parle ? Ou pas ?
B.S. Très peu de temps. deux minutes et demie, sur la longueur de bande.
Et le reste ? Ce n’est pas sa voix ?
B.S. Peu importe. Ce qui est important, c’est le fait de repasser régulièrement, tel un feuilleton, certaines périodes rythmées et autres. Ceci dit, lui ou pas lui, on est à un niveau où peu importe la position d’OBL [Oussama ben Laden], tout est déjà lancé. Le jihad à un niveau planétaire est largement inscrit dans les mentalités pour ceux qui veulent choisir cette voie. Le fait de relancer la mécanique une fois par an ne rajoute en rien ou ne retranche en rien. Les gens reviennent formatés pour frapper quand ils veulent et où ils veulent.La seule nouveauté au niveau du message, c’est l’actualisation des personnes citées, comme Nicolas Sarkozy. La France n’avait pas besoin de ce message supplémentaire pour savoir qu’elle était ciblée. Mais cela confirme.

DA INQUIETANTE SUBIDA DO EURO E
DE SUAS DIFERENTES CONSEQUÊNCIAS
É inquietante a forte subida do euro, pergunta hoje a 18HCom, que procura responder à questão, esclarecer o horizonte 2008 e ver como os vários países europeus reagem de modo bem diferente, devido a diferentes realidades internas, a este disparar do preço do euro. Nota ainda como, em toda a Europa, são as empresas a pagar esta forte apreciação com o esmagamento das suas margens, o que tem, obviamente, consequências negativas para o emprego e para o investimento... O caso português não é referido na análise. Mas percebe-se bem que é um caso excepciomal que não cai em nenhum dos três campos definidos. Não está, como a Espanha, relativamente imunizado pelo domínio da procura interna na economia e por um certo fechamento ao exterior. Não está, como a Alemanha, salvo pela superior capacidade do seu aparelho exportador e pelas deslocalizações para a Europa de Leste. Não está, como a França ou a Itália, apenas um pouco exposto à concorrência nos sectores líderes da exportação, como a aeronáutica ou o automóvel, mas apesar de tudo com know-how e domínio de práticas de políticas económicas capazes de fazer controlo de danos. Portugal está muito pior... Sem as referidas vantagens de Espanha, nem as da Alemanha e nem sequer as de Itália ou França, esta pequena economia aberta, ingénua e desarmada vai, certamente, viver a forte apreciação do euro como um tsunami ou, como em português se diz bem há séculos, um maremoto...
"Faut-il s'inquiéter de la flambée de l'euro ?
"L'euro restera cher, c'est une évidence. Mais les pays européens ne sont pas affectés de la même façon.
Et il devrait se stabiliser en 2008. En l’espace de quelque semaines seulement, la devise européenne est passée de 1,34 dollar à 1,41 dollar, soit une hausse brutale de 5,2%. Mais ce n’est pas tout. Elle a aussi a retrouvé ses plus hauts historiques face à l’ensemble des grandes monnaies. Soit un bond de 3% en deux semaines. Cette rapide prise de poids inquiète les responsables politiques et même les banquiers centraux. A juste titre. L’économie européenne arrivera-t-elle à résister avec une monnaie aussi forte ?
Certes, l’Europe n’exporte que 14% de ses produits vers les Etats-Unis. Soit quatre fois moins que les ventes vers les pays émergents d’Asie et vers les pays exportateurs de pétrole. Or la demande de ces pays progresse de plus de 10% l’an contre seulement 2% outre-Atlantique. Reste que la hausse de la monnaie unique pèsera plus sur les marges des entreprises européennes que sur la demande extérieure. L’investissement des entreprises et l’emploi risquent d’en pâtir. Mais tous les pays de la zone euro ne seront pas touchés de la même manière.
L’Espagne est l’économie la moins exposée grâce au dynamisme de sa demande intérieure, consommation et investissement, et à la faiblesse de son secteur exportateur. Celui de l’Allemagne est au contraire le plus puissant du monde, et il est bien armé pour résister à l’euro fort. Les entreprises allemandes ont beaucoup délocalisé ces dernières années, notamment en Europe de l’Est. Comme l’euro cher abaisse les coûts d’approvisionnement, elles gagnent d’un côté ce qu’elles perdent de l’autre. Au final, la France et l’Italie seront les plus frappées par l’euro cher, victimes du manque de sophistication de leurs exportations et de l’intensité de la concurrence dans leurs secteurs leaders à l’export comme l’aéronautique ou l’automobile.
Préoccupant, car tout semble conduire à la poursuite d’un euro fort. Les experts les plus pessimistes tablent d’ores et déjà sur un taux de change à 1,8 dollar ! Exagéré. Le taux de change euro-dollar est sensible à trois facteurs qui varient rarement dans le même sens. D’abord, l’écart de taux d’intérêt de part et d’autre de l’Atlantique. Comme la Fed devrait baisser ses taux plus rapidement que la BCE ne baissera les siens, c’est un motif d’affaiblissement du dollar et donc d’appréciation de l’euro. Ensuite, le différentiel de croissance économique. Il s’est déjà réduit au cours de ces dernières années. Son impact sera donc globalement neutre. Enfin, les déficits jumeaux américains. Ceux-ci se sont largement creusés depuis 2001. Ils devraient se réduire ce qui devrait soutenir le dollar vis-à-vis de l’euro. Au total, un niveau autour de 1,40 semble le scénario le plus probable à l’horizon 2008. "
Harbulot ao L'Economiste:
COMO A INTELIGÊNCIA ECONÓMICA ACRESCENTA VALOR NAS EMPRESAS

Christian Harbulot, directeur de l’Ecole de Guerre Économique:
“L’intelligence économique doit être mise en application dans une recherche de résultats”

En France, en matière d’intelligence économique, Christian Harbulot fait autorité par son expertise et son travail de conceptualisation sur ce sujet. Auteur de nombreux ouvrages de référence, il dirige l’Ecole de guerre économique et est directeur associé du cabinet Spin Partners. Sa vision, ses analyses et sa mise en perspective de toutes ces problématiques sont développées et mises en pratique au sein de cette institution à travers les différents enseignements dispensés. C’est de cette valeur ajoutée qu’il nous parle. Entretien.
L’Economiste Maghrébin : En dehors des initiés, pour beaucoup, l’intelligence économique est difficilement déchiffrable. Comment définit-on cette matière ou cette discipline ?
Christian Harbulot : L’intelligence économique est une démarche qui vise à préciser le rôle de l’information dans le développement des entreprises et dans la compétition à laquelle elles sont confrontées. Aussi étrange que cela puisse paraître, la plupart des entreprises ont encore une approche très fragmentaire et empirique de l’information. Elles l’utilisent majoritairement dans une optique d’innovation et de commercialisation de leurs produits. Or la culture française ne se prête guère à cette approche car elle cultive l’individualisme. Autrement dit, il est très difficile de la rendre efficiente car les blocages sont nombreux et variés. Ce qui n’est pas le cas dans d’autres pays où l’information est considérée comme une richesse collective à partager pour le bien de tous. Une PME qui optimise aujourd’hui son management de l’information est mieux armée pour faire face à ses concurrents et surtout saura mieux orienter sa conquête de marchés. Les Allemands sont plus compétitifs que les Français parce qu’ils ont su créer des réseaux décentralisés adaptés à leur stratégie industrielle et à l’approche des économies émergentes.
-Comment l’articulation se fait entre les outils conceptuels et opérationnels sur le terrain de la réalité économique ?
-Tout dépend de la stratégie qui est définie par le chef d’entreprise et de la manière dont il va réussir à chasser en meute avec d’autres partenaires. L’intelligence économique doit être mise en application dans une recherche de résultats. Les priorités de l’entreprise déterminent l’usage des outils et les méthodes à appliquer. Encore faut-il que le chef d’entreprise soit sensibilisé à cette dimension du problème. Beaucoup d’entre eux méconnaissent les progrès accomplis par les technologies de l’information et concentrent leur attention sur les facilités que leur apporte l’informatique dans le domaine de la gestion ou de la comptabilité. Idem pour Internet. Cette méconnaissance de l’existant pénalise la mise en application de nouvelles méthodes de travail à partir de l’information pour prendre des parts de marché. Le déficit actuel du commerce extérieur de la France s’explique en partie par l’incapacité à redéployer le tissu économique vers d’autres zones d’échange. Cette paralysie résulte du manque de connaissances des autres pays malgré l’effort entrepris par l’Etat dans le domaine, mais aussi dans la faculté d’adaptation aux besoins d’infrastructures matérielles ou immatérielles à détecter chez les autres. Les Chinois ont en Afrique une politique de puissance qui marque des points car ils agissent dans ce sens. Nous en sommes restés à une politique de marché qui ne répond plus aux attentes des pays africains.
- 98% de l’information sont de « sources ouvertes », les 2% restants s’obtiennent par des méthodes d’espionnage ultrasophistiquées. Comment dans ce cas « sanctuariser », protéger et sécuriser le « patrimoine » d’une entreprise (ses secrets de fabrication, sa culture…) ?
-Pour sanctuariser efficacement, il faut qu’il existe un esprit patriotique dans la population, ce qui est loin d’être le cas. Les débats idéologiques du XXè siècle ont causé des dégâts très importants en France. A droite comme à gauche, on est incapable d’avoir les idées claires sur une stratégie de puissance dans le domaine géoéconomique. Dans le meilleur des cas, on essaie de reprendre quelques bonnes idées développées à l’étranger comme le Small Business Act ou le principe de réciprocité. Il est étonnant de constater l’apathie des médias sur ces enjeux. Le seul progrès enregistré ces derniers mois porte sur l’exigence de mesures à prendre. Mais les médias attendent du social ou de la relance de la consommation et ont quasiment un encéphalogramme plat sur les questions de stratégie d’accroissement de puissance. Il ne faut pas s’étonner de nos faiblesses endémiques en matière de sécurité économique. Les groupes du CAC 40 savent que l’informatique est le premier maillon faible de leur « sanctuaire » et aussi une source importante de perte de secrets de toute nature (scientifiques, technologiques, financiers, juridiques). Combien d’années faudra-t-il pour sortir de ce piège ? Tant que des puissances étrangères et par conséquent leurs grandes entités économiques pourront lire à livre ouvert dans notre économie, nous aurons bien du mal à progresser pour conquérir des marchés dans les zones que nous connaissons mal et même à protéger notre patrimoine industriel ou plutôt ce qu’il en reste. (suite...). HBY
L’Economiste 453 - du 03 au 17 Octobre 2007
Eva Green, na Vanity Fair,
por Patrick Demarchelier
.
Uma “Witchy Woman” na edição de Novembro da Vanity Fair, com oito “Patrick Demarchelier's vampy photos” ... Realmente, a não perder por quem gosta de fotografia e por quem se habituou a apreciar o lhar de Patrick Demarchelier, sem esquecer, claro, a Bond's girl e "also the commercial face of Dior's new Midnight Poison", que é muito mais que isso!




ALAIN BAUER COM UM ROMANCE
NOS MISTÉRIOS DA MAÇONARIA
Um romance de Alain Bauer...?! Decididamente, este homem é uma personagem renascentista. Criminologista, perito em segurança, risco e terrorismo, professor universitário, ensaista, empresário, é francês mas foi vice-presidente da americana SAIC Europe, crítico das "confusões" na Maçonaria foi Grão-Mestre do G.O.F., ex-adjunto do primeiro-ministro Michel Rocard foi dos primeiros socialistas a "abençoar" Sarkozy (talvez por, sempre bem informado, ter sido o primeiro a perceber que Sarkozy era quem dava mais garantias de desmantelar o complexo chiraquiano e tirar a França desse atoleiro....), agora, Alain Bauer publica o seu primeiro romance... Uma coisa toda em alegorias e analogias, um autêntico roman à clés. A ler por toda a gente mas, sobretudo, por quem saiba ler...
Les mystères de Channel Row - Alain Bauer/ Roger Dachez
"Londres, juin 1717.
C'est d'une modeste taverne du quartier Saint-Paul que va surgir la première loge franc-maçonne. Le Révérend Jean-Théophile Désaguliers, physicien proche de Newton et de la famille royale, en devient le Grand Maître. Aussitôt, d'étranges événements surviennent : un registre est volé, une servante agressée, un Maître de Loge est mystérieusement assassiné, et Thomas, le disciple préféré, est retrouvé mort après une folle poursuite.
Aidé par la police de Londres, le Révérend mène l'enquête. En même temps qu'il construit la puissante franc-maçonnerie anglaise, Désaguliers va traquer la vérité dans les recoins les plus sordides de la capitale. Il y rencontrera notamment le chef des bandits de Londres, mais aussi un aristocrate débauché, traître à son roi et Grand Maître des francs-maçons ! Surtout, il va découvrir un incroyable secret qui donnera un sens nouveau à sa vie...
Pour inaugurer la série "Crimes et loges" Alain Bauer et Roger Dachez, grands spécialistes de la franc-maçonnerie, nous racontent pour la première fois les origines de celle-ci, à travers une enquête haletante dans les bas-fonds londoniens."
FAUSTO CORREIA
Fausto, meu querido amigo, este ano será bem diferente a comemoração do nosso aniversário. Mas, garanto-te, o champagne será servido e bebido. Boa viagem para o teu oriente eterno, com os abraços do costume.
VIVAS À REPÚBLICA
A República comemorou o seu aniversário a 5 de Outubro. O Presidente falou da insuficiente armadura que ela apresenta contra a corrupção, essa espécie de CO2 moral que lhe destrói o oxigénio e abre buracos na ética republicana, sua camada protectora. Tem razão o Presidente mas, há quase trinta anos nos mais altos cargos políticos e, portanto, bom conhecedor dos meandros, há muito que Cavaco o deveria ter dito...
Neste aproximar ao centenário da República, como disse o meu amigo
JAM no "TempoQuePassa", não subscrevo a alarmista tese dos que proclamam a falta de autenticidade de toda a presente classe política. Apenas observo, com algum realismo, a existência de amplas zonas de incompetência. E que a principal causa deste desassossego está na evidente falta de educação das elites e da consequente desorganização do trabalho nacional... É claro que há quem aproveite e se aproveite dessa "desorganização do trabalho nacional" e a corrupção de que fala o Presidente é apenas um dos aspectos desse aproveitamente. Por isso, escrevo, frequentemente, sobre o domínio do "complexo neo-corporativo e salazarento" na vida desta pobre República
Não notei, por aí, qualquer referência a Teófilo Braga, o grande pai intelectual da República, nem a Luz Almeida, o seu grande pai orgânico (digamos assim...). Teófilo está esquecido (quando deveria ser estudado para, pelo menos, se perceber o que era o projecto republicano) e Luz Almeida foi relegado para uma sombra espessa (ele que sempre cultivou a luz...). Esta actual ausência de conhecimento não nos diz nada sobre os pais da República e as suas qualidades. Diz-nos, porém, muito sobre sobre o culto da ignorância e a preguiça intelectual das actuais "élites", quer intelectuais, quer dirigentes, do burgo... Esperemos, então, por uns estudos americanos, ingleses ou franceses, senão mesmo espanhóis, e veremos aparecer os habituais "universitários" da tradução mal atamancada, tipo "facilidades" por "facilities"...
Entretanto, já que da sabedoria e da força estamos conversados, imaginemos (comedidamente) a beleza (possível, bem possível, mesmo) da República.

Marianne… na pele de Laetitia Casta

PINA MOURA ELEITO
Pina Moura foi eleito pelo Jumento como um casoexemplar do conceito de "boa vida republicana"... E à espanhola, sugere-se daqui.

"Nos primeiros tempos deste governo falava-se muito da "ética republicana"... (...) Mas há muito que se deixou falar de ética republicana, aliás, o ministro da Justiça elaborou uma definição brilhante. é ético o que está na lei. Portanto passámos de um conceito subjectivo de ética para uma definição objectiva, quem não violar a lei pode ser considerado um modelo de ética.
Mas agora que se abandonou a ética e Portugal sobre uns pontos nos índice de corrupção de uma conhecida organização não governamental internacional, podemos aplicar o republicanismos a outros valores de alguns conhecidos socialistas. Por exemplo, Pina Moura poderia servir para ilustrar o conceito de "boa vida republicana". in O Jumento
DURÃO BARROSO NOS VELHOS TEMPOS
ou o retrato do artista quando jovem cão
Alocução do "camarada Veiga" às massas... A minha dúvida é se a mão que segura o microfone não é a de Miguel Lemos, quando jovem repórter... O vídeo chegou-me através do Jumento.
Aeroporto de Lisboa: Campo de Tiro
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