rickirs

It is clear that German Chancellor Angela Merkel will lay on the line for Putin in clear words to stop Russian support of the insurgencyand support peace negotiations, or the EU (meaning her) will back the USA 100% to meet its existing OBLIGATIONS to Ukraine to protect its sovereignty. And she will remind Putin that if the USA militarily supports Ukraine, NATO (Germany, France, UK) will be sure to follow.

It becomes a question of whether Putin can gracefully exit the conflict as the Hero of Russia or become so in love with his own perceived invulernability that he will risk a much wider violent conflict on Russian borders and assualt on the Russian economy. Russians should hope Putin keeps his sanity.

It looks like the almighty Republican congressional majority was hit by a “can of whoop-ass” by Professor Obama. He got them to amend the bill to state that climate change was real and not a hoax, and oil sands should no longer be exempt from a tax used to cleanup oil spills. If you understand Republican politics, those concessions are hurtful.

Now Republican Sen. Hoeven says, Obama "needs to work with Congress in a bipartisan way and approve the Keystone XL pipeline project for the American people," Please Obama, work with us. This indicates that Obama has enough leverage still to get further concessions on the bill to get his support. Not bad for a lame-duck POTUS.

"16 years are a lot."

It is a lot longer than the lives of 32 people who died by his actions. Schettino will be 70 years old if he serves out the entire sentence; still enough young enough to enjoy life.

It would seem that China and the USA are capable of having a pragmatic (albeit complex) political and economic relationship while vying for political and economic dominance. Both over many, many years have criticized the other relating to both domestic and international issues. Some conflicts resolved, some tabled, and some unresolved. But at no time has either "cut the Gordian Knot" when seemingly unresolvable conflict exists. This is how mature and advanced nations co-exist.

Then you have the Junta who, with less than a few lightly critical comments from a USA envoy about Thailand's internal affairs, shifts the entire country's political allegiance to China. The Junta places the security of the nation into the hands of a country known for its disrespect for KINGDOMS, human rights and liberties, and RELIGION. And for that the Junta is placated by soothing chinese words of ego stroking and hopes of prolonging the Junta's power over the Thai People's sovereignty.

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I hope Xi Jinping, will ask Mr Obama, at the meeting, to stop interfering into Thailand's internal affairs.

Thailand is a sovereign country, responsible for their own destiny.

They don't need the Americans or the Chinese telling them how to govern their own country.

Thailand is an ally to both of those countries and they should be respected as such.

I may deflate your ego but Thailand is but a mole on China's Asian ass - separate and distinct but only noticeable when China decides to hit the toilet. And as far as Thailand's sovereignty is concerned, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan might lend some advice to the Junta about just how meaningful it is to the Chinese. And please, Thailand is not a "ally" to either China or the USA - it is at best a "partner" being dependent on both for its economic livelihood.

"Police Commander Gen Somyot Poompanmoung was in Phuket recently to underline his strategy for reform, and priorities for local law enforcement."

Why?

Isn't the NRC working on a reform that would DECENTRALIZE police at the local level? That would mean city authorities would have the power and responsibility for local law enforcement, not the national police. This disjunctive behavior with and within the Junta government seems endemic.

Somchai can use the "Suthep" defense - he ordered armed forces to only shoot at people's feet.

General Prayuth is such a jokester he will bring the House down - literally.

The Thai economy will be in ruins with only Prayuths 12 Values to comfort the people. Thank you Gen. Prayuth for the fun times.

Thailand will become the Hub of Chinese Foreign Assets.

The military government finally got the national unity it sought - complete disagreement with its 10 "digital economy" bills. Let's see if Prayuth wears his PM hat and compromises the bills like a politician or wears his NCPO Chief hat and orders the bills into law. Delay of the bills could impact the ASEAN Community economy, so that is not an otion. We'll see how Prayuth handles a lose-lose situation - something I'm sure that has been beyond his experience.

Work harded and more efficiently or we'll transfer you to a group that doesn't.

PLEASE TRANSFER ME!

If the pay is the same, who cares about "upward mobility?" You have to pay a "gift" for that anyways.

It looks like "John Doe" has a big family.

"Murphy also reiterated that the United States does not take sides in Thai politics."

Mr. Murphy might want to check again with his boss POTUS Obama.

November 14, 2014; "US President Barack Obama urged Myanmar Friday to hold 'free, fair and inclusive' elections as he threw his weight behind a bid by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to change a constitution that bars her from the presidency....Speaking at a joint news conference he warned Myanmar's reforms since shedding outright military rule in 2011 were by "no means complete or irreversible" and called for "free, fair and inclusive" elections in the nation, where Ms Suu Kyi and her party are set to contest crucial polls next year."

Perhaps most shocking is the Junta's naivety to think that every nation will suppress their own freedom of expression for the sake of the Junta's agenda. Obviously, nations like the USA have always been very vocal.

I'm sure the USA is pleased so many Thais and foreigners think of the USA first when the discussoin centers on political asylum. It certainly has a well-known and long track record for such human rights.

But there are many other nations throughout the world that honor political asylum, both democractic and "neo-democratic" (ie., kingdoms and oligarchies) countries. Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada are also among the best known for asylum seekers. The right of asylum is enshrined in the UN Convention and in the EU Charter. However, as Julian Assange can attest, getting asylum at an embassy may not be the best solution. And as John Snowden might attest, seeking asylum at a foreign nation's immigration gate is no guarantee to entry.

The best thing for a developing democracy in Thailand is for Yingluck to remain in the country. If people think Thaksin has been a political thorn in the side of the elitist, Yingluck will become a martyr for democracy and crusader against usurpers of Thai sovereignty. Her every word and action will be followed by the public. She will become an Aung San Suu Kyi protegee. The Junta can only hope she leaves the country permanently.

"protest from 300 students, parents and teachers holding placards and posters to voice their opposition"

And the military just watched? Twenty rubber farmers threatened a protest over rubber prices and Prayuth says, "Don't do it." Three university student hold three fingers up in protest and they're detained. Teachers wanr of protest for higher wages and the Junta says "no." Prayuth's use of martial law seems so fickled - difficult to know exactly what is allowed and not.

How can anyone follow the rule of law when the law follows no rule?

The nation needs billions in baht for investment in its infrastucture to stimulate the economy and Gen. Prayuth comes up with a floating market.

Think little, become little.

The Junta's creditability and capability is being seriously questioned:

"If there's no ground-breaking [on government investment projects], I do not believe in anything. One recommendation I have for the government is to 'just do it'. There's enough talk already," Chantana Sukumanont, an adviser to Siam City Cement, The Nation 2015-01-30

The consequences of the Junta's failure may surpass all its other successes:

"Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Sunday warned the government to speed up efforts to revive the economy or else the post-coup administration would [find] it difficult to stay on." The Nation 2015-01-04

The consequence for the nation will be an economic depression.

"common understanding about the political situation in Thailand"

Junta rules, everyone else obeys. Got it in one. Any questions?

Pickup your military ribbon for coup attendance on your way out.

Medical Certificate

medical_certificate.pdf

Saudi Arabia and Turkey stand behind their friends too. They just reveal who those friends are but you can tell by who they are not attacking.

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Hmmm. 'Wonder how well this is going to go over with the liberal base (you know, the one that elected and then re-elected him for moving troops in the opposite direction)...

He is moving troops in the opposite direction - instead of South to Afghanistan they are moving North to Iraq.

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how about dredging a channel?

The French discovered the Mekong wasn't viable for large ships 150 years ago. The expedition took years even to reach Luang Prabang.

And now it takes yuans.

Well done Gen. Prayuth!

Once again you have helped another country make an infrastructure investment in Thailand that will boost their GDP growth rate with export of materials, expertise, materials, and technology. And if the deal is anything like the Chinese-financed dual rail project, the Japanese will OWN 80% of the project and revenues for the next 20 years until Thailand pays off its debt. I hope for the Japan's sake that there is still a viable Thai economy for the next 20 years at the current rate that the Thai government is mismanaging it.

Another day, another Government plan to invest in the infrastructure.

But only if it can't another country to make that investment, and even then it will continue to stall. In fact just a couple days ago, despite frantic pleas from the business sector to make investments in the infrastrucure NOW, Deputy Prime Minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula declared:

"the government will not be implementing a second round of economic stimulus package in light of indications that previous budgetary injections have made a significant impact on the country's economy." 2015-02-07

And yet just a week ago Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said that Thailand's gross domestic product could expand by 4% this year "when capital from government investment enters the economic system"

Sorry, but there will be no further government stimulus and you can forget the 4% GDP growth: "Estimates peg the country’s growth to be only 3 percent in 2015." Frankly, 2-2.5% GDP growth appears to be a more reasonable expectation.

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Notice to the Government.

The more you are chasing after her the more you are creating a false hero under the eyes of her supporters.

Let her go, let her disappear into oblivion, she is not worth anything, worrying about.

Fear of democratic leadership is one of the greatest motivators in military-led governments to maintain an aggressive posture against human rights and liberties. They cannot let her go without letting go their own self-fulled power. Ironically, the military is making her into a National Treasure.

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