FW: bits and pieces

[Karen Watters Cole]

Following a link on a previous posting, I ran into this editorial. Note the comments about IMF and advantage to the US at the end of the article.  - Karen Chilling message Arab News Editorial 29 August 2002 Nigeria’s decision to suspend repayments on its $33 billion foreign debt because of a desperate shortage of foreign currency reserves sends a stunning, even chilling, message both to oil producers and the industrialized world from where most of its loans came. It is a watershed event that is bound to have ramifications. This is the first time that an oil producer has reneged on its debt — and Nigeria is not only among the world’s largest producers, its senior oil policy advisor, Rilwanu Lukman, is also current chairman of OPEC. It is no good pointing out that Nigeria has been in economic and political crisis for longer than most Nigerians care to remember or that mismanagement, corruption, crime and communal violence are so endemic that big business now shuns the country. That is of minor importance compared to the psychological impact this announcement will have worldwide. http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=18159 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F R E E   I N T E L L I G E N C E   B R I E F I N G:   RUSSIA SENDING MESSAGE TO U.S.   Despite recent reports, an economic deal between Moscow and Baghdad and U.S. accusations about alleged Russian bombings inside Georgia are not likely to end the Bush-Putin alliance. Rather, a weak Moscow is trying to show Washington that it still matters.   Click below to read the STRATFOR analysis: http://www.stratfor.com/fib/fib_view.php?ID=205939 Withdrawal of U.S. Holdings by Saudis Could Affect Lebanon 27 August 2002 Summary Recent Saudi-U.S. tensions allegedly are leading to a withdrawal of as much as $200 billion in Saudi investments from the United States, according to news reports. If true, a large portion of this money could find itself in Lebanon, which would shift the balance of power toward the Sunnis and likely would alarm Syria. http://www.stratfor.com/fib/fib_view.php?ID=205898