About the Schirach Report
The Schirach Report provides up to date, focused analysis on key US and international political, economic and security issues.
Dec 13
8
America: Bad Airport Services Tarnish Our Image As a Super-Efficient Post Industrial Economy
Flights delayed because of a sudden lack of cleaning crews. No proper announcements
By Paolo von Schirach
December 8, 2013
HELSINKI – Almost everybody experienced flight delays and cancellations due to weather or mechanical problems. Add this one to the list of causes: a three-hour delay because of lack of cleaning crews. Yes, of all of a sudden –this is a semi-official version– there were just not enough crews to prepare incoming aircrafts so that they would be fresh and clean and ready to welcome new passengers. On account of that, several international flights were delayed –we are talking hours– at a major US Airport. Read the rest of America: Bad Airport Services Tarnish Our Image As a Super-Efficient Post Industrial Economy »
Dec 13
3
There Will Be No Tough Negotations With Iran
The West already conceded that Tehran hs a right to enrich uranium. Meanwhile, the political climate is totally against any military action
By Paolo von Schirach
Related story:
http://schirachreport.com/index.php/2013/11/30/tehrans-charm-offensive-will-work/
December 3, 2013
WASHINGTON - As Washington is enthralled with the political fallout of the Obamacare website debacle, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran may have pretty good reasons for feeling good about himself. Via the accord reached in Geneva –an accord that changes nothing regarding Iran’s underlying ability to produce nuclear weapons materials relatively soon– he managed to achieve two important policy objectives. Read the rest of There Will Be No Tough Negotations With Iran »
Nov 13
30
Tehran’s Charm Offensive Will Work
Iran's nuclear ambitions will not worry the West that much, once America and Europe become convinced that the ayatollahs have become friendly
By Paolo von Schirach
Related story:
http://schirachreport.com/index.php/2013/11/26/tehran-winning-public-relations-battle/
November 30, 2013
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State John Kerry just repeated that the US policy goal on Iran is to make sure that the Tehran government will never acquire nuclear weapons. Given this objective, the Obama administration has presented the recent interim agreement reached in Geneva with Iran as a major step in that direction. “Well, we did not get everything we wanted”, claims Washington, “But we got a temporary halt to the enrichment process pursued by the Iranians”. So, based on Washington’s declared goals, we should expect a Geneva 2 agreement to include the dismantling or at least the beginning of the dismantling on Iran’s nuclear program. Read the rest of Tehran’s Charm Offensive Will Work »
Nov 13
26
Tehran Is Winning The Public Relations Battle
Once Iran is accepted as a "normal state", then much of the political opposition against its nuclear weapons ambitions will go away
By Paolo von Schirach
November 26, 2013
WASHINGTON - The more I look at it, the more the Geneva interim nuclear agreement between the West and Iran looks like a major political victory for Tehran. Whatever the letter of the agreement, clearly now that we have “diplomacy” at work the “military option” is not even thinkable anymore. Forget about any previously discussed US plans to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. Forget about giving Israel a nod for a similar military action, should the Jewish state feel truly endangered by Iran. Read the rest of Tehran Is Winning The Public Relations Battle »
Nov 13
25
New US Tech Bubble Dominated By Social Media Companies
Facebook "makes" nothing, yet it is more valuable than Boeing or American Express
By Paolo von Schirach
November 25, 2013
WASHINGTON - The NYT correctly points out that we are witnessing something like another US tech stocks bubble. First Facebook and now Twitter have reached incredible valuations. Snapchat, a company that makes no money, rejected a bid to be bought for $ 3 billion, hoping to get a better deal down the line. Read the rest of New US Tech Bubble Dominated By Social Media Companies »
Nov 13
24
Geneva Agreement With Iran Would Have Real Value If We Could Be Sure Tehran Negotiated In Good Faith
Have the Iranians effectively given up their goal to produce nuclear weapons? Or is this deal only a clever way to buy time, hoping that the West will lower its guard?
By Paolo von Schirach
November 24, 2013
WASHINGTON – So, it looks as if we have a deal with Iran whereby this strange country governed since 1979 by Islamic religious authorities will stop enriching uranium, this way making it impossible for its leaders to build nuclear weapons. As Secretary of State John Kerry said in Geneva, this is still an interim agreement. In the next six months Iran will have to prove its good faith and show that it is implementing it, in full. Otherwise, Kerry warned, we go back to sanctions, in full force. Read the rest of Geneva Agreement With Iran Would Have Real Value If We Could Be Sure Tehran Negotiated In Good Faith »
Nov 13
23
Young Chinese Professionals Move To The Country In Order To Escape From Horrible Urban Pollution
In Chinese cities the levels of harmul particulates in the air are routinely 40 times higher than what is considerd dangerous by the World Health Organization
By Paolo von Schirach
November 23, 2013
WASHINGTON – In Europe and in the US we see a trend of young professionals moving to small villages, leaving behind them high cost and super congested cities where life is more complicated, especially when it comes to raising children. In China, according to a The New York Times interesting story, (Urbanites Flee China’s Smog for Blue Skies, November 22, 2013), there is a similar trend unfolding. Read the rest of Young Chinese Professionals Move To The Country In Order To Escape From Horrible Urban Pollution »
By Paolo von Schirach
November 21, 2013
WASHINGTON – At the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, (Zambia), they have a lovely buffet breakfast set up. It is in an open veranda overlooking a large swimming pool. The spread is impressive. There is almost every type of food you can think of: from sausages, bacon, potatoes, beans and scrambled eggs to Indian style chickpeas and assorted curries. From those you can move to Asian style noodles, chicken stir fry, sautéed Nile perch (delicious local fish), baked tomatoes, (British heritage), cereal, fresh pineapple, papaya, mixed nuts and juices. And of course, bread, pastries and muffins. Read the rest of Breakfast with Joy »
Nov 13
20
President Obama Gave The Presidential Medal Of Freedom To 16 Good Americans — Country Singer Loretta Lynn And Bill Clinton Among the Recipients
A solemn yet simple celebration of America's republican traditions. Many immigrants among the honorees
By Paolo von Schirach
November 20, 2013
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama was a most gracious host at the White House today. The President, on behalf of the Nation, honored 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest recognition to civilians whose lives are inspiring examples of achievement in a variety of fields. The award was instituted by President John Kennedy. Read the rest of President Obama Gave The Presidential Medal Of Freedom To 16 Good Americans — Country Singer Loretta Lynn And Bill Clinton Among the Recipients »
Nov 13
17
50 Years Later The Kennedy Myth Lives On
Amazing fascination with a mediocre President who did little and who had low moral standards
By Paolo von Schirach
November 17, 2013
WASHINGTON – Veteran Fox TV journalist and commentator Brit Hume said it best: JFK is the “Subject of the most successful public relations campaign in political history”. 50 years after JFK’s tragic demise, this is a good way to explain the otherwise inexplicable enduring love affair with this President, as America revisits (once more, after having done so a million times) the Kennedy story, the 1963 assassination and this President’s legacy. Read the rest of 50 Years Later The Kennedy Myth Lives On »