The sins of the fathers

Russian and American officials have already repeatedly certified the world public that the contract to reduce strategic offensive weapons is practically agreed. However, the matter has not yet been going on, despite the obvious interest of both parties in signing the document, ”writes Time. According to experts, the coordination process should be completed before the international conference planned at May, which periodically evaluates the action of another important document - the agreement on non -proliferation of nuclear weapons. The countries that signed the contract agree not to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for the promise of nuclear states to take steps to disarmament. At the 2005 conference, for example, South Africa rejected the US initiative to eliminate the reserves of highly enriched uranium supported by the United States. The main argument was that the danger of nuclear terrorism comes mainly from the huge nuclear arsenals of Russia and the USA.

Experts see different reasons for the delay in coordination of the START-3 agreement. Some indicate a preserved high level of distrust between the two countries. Others emphasize the differences between the ruling elites in Russia, in particular, disputes between the military and politicians on the role of nuclear weapons in the country's security strategy and the importance of improving relations with the United States. The position of Russia on the issue of placing elements of American missile defense in Europe remains an obstacle. Last week, the speaker of the Russian Duma Boris Gryzlov warned that the Duma has not ratified the contract until Washington refuses these plans. The contract was to be the first step towards the ambitious goal of President Obama to free the world from nuclear weapons. However, the struggle around this document may be the first obstacle to this path , ”warns Time .

Save children

The scandalous details that appeared last week, relating to the Catholic Church, shocked the world, but they were especially painful for believers, writes Newsweek. In Ireland, Cardinal Sean Bradley forced children who became victims of sexual harassment, to sign obligations not to disclose the truth. The brother of the pope, Georg Ratzinger, who led the boys in the school in Regensburg, denies that he knew about the sexual crimes that took place at school. The representative of Benedict XVI said that the Pope had no information about the priest-pedophile, who, after forced treatment, was allowed to return to the parish, where he continued to cripple the children. This happened in the 70s in Munich, where Joseph Ratzinger was an archbishop. Cardinal Bernard Lo, for 20 years, the former archbishop in Boston and covered the crimes of priests, was forced to leave his post only in 2002, when the number of complaints exceeded 500. For this he received a warm and high -paid place in Rome, where he was directly subordinate to the pope.

In a message directed to parishioners of Ireland and Europe, Benedict brought apologists on behalf of the church. However, there was no recognition of the Vatican’s responsibility for the suffering of thousands of children for 70 years. Believers did not see remorse. No one resigned, was not deprived of the dignity. There was no discussion about the main values. The question remains unanswered that believers ask: how to send a child to church? What can be taught at a Sunday school founded by the Institute, which protects itself instead of protecting their own , ” Newsweek asks.

Who needs peace in the Middle East

American-Israeli relations have been in the deepest crisis over the past 30 years. This opinion of the Israeli ambassador in Washington is given by Time. The aggravation of contradictions is associated with the reluctance of the Israeli leadership to stop the construction of housing for Jews in East Jerusalem, which, in turn, will torpede peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. But the biggest problem is that neither Israel nor Palestinians are interested in negotiations. The majority of the population on both sides still support the idea of creating "two states for two peoples", but only a few believe that this goal is achievable. The longer the Palestinians are waiting for their own state, the more likely they will return to the armed struggle or will support terrorists from the Hamas group. In this situation, the most reasonable, according to the Time expert, is the path proposed by Israeli political scientist Ehud Yaari.

It is necessary to exert the most rigid pressure on Israel and Palestinian autonomy in order to force them to immediately agree to the creation of a transitional Palestinian state on the western coast of Jordan, where there are existing institutions of self -government. The most difficult problems, including the status of Jerusalem, will remain unresolved. But the achievement of such an agreement will arouse some hope and give Barack Obama the opportunity to show that he is able to achieve concessions from both sides. An alternative - a deepening of contradictions, disappointment and despair - a sad prospect for a person who promised to bring the world to the Middle East - concludes Time .

The destructive contradiction of the economy

In 2006, when Alan Grinspen resigned from the post of head of the US Federal Reserve System, he was exalted for the successful leadership of the country's economy during numerous shocks. Two years later, he was also responsible for creating conditions for the economic crisis of 2007-2008. Greenpen rejected these accusations in a lengthy article published in a scientific journal. According to the author of the article in Newsweek, Grinspin’s answer is quite convincing, and the campaign against him is mainly political in nature. Grinspen believes that the end of the Cold War provoked economic euphoria. According to the Newsweek expert, the reason was a sharp drop in inflation - from 14 % in 1980 to 3 % in 1983. This contributed to a reduction in interest rates and a slowdown in recession, and then led to an increase in prices in the housing market.

Grinspin’s partial wines are rooted in his too great success. Recessions rarely happened and were weak. It created an idea that the federal system is able to withstand any economic decline. The world became less risky, and a sense of security contributed to the fact that people bolder at risk. And this was characteristic not only by individual banks, but to the whole society - bankers, economists, borrowers and consumers. “Shtil brought us to a state of complacency,” Grinspen rightly notes. But he does not make the main conclusion: too much success in the economy creates the basis for driving back. Neither Greenpen nor other economists can overcome this destructive contradiction , - concludes Newsweek .