America

NATO’s Ordinary Future

May 9, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Whatever one thought of the Libya intervention, the details make for a bad advertisement about NATO. As one U.S. Air Force planner told me, “It was like Snow White and the 27 dwarfs, all standing up to her knees” — the United States being Snow White and the other NATO member states being the dwarfs. The statistics regarding just how much the United States had to go it alone in Libya — pushed by the British and French — despite the diplomatic fig leaf of “leading from behind,” are devastating for the alliance.

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Putin’s Evolving Strategy in Europe

Putin returns as Russian president: 2012-2018

May 8, 2012 (Vietnamica) — This week, Vladimir Putin was sworn in for a third term as Russian president, and France’s presidential election continued the trend of losses for incumbent European governments when French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost to socialist challenger Francois Hollande. Putin’s return to the presidency was not unexpected; he was never really unseated as Russia’s leader even during Dmitri Medvedev’s presidency. Nevertheless, the changes in Europe exemplified by the French presidential election will require Russia to change its tactics in Europe.

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Americas Society Explains The Trans-Pacific Partnership

May 6, 2012  (Vietnamica) — Americas Society provides an overview detailing the origin, characteristics, and purposes of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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TPP Could Help Vietnam Capture Untapped Opportunities in Latin America

May 2, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Much of the focus on the Asian presence in Latin America is given to China. Vietnam – a market-oriented economy which grew at nearly 6 percent in 2011 – is quietly courting Latin American countries (Americas Society, May 4). The SEA country expects to increase its exports to the region three-fold to US$6 billion by 2015 and gain access to the region’s valuable commodity markets.

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Some Business Performance and Financial Indications of Masan Group

Some Business Performance and Financial Indications of Masan Group

May 4, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Masan Group (HOSE: MSN) was listed on Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange on Nov 5, 2009 at the price of VND43,000 per share. On Sep 16, 2011, MSN reached its peak of VND158,000 per share. When today trading session closed, MSN was traded at VND108,000 per share.

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Gold Down in Dollars, Up in Euros, “Anemic” US Economy Misses Bernanke Jobs Target

May 2, 2012 (Vietnamica) — The spot market gold price rallied to $1658 an ounce ahead of Wednesday’s US trading, following the release of disappointing US jobs data – though gold in Dollars remained down on the week so far.

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