But before I get into it, a note of thanks to you- the Reader.
A year ago I promised to focus mainly on items of international interest / import and since doing so, Readership has nearly doubled. At the end of last year I had a grand total of 50,000 reads since I began this Blog a few years back, today that number stands at over 90,000.
So I will continue to stick with the international focus for the coming year.
In some ways, 2017 will be a replay of last year - the world will continue to spiral out of control but due to two very different personages - Obama and Trump, we are guaranteed some significant changes.
1. On the international front and due to Obama's negligent dithering, Syria will become almost peaceful in 2017. "Good news" you say ! Hardly, what it means is that with Russia's and Iran's backing.. the Syrian Henchman al Assad can now rule Syria again with a iron hand. No freedom, No Human Rights, No Humanity. But...Peace.
2. Trump, on the other-hand, is coming to power on a pledge to keep the US out of foreign entanglements and to play nice with brutal leaders such as Vladd Putin. Fortunately, The Donald is not built that way (see final line below), and soon the two will be at each others' throats. And that applies to other dictators and bullies around the world who mistakenly may think Obama's pacificisty has rubbed off on Trump.
Here are some other important areas which will see notable changes in approach between these two:
3. Climate Change, Green Energy, and such will take a back-burner in importance in the United States thereby saving American's $ Billions of Dollars in wasted time, effort and especially money.
4. Business is back. Trump's policy of reducing Business Tax from 35% to 15% will provide a huge stimulus to the American Economy resulting in jobs, jobs, jobs.
5. The American Dollar will be strong throughout 2017 compared to other currencies.
6. The Keystone XL Pipeline will finally get Presidential approval.
7. Changes are coming to Obama Care but the big one will see business get out from under paying the high cost of health care for their full time employees. This in turn will reverse the trend, over the last 8 years, in the spectacular growth in part-time workers at the expense of full-time.
8. Given the Religious Community's support for Trump in the recent Election - something of significance will be given to them. Certainly we will see the de-funding of Planned Parenthood and likely much more.
9. The Wall will go up on the southern border with Mexico and Trump will find ways to wrest $ from their neighbour to the south to help pay for it. Will it though stop tunneling? Because it won't stop migration from sea and air..but it will help.
10. Trump is also on record as promising vast investiture in infrastructure. It won't happen - the Democrats have doubled the national debt to over 20 Trillion Dollars - that's Trillion with a T. The fact is the US is broke and it will take years of righting the Ship of State before infrastructure $ can be freed-up.
11. On Free Trade, Trump has indicated that he will rewrite them in favour of American interests. Here again I hopeful that common sense prevails for a couple of reasons: first, america is no wilting violet when it comes to negotiating such agreements and second, protectionism does not work all you end up with is more expensive and yet inferior goods and services. If Trump does persist with his nonsensical plan, we will all suffer, most especially the United States.
Other Predictions Regardless of Trump:
12. Gold will tread water where it currently is - $1,100 per oz range.
13. Oil will tread water too at the mid $50 dollar a barrel range even though OPEC members have promised to cut production to force the cost per barrel up. This group makes Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves look like Choirboys...you can't trust them.
14. I mentioned Syria will see peace breakout and all for the wrong reasons. But Iraq will continue to see much division and bloodshed. The southern part of Iraq which is Shia will be spared since they will be protected by Shia Iran. The Sunnis middle will continue to be the target of the Shiites and will foreshadow the day when the Middle East will see open warfare between Sunnis and Shia Muslims. The northern part of Iraq occupied by the Kurds will see unrest until the day comes when the Kurds are given their own country...and that day is not far off. In fact, you will soon see the current Iraq divided into three separate countries - the Kurdish north, the Sunnis middle and the Shia south and although that is unlikely to happen before the end of 2017 it will certainly be evident to all at year's end that this is the direction things are headed.
15. 2017 will see ISIS and similar Murderous Barbarians without any land holdings in the Middle East. The Caliphate will have to await another time. Their terror will now fully morph into guerrilla warfare throughout many parts of the world - more car bombs, lone gunmen, and the such. It will not be pretty.
16. Russia and Iran have replaced the US role in the middle east and more conquests can be expected...Libya anyone? As long as NATO is parked in the former satellites of the Soviet Union, Russia will refrain from attacking them militarily. I am though worried about the Ukraine which is not a NATO member and which does not appear to have sufficient support from that organization. I would expect Putin to try more mischief there during this coming year.
17. Sunnis Nations such as Saudi Arabia will intensify their efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.
18. Germany's Angela Merkel is toast and won't survive this year's national election. She is blamed for the chaos caused to her country via the invitation to 1 million + unvetted Muslim Refugees in 2015 and 2016.
19. The EU will continue to totter which is too bad since a strong united European Union is needed to fend off an aggressive Russia, a totalitarian Giant - China, and a large pockets of hostile Islamists.
20. A strong NATO is needed now more than ever given the fallout from #19. Trump threatened at one point to leave NATO...which is crazy talk and then demanded correctly that NATO countries pay their fare share. Of its 28 member nations only 4 or so pay the recommended 2% GDP on their military. If NATO does not step up to the plate so to speak, things will go from bad to worse for freedom loving peoples of the world. My guess is that the membership will start paying up in this coming year. Plus I would have it change its name from North Atlantic Treaty Association to the North, South, East and West Treaty Association and expand membership to such countries as India, Japan, Australia and South Korea.
21. The British economy will decline and its pound drop even more from the effects of moving out of the EU. Won't be a good place to invest in 2017.
22. China - will continue to threaten its neighbours. It will also focus especially on Taiwan given Taiwan's President recent friendly chat with Donald Trump. I do not think it will go so far as to invade Taiwan... at least in 2017.
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So Predictions, Predictions, but one thing is certain, with The Donald at the helm of the Free World, ... 2017 will certainly be a most interesting year.
And nothing, dear Reader, is certain as per the following passage I read in the papers over Christmas:
The mainstream press and the politicians take Trump literally but not seriously,,,while the electorate takes Trump seriously but not literally.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
