Latest news with #JeffreyD.Sachs
IOL News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
US, Israel Attacks on Iran: 'Stop Netanyahu Before He Gets Us All Killed'
Jeffrey D. Sachs and Sybil Fares For nearly 30 years, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has driven the Middle East into war and destruction. The man is a powder keg of violence. Throughout all the wars that he has championed, Netanyahu has always dreamed of the big one: to defeat and overthrow the Iranian Government. His long-sought war, just launched, might just get us all killed in a nuclear Armageddon unless Netanyahu is stopped. Netanyahu's fixation on war goes back to his extremist mentors, Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Yitzhak Shamir, and Menachem Begin. The older generation believed that Zionists should use whatever violence–wars, assassinations, terror–is needed to achieve their aims of eliminating any Palestinian claim to a homeland. The founders of Netanyahu's political movement, the Likud, called for exclusive Zionist control over all of what had been British Mandatory Palestine. At the start of the British Mandate in the early 1920s, the Muslim and Christian Arabs constituted roughly 87% of the population and owned ten times more land than the Jewish population. As of 1948, the Arabs still outnumbered the Jews roughly two to one. Nonetheless, the founding charter of Likud (1977) declared that 'between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty.' The now infamous chant, 'from the River to the Sea,' which is characterized as anti-Semitic, turns out to be the anti-Palestinian rallying call of the Likud. The challenge for Likud was how to pursue its maximalist aims despite their blatant illegality under international law and morality, both of which call for a two-state solution. In 1996, Netanyahu and his American advisors devised a 'Clean Break' strategy. They advocated that Israel would not withdraw from the Palestinian lands captured in the 1967 war in exchange for regional peace. Instead, Israel would reshape the Middle East to its liking. Crucially, the strategy envisioned the US as the main force to achieve these aims—waging wars in the region to dismantle governments opposed to Israel's dominance over Palestine. The US was called upon to fight wars on Israel's behalf. The Clean Break strategy was effectively carried out by the US and Israel after 9/11. As NATO Supreme Commander General Wesley Clark revealed, soon after 9/11, the US planned to 'attack and destroy the governments in seven countries in five years—starting with Iraq, then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran.' The first of the wars, in early 2003, was to topple the Iraqi government. Plans for further wars were delayed as the US became mired in Iraq. Still, the US supported Sudan's split in 2005, Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 2006, and Ethiopia's incursion into Somalia that same year. In 2011, the Obama administration launched CIA Operation Timber Sycamore against Syria and, with the UK and France, overthrew Libya's government through a 2011 bombing campaign. Today, these countries lie in ruins, and many are now embroiled in civil wars. Netanyahu was a cheerleader of these wars of choice–either in public or behind the scenes–together with his neocon allies in the U.S. Government including Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, Victoria Nuland, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Richard Perle, Elliott Abrams, and others. Testifying in the U.S. Congress in 2002, Netanyahu pitched for the disastrous war in Iraq, declaring 'If you take out Saddam, Saddam's regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.' He continued, 'And I think that people sitting right next door in Iran, young people, and many others, will say the time of such regimes, of such despots is gone.' He also falsely told Congress, 'There is no question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking, is working, is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons.' The slogan to remake a 'New Middle East' provides the slogan for these wars. Initially stated in 1996 through 'Clean Break,' it was popularized by Secretary Condoleezza Rice in 2006. As Israel was brutally bombarded Lebanon, Rice stated: 'What we're seeing here, in a sense, is the growing -- the birth pangs of a new Middle East and whatever we do we have to be certain that we're pushing forward to the new Middle East not going back to the old one.' In September 2023, Netanyahu presented at the UN General Assembly a map of the 'New Middle East' completely erasing a Palestinian state. In September 2024, he elaborated on this plan by showing two maps: one part of the Middle East a 'blessing,' and the other–including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran–a curse, as he advocated regime change in the latter countries. Israel's war on Iran is the final move in a decades-old strategy. We are witnessing the culmination of decades of extremist Zionist manipulation of US foreign policy. The premise of Israel's attack on Iran is the claim that Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Such a claim is fatuous since Iran has repeatedly called for negotiations precisely to remove the nuclear option in return for an end to the decades of US sanctions. Since 1992, Netanyahu and his supporters have claimed that Iran will become a nuclear power 'in a few years." In 1995, Israeli officials and their US backers declared a 5-year timeline. In 2003, Israel's Director of Military Intelligence said that Iran would be a nuclear power 'by the summer of 2004.' In 2005, the head of Mossad said that Iran could build the bomb in less than 3 years. In 2012, Netanyahu claimed at the United Nations that 'it's only a few months, possibly a few weeks before they get enough enriched uranium for the first bomb.' And on and on. This 30-year-plus pattern of shifting deadlines has marked a deliberate strategy, not a failure in prophecy. The claims are propaganda; there is always an 'existential threat.' More importantly, there is Netanyahu's phoney claim that negotiations with Iran are useless. Iran has repeatedly said that it does not want a nuclear weapon and that it has long been prepared to negotiate. In October 2003, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa forbidding the production and use of nuclear arms—a ruling later officially cited by Iran at an IAEA meeting in Vienna in August 2005 and referenced since as a religious and legal barrier to pursuing nuclear weapons. Even for those sceptical of Iran's intentions, Iran has consistently advocated for a negotiated agreement supported by independent international verification. In contrast, the Zionist lobby has opposed any such settlements, urging the US to maintain sanctions and reject deals that would allow strict IAEA monitoring in exchange for lifting sanctions. In 2016, the Obama Administration, together with the UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia, reached the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran—a landmark agreement to strictly monitor Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Yet, under relentless pressure from Netanyahu and the Zionist lobby, President Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018. Predictably, when Iran responded by expanding its uranium enrichment, it was blamed for violating an agreement that the US itself had abandoned. The double standard and propaganda are hard to miss. On April 11, 2021, Israel's Mossad attacked Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz. Following the attack, on April 16, Iran announced that it would increase its uranium enrichment further, as bargaining leverage, while repeatedly appealing for renewed negotiations on a deal like the JCPOA. The Biden Administration rejected all such negotiations. At the start of his second term, Trump agreed to open a new negotiation with Iran. Iran pledged to renounce nuclear arms and to be subject to IAEA inspections but reserved the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. The Trump Administration appeared to agree to this point but then reversed itself. Since then, there have been five rounds of negotiations, with both sides reporting progress on each occasion. The sixth round was ostensibly to take place on Sunday, June 15. Instead, Israel launched a preemptive war on Iran on June 12. Trump confirmed that the US knew of the attack in advance, even as the administration was speaking publicly of the upcoming negotiations. Israel's attack was made not only amid negotiations that were making progress but also days before a scheduled UN Conference on Palestine that would have advanced the cause of the two-state solution. That conference has now been postponed. Israel's attack on Iran now threatens to escalate to a full-fledged war that draws in the US and Europe on the side of Israel and Russia and perhaps Pakistan on the side of Iran. We could soon see several nuclear powers pitted against each other and dragging the world closer to nuclear annihilation. The Doomsday Clock is 89 seconds to midnight, the closest to nuclear Armageddon since the clock was launched in 1947. Over the past 30 years, Netanyahu and his US backers have destroyed or destabilized a 4,000-km swath of countries stretching across North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Asia. They have aimed to block a Palestinian State by overthrowing governments supporting the Palestinian cause. The world deserves better than this extremism. More than 180 countries in the UN have called for a two-state solution and regional stability. That makes more sense than Israel bringing the world to the brink of nuclear Armageddon in pursuit of its illegal and extremist aims. * Jeffrey D. Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. Sybil Fares is a specialist and advisor in Middle East policy and sustainable development at SDSN. This article was originally published at ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Strong multilateral cooperation vital amid global volatility
KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing volatility in global affairs demands stronger international cooperation, particularly among nations in the Global South, said world-renowned economist Prof Jeffrey D. Sachs. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit here today, Sachs urged countries to enhance strategic partnerships and resist unilateralism. Citing China's approach in managing its complex relationship with the United States, particularly in regard to President Donald Trump's massive tariff, he said Beijing had acted with restraint and strategic foresight in response. He also commended the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, describing it as a symbol of multilateral resilience. However, Sachs, a professor at Columbia University and President of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network, cautioned that unpredictability remains a significant concern. He said China must prepare by diversifying its economic ties, especially with ASEAN and the GCC. 'It's a clear signal that China places high priority on its relations with ASEAN and the GCC. These are major trade and diplomatic partners,' he said. The ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, hosted by Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, brought together ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from the Gulf nations and China to deepen political, economic and strategic cooperation amid rising global tensions. The two summits were held today, after yesterday's 46th ASEAN Summit, which was staged under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Where Does The UK Rank In Happiness? This Report Paints A Grim Picture
This week, The World Happiness Report 2025 was released. This report is the world's foremost publication on global wellbeing and how to improve it. The researchers behind the report combined wellbeing data from over 140 countries, and provides essential insights into how we can create more happiness within our communitiies and nations. To explain their ranking, the researchers say: 'Our global happiness ranking is based on a single question from the Gallup World Poll, derived from the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale (Cantril Ladder): 'Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. 'The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?' The report found that, despite the UK being the sixth richest nation in the world, we have fallen to 23rd place in global rankings. The US has also fallen to its lowest position, now sitting at 24th place. Meanwhile, Finland is reportedly the happiest place in the world for the eighth year in a row. Providing more context to their findings, the researchers say: 'Country rankings are based on a three-year average of each population's average assessment of their quality of life. 'Interdisciplinary experts from economics, psychology, sociology and beyond then seek to explain the variations across countries and over time using factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, a sense of freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.' Those factors explain the differences across nations, but the rankings themselves are actually based solely on answers people have given when asked to rank their own lives. Quite a sorry tale for the UK. While this news isn't exactly uplifting, the overall findings from the researchers were surprisingly wholesome and give us attainable goals for rebuilding, as well as finding joy and comfort where we can. Lara B. Aknin, professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, and an editor of the World Happiness Report, says: 'Human happiness is driven by our relationships with others. Investing in positive social connections and engaging in benevolent actions are both matched by greater happiness.' Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, adds: 'The findings in this year's World Happiness Report reconfirm a fundamental truth: happiness is rooted in trust, kindness, and social connection. 'It is up to us as virtuous individuals and citizens to translate this vital truth into positive action, thereby fostering peace, civility, and wellbeing in communities worldwide.' Let's hope we can improve over the next 12 months. If You Struggle To Trust Strangers, This Report May Give You Some Hope The 'Happiness Paradox': Why Trying To Be Happy Is Making You Miserable 6 Habits That Make Your Kids Well, Not Just Happy — According to Psychologists
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Strangers twice as kind as we think, study suggests
Strangers are about twice as kind as people think, a study looking at happiness across the globe suggests. This year's World Happiness Report - released on Thursday - measured trust in strangers by deliberately losing wallets, seeing how many were returned and comparing that with how many people thought would be handed in. The rate of wallets returned was almost twice as high as people predicted and the study, which gathered evidence from around the world, found belief in the kindness of others was more closely tied to happiness than previously thought. The report ranked Finland as the world's happiest country for the eighth year running, with the US and UK slipping down the list. John F. Helliwell, an economist at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the report, said the wallet experiment data showed "people are much happier living where they think people care about each other". He added the study showed people were "everywhere too pessimistic", with wallets much more likely to be returned than predicted. The 13th annual World Happiness Report, released to mark the UN's International Day of Happiness, ranks the world's happiest countries by asking people to evaluate their lives. Finland again took top spot with an average score of 7.736 out of 10, while Costa Rica and Mexico have entered the top 10 for the first time. Both the UK and the US slipped down the list to 23rd and 24th respectively - the lowest-ever position for the latter. The study, published by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, asked people to rate their own lives on a scale of 0-10 - zero being the worst possible life and 10 being the best possible life. Country rankings are based on a three-year average of those scores. The 2025 World Happiness Report also found: declining happiness and social trust in the US and parts of Europe combined to explain the rise and direction of political polarisation; sharing meals with others was strongly linked with wellbeing across the globe; household size was closely linked to happiness, with four to five people living together enjoying the highest levels of happiness in Mexico and Europe Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, said the findings reconfirmed "happiness is rooted in trust, kindness, and social connection". "It is up to us as virtuous individuals and citizens to translate this vital truth into positive action, thereby fostering peace, civility, and wellbeing in communities worldwide," he said. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, added: "In this era of social isolation and political polarisation we need to find ways to bring people around the table again - doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing."
BBC News
20-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Strangers twice as kind as we think, study suggests
Strangers are about twice as kind as people think, a study looking at happiness across the globe year's World Happiness Report - released on Thursday - measured trust in strangers by deliberately losing wallets, seeing how many were returned and comparing that with how many people thought would be handed rate of wallets returned was almost twice as high as people predicted and the study, which gathered evidence from around the world, found belief in the kindness of others was more closely tied to happiness than previously thought. The report ranked Finland as the world's happiest country for the eighth year running, with the US and UK slipping down the list. John F. Helliwell, an economist at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the report, said the wallet experiment data showed "people are much happier living where they think people care about each other".He added the study showed people were "everywhere too pessimistic", with wallets much more likely to be returned than 13th annual World Happiness Report, released to mark the UN's International Day of Happiness, ranks the world's happiest countries by asking people to evaluate their again took top spot with an average score of 7.736 out of 10, while Costa Rica and Mexico have entered the top 10 for the first the UK and the US slipped down the list to 23rd and 24th respectively - the lowest-ever position for the study, published by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, asked people to rate their own lives on a scale of 0-10 - zero being the worst possible life and 10 being the best possible rankings are based on a three-year average of those scores. The 2025 World Happiness Report also found:declining happiness and social trust in the US and parts of Europe combined to explain the rise and direction of political polarisation;sharing meals with others was strongly linked with wellbeing across the globe;household size was closely linked to happiness, with four to five people living together enjoying the highest levels of happiness in Mexico and Europe Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, said the findings reconfirmed "happiness is rooted in trust, kindness, and social connection". "It is up to us as virtuous individuals and citizens to translate this vital truth into positive action, thereby fostering peace, civility, and wellbeing in communities worldwide," he De Neve, director of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, added: "In this era of social isolation and political polarisation we need to find ways to bring people around the table again - doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing."
