Ian Bremmer, Eurasia Group
See Video Here.
Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group – a political risk advisory firm, is the creator of Wall Street’s first-ever global political risk index. Bremmer is also a sought-after adviser on international risk management. He provides a ‘bird’s eye’ overview of the Obama foreign policy doctrine and its impact on the world, on U.S. corporate competitiveness and on global markets. The comments were made recently during an appearance with TV personality Alexis Glick on the FOX business channel – not to be confused with the ‘FOX News’ arm of the GOP. Bremmer, along with Nouriel Roubini are perhaps two of my favorite experts on the global economy. And like Roubini, Bremmer is a source of original thinking and provides highly independent analysis and insight. Mr. Bremmer is also the author of two compelling books: ‘The ‘J’ Curve – A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall‘; and ‘The Fat Tail – The Power of Political Knowledge for Strategic Investing‘. I highly recommend both, but if you have to choose one, go with the ‘J’ Curve. In his FOX Business interview, Bremmer provides compelling analysis and some prescient thoughts and insights that many in the MSM often miss, among which include:
US Role in the World – Gives credit to President Obama for ‘re-engaging’ with the world thus leaving a better impression of America around the world; and believes U.S. corporation will increasingly face tough competition from foreign competitors in Markets around the world;
U.S. Foreign Policy – He noted that the ‘enormous’ focus by the president on domestic and economic issues is a distraction to fully engaging on many pressing international issues. That fact is not lost on global partners and Bremmer suggests that the president needs to be even more engaged on international issues and not let domestic issues become myopic in nature; Believes we should be more closely engaged with China and other Emerging Markets, as well as taking the lead on the climate change issue;
Global Markets & Economy – Outlines a compelling case why recovery in the most developed economies (e.g., U.S., UK, Europe, Japan) will be “anemic” – except Canada & Australia; while Emerging Markets such as China, Brazil, et al, will lead the global economic recovery; Bremmer remains very bullish on commodities;
Afghanistan – Bremmer believes Obama’s rigorous re-thinking of our Afghan war strategy is smart foreign policy. He believes the Generals are wrong on Afghanistan war strategy; that it’s a mistake to continue fighting the ultra-nationalist Taliban with a nation-building (i.e., “counter-insurgency”) strategy when our true enemy, the Al-Qaeda terrorists, are now based in Pakistan – a nuclear armed, poorly managed nation with a weak central government;
Middle East – Establishing dialogue with the Islamic world based on mutual respect was a smart move; however says the administration needs to do more – especially when it comes to Iranian nukes, Israeli-Palestinian peace and withdrawal from Iraq.
Source: Fox Business Channel videos Photo: Life.com
