The Abyss Of 2012 - One Year From Today

Is Time running out? Speeding up? Or just Shifting? One thing we can see, is that Change is supersonic!

Here is a review - look at what is on tap into the near 2012 future. As always, we can expect curve balls from Hashem.

As the year 2011 is drawing to an end, the world is facing a host of uncertainties in the coming new year ranging from higher risks of a faltering global recovery and Iran's nuclear issue to U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election bid.

HOW TOUGH IS THE ROAD OF WORLD ECONOMIC RECOVERY AHEAD?

Rising uncertainty about an uneven global recovery has given rise to worries that the world economic situation in the new year will become more complex and volatile.

The United Nations on Dec. 1 slashed its world growth forecast to 2.6 percent in 2012, much lower than a previous forecast of 3.6 percent made by UN economists half a year ago.

The main factors that will have an impact on the world economy in 2012 include an accelerated slowdown in some major economies, the sovereign debt crisis hitting some countries, the turbulent international financial market, higher inflationary pressures in emerging market economies, and rising protectionism of various forms.

Global challenges including political turmoil, food and energy security, climate change, and major natural disasters are also becoming increasingly serious.

WILL THE EUROZONE DEBT CRISIS BE EFFECTIVELY CONTAINED?

Eurozone debt woes have overshadowed prospects for the world economic recovery. Eurozone countries will have to pay 1.1 trillion euros (1.47 trillion U.S. dollars) of long-term or short-term debt due in 2012, among which 519 billion euros (693 billion dollars) will by paid by Italy, France and Germany in the first half of next year.

At a summit in early December, European Union leaders reached an agreement to help countries which have high debt burdens.

All EU countries except Britain agreed to pursue stricter budget rules and a stronger fiscal union, and to give up to 200 billion euros (264 billion dollars) in bilateral loans to the International Monetary Fund to help tackle the crisis.

But the financial markets remain unconvinced about the outcome of the EU summit, as investor feel that the deal did not go far enough.

Disappointments about the new EU deal include -- It doesn't reduce existing government debt levels; doesn't do much to promote the long-term growth that would shrink those burdens; And doesn't provide enough money to reassure financial markets that Italy and Spain can keep paying their bills.

Tumbling stock markets and pressures on the euro reveal weak investor confidence.

HOW WILL THE SITUATION DEVELOP IN SYRIA?

Unrest in some Arab nations have brought down leaders from three North African countries, while Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh has signed a deal agreeing to step down as president in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Since late 2011, Syria has become the new focus of regional turmoil. Will there be outside armed intervention against Syria in 2012? And will the Syrian crisis be resolved eventually through peaceful means or by resorting to force?

Protests against Bashar al-Assad's government first erupted in mid-March. Peaceful demonstrations have turned violent as the unrest continues.

In 2012, Assad will have to deal with challenges from the opposition while facing political isolation and economic sanctions imposed by the Arab League and some Western countries. It remains to be seen whether outside intervention will escalate.

WILL SECURITY WORSEN IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AS U.S. PULLS OUT TROOPS?

In mid-December, U.S. forces formally ended almost nine years of war in Iraq with a flag-lowering ceremony in Baghdad. The U.S. administration is also planning to withdraw most troops from Afghanistan, by 2014 hopefully.

Devastated by years of war, social and economic development in the two countries is slow, and sectarian strife and terror attacks are on the rise.

After the U.S. pullout, the security situation in Iraq and Afghanistan will threaten to spin out of control. And it will be a daunting task for the United States to prop up pro-Western regimes in the two countries.

WILL WAR OR PEACE PREVAIL IN THE STANDOFF OVER IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM?

Iran's controversial nuclear issue drew worldwide concerns in the latter half of 2011.

An IAEA report released in November suggested for the first time that Iran was using the cover of a peaceful nuclear program to produce atomic weaponry. But the UN nuclear watchdog did not conclude that Tehran is currently attempting to develop a nuclear weapon.

Israeli President Shimon Peres has said: "The possibility of a military strike on Iran is more likely to be realized than the diplomatic option."

In the wake of the IAEA report, the United States, Britain and the European Union slapped tougher sanctions on Iran as a way of punishment.

On the other hand, Iran dismissed the findings in the IAEA report as fabricated by Western countries, and insisted that the country's nuclear activities were purely for peaceful purposes.

Recently, the Iranian armed forces have seized an unmanned U.S. surveillance drone. U.S. President Barack Obama has asked for the return of the top-secret aircraft, but Iran has rejected the U.S. demand.

Whether the lingering stand-off between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear program would eventually lead to war will keep the world in suspense.

WILL U.S.-RUSSIA TIES BECOME STRAINED IN 2012?

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party gained an absolute majority in the State Duma (lower house) elections on Dec. 4.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that the vote was rigged, saying it was neither free nor fair.

Putin defended fairness of the election, stressing that the results reflected the views of Russian voters.

NATO will hold its next summit in Chicago in May 2012 to map out the framework of a missile defense shield in Europe when the system is expected to acquire an "interim operational capability."

But Russia has threatened to deploy missiles to the westernmost Kaliningrad region and other areas of Russia to be aimed at the U.S. and NATO missile defense sites unless a deal is reached assuaging Russia's security concerns.

As both Russia and the United States hold presidential elections next year, the results of the polls will have an important bearing on future Russia-U.S. ties.

COULD OBAMA WIN RE-ELECTION?

The United States will hold its presidential election in late 2012. President Obama has announced he will seek re-election.

Will any Republican candidate be popular enough to beat Obama in the battle for the White House next year?

Over the last 34 months since Obama took office, the U.S. jobless rate has hovered around 9 percent. A majority of the American people disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy.

Whether the Republicans will have a strong challenger and the U.S. economy and employment could turn for the better prior to the vote would be crucial for Obama's re-election bid.

5772 will either bring monumental consciousness or a monumental dud.

I'm starting to think the Geulah is happening now, began on Mincha Gedolah, and now we need to just ride this thing out...as the Zohar says it can take many years until an actual Gilui/Revelation.

Beis Hamikdash Bekarov! - the makeh b' patish to the Geulah.

Posted in: 5772,Geulah,Moshiach,Politics