South Beach, Miami. Beyond The Planets.

Note: We're pleased to introduce the first of what we hope will be many guest posts by John Matlin:

The Miami Herald was first printed in 1902. It is a title that follows the best traditions of newspaper publishing. It has a reputation for fair and balanced reporting and, although it has a slight Republican bias, it reports both sides of the political aisle and the issues of the day.

The Herald is a local newspaper, thus it reflects the times and moods of Miami. Last week’s big story in America was Obama’s inauguration, which the Herald covered in detail, and Obama’s first days in office. In addition, the credit crunch is biting ferociously now and there is a real concern that the new administration may nationalise America’s banking system. Foreclosures in their thousands are forcing Americans all over the country out of their homes.

So, what were the lead stories in Saturday’s Miami Herald? The front page featured a six column picture of the corps de ballet of the Miami City Ballet, who had enjoyed raves and ovations in New York. Here, I must declare an interest as my eldest daughter works for MCB. The main front page story related to the detention of two Bahamian politicians for their alleged roles in a plot to extort money from John Travolta. Additionally, the front page reported on Fanny Mae putting the squeeze on condominium mortgages in Florida, i.e. new loans. There was also a story about the ailing Fidel Castro and new photos. None of the big issues of the day were mentioned on the front page, nor covered in any depth elsewhere.

My recent visit to South Beach, Miami was something of a surprise in that it was full of visitors, even in early January. Traffic jams occurred all the time, not just on South Beach whose road system could be better but on the freeways and interstates surrounding Miami. SUV’s aplenty were in evidence, restaurants were busy and the one shopping mall I went to was hardly quiet. Loud music was played everywhere and the mood was party, party.

You don’t have to look hard throughout America to find poverty. Last autumn, I spent time in northern California. It was no surprise that the many blue collar communities there voted Democrat in their droves last November. Miami is certainly no exception to a community experiencing poverty but I have been left with the distinct impression that many of the people living in Miami, and by extension South Beach, are in a bubble of their own. Real life won’t touch them as Miami life protects them. They are on a planet of their own, free from real life. Long may it be so.

[Photo via ehpien]

The Turkey-Israel Relationship: Reports of its Death are Premature

Ali Yenidunya, who started as a blogger on Enduring America this week, has written an extensive analysis for our partner site Libertas considering the relationship between Turkey and Israel in light of the Gaza conflict. Even though Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly criticised Israeli actions, Yenidunya argues that there are strategic reasons why the Ankara-Tel Aviv alliance will remain firm.

Read the full analysis....

Obama on Top of the World: Morning Update (29 January)

Latest Post: Battles Within Obama-Land: The Disputes over Iraq and Iran

Morning update (12:05 a.m. Washington): The significant overnight news is what was not said by President Obama.



A week after his National Security Council first sat down with military commanders, Obama had a two-hour meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the generals yesterday. His statement afterwards was leading but vague, ""We are going to have some difficult decisions that we are going to have to make, surrounding Iraq and Afghanistan most immediately."

As far as that can be read, it's an indication that there will be troop increases in Afghanistan in the next few months and there will be some decrease in Iraq. The numbers in each case, however, are still up for grabs, as is the strategic approach --- military-first? with or without Afghan President Hamid Karzai? with or without US efforts at nation-building? --- in Afghanistan. Put bluntly, the battles at the moment are not overseas, but within the Administration.

For a clue as to the next development, look for "spin" in The New York Times and The Washington Post in forthcoming days.

Meanwhile, Obama envoy George Mitchell moves to the West Bank today to talk with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Enduring America on the Road Today

I'll be in Dublin today for a one-day conference, held by our partners at the Clinton Institute, on the US and the World after Bush. It should be an eye-opener on how diplomats in Europe, as well as top US academics, are perceiving the new Obama approach, US-European relations, and the global American position.

Updates today and early tomorrow on Obama foreign policy and on the Middle East will be limited, but Canuckistan is keeping an eye out for any major news and you can help us out with tips in the Comment section. Meanwhile, we've got some great analysis coming out today on Iraq, Turkish-Israeli relations, and Life Beyond Mars in South Miami Beach.

The Latest on Israel-Gaza-Palestine (29 January)

12:45 p.m. Al Jazeera reports: "At least eight people, six of them children, have been injured by an Israeli air attack in the southern Gaza Strip."



Morning update (7:15 a.m. Israel/Gaza time): The diplomatic spotlight today moves to the West Bank, where US envoy George Mitchell meets Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. The key development may come, however, in Cairo if Hamas delegates --- as we reported yesterday --- propose an 18-month cease-fire beginning on 5 February.

Meanwhile, Israel carried out its retaliation for the rocket fired across the border yesterday, bombing a metal foundry in southern Gaza.