Vladimir Putin

As Bloomberg reports, "German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government signaled it will step up expulsions of economic migrants after the influx of asylum seekers reached a record in September."

"He deliberately tries to do things to throw opponents off balance and he’s always trying to get some sort of element of surprise and tactical advantage over people, that’s sort of what keeps him going is this constant springing surprises and flipping events in his favor."

As we reported earlier this morning, at the “request” of Vladimir Putin, Russian lawmakers have approved airstrikes in Syria and unlike the rather deliberate pace of Washington’s efforts to rout ISIS, Moscow doesn’t appear to be wasting any time.

"The military goal of these operations is exclusively limited to air support for the Syrian government forces in their campaign against ISIL. The point here is not in achieving any foreign policy goals or satisfying ambitions. We’re talking exclusively about Russia’s national interests."

Obama’s speech at The UN made clear that Washington accepts no responsibility for the destruction of the lives and prospects of millions of Muslims. The refugees from Washington’s wars who are overflowing Europe are the fault of Assad, Obama declared. Obama’s claim to represent "international norms" was an assertion of US hegemony, and was recognized as such by the General Assembly. The presidents of Russia, China, and Iran did not accept Washington’s definition of "international norms." The lines are drawn. Unless the American people come to their senses and expel the Washington warmongers, war is our future.

This is an important story and shows how China and Russia are increasingly close and strong allies who are flexing their muscles and asserting themselves as rival superpowers to the U.S.

• Commodities in crisis as Asian shares tumble and shipper files for bankruptcy (Reuters)
• Global Rout Eases as S&P 500 Futures Advance With Oil, Glencore (BBG)
• Chinese Stocks Decline Most in a Month in Hong Kong on Economy (BBG)
• India cuts interest rates by more than expected (BBC)
• Glencore Rebounds as $50 Billion Plunge Is Seen as Excessive (BBG)
• How Congress May Have Saved Goldman Sachs From Itself (BBG)

"Did Charlie Rose look like a f##king idiot last night on 60-Minutes, or what...?"

We are sure it's just a coincidence but seconds after Vladimir Putin concluded his speech at The UN calling for a broad anti-terrorist coalition, the Russian Ruble was sold aggressively (after a relatively news-less and quiet day in the currency)...

President Obama had his opportunity, started off well then dwindled into a renewed "it's all Russia's fault" blame game. Now it's Russian President Vladimir Putin's turn to explain how the world's decline into chaos is not his fault either... Should make the Putin-Obama 'conversation' later very interesting...

With The UN's Ban earlier commenting that "Syria is out of control" and demanding that Russia, US, Saudi, iran and Turkey cooperate, it will be interesting to see what tack President Obama takes in his address this morning...

Having achieved his militarist goals, amid massive protests and plunging popularity, it appears Shinzo Abe is rapidly taking gaining on Vladimir Putin's spot atop the tyrannical-dicators-of-the-world-meme. By pushing through this change to Japan’s pacifist constitution, Japan’s nationalists have gotten their foot in the door, so to speak; and as Pater Tenebrarum notes, once a long-held principle is abandoned, further steps to alter the legal framework are usually not long in coming, prompting, as TokyoReporter.com reports, a 71-year-old man to allegedly deface roughly 30 political posters - drawing a hitler-esque moustache on Abe posters.