ABSTRACT
Consider the following facts.
Lehman Brothers, one of the most respected financial companies, files for bankruptcy, sending the world economy into a tailspin.
The UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference fails to produce decisive action, resulting in a blame game of the developing and the developed countries.
Worsening financial conditions in some European countries threaten the stability of the European Union.
The People’s Republic of China continues an expansion of its military capability by committing a large portion of its GDP to armed forces.
Reports continue to come in about the Syrian government’s violent crack-down on its own citizens’ protests.
The 2012 election in Russia sees the incumbent, Vladimir Putin, declare his winning presidency amid the accusation of electoral anomalies.
