The 7 Worst Political Moments of 2012

Stormy Weather over the Roman Campagna by Karl Blechen

2012 was certainly a busy year and since almost everybody is going to discuss the best of 2012 and nominate the personality of the year; we decided to address the worst of the ending year:

1. The Iranian Soap Opera. Iranians have been fooling the world for years; but, despite the heavy sanctions against it, Iran still managed to wrap western diplomats around their Persian little finger; while plotting and sponsoring terrorist attacks against the "Big Satan" and the "Little Satan".

2. The Syrian Series. Bashar al-Assad murdered around 40,000 Syrian citizens, since March 2011; simply because he abhors democracy, he wants to cling to power and mainly because Iran has fed him with the illusion that Syria plays a crucial role in hastening the return of the Mahdi. To ensure that one man returns, Iran and al-Assad are more than willing to sacrifice a whole nation and murder thousands of children. 

3. The Republican Documentary. The republican party's main goal has been wrong from inception: to bring President Obama down at any cost. The republicans are blinded by their irrationality and, unfortunately, are making a spectacle of themselves - the world is watching, following and laughing at them (ask PM Dmitri Medvedev). 

4. The Romney Stand-up Comedy. In the Third Presidential Debate, Mitt Romney said "Mr. President, America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators."

Governor Romney was a tough opponent during the US presidential campaign, there is no doubt about that, however the above statement sounded more like a bad joke given the memory we all have of the US interference in the internal affairs of several countries in each continent of the globe (often with devastating outcomes) . 

5. The Egyptian Thriller. President Morsi was able to shine, on the international stage, after the Egyptian Military (in the backstage, in order to protect its own interests) negotiated the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. A few days later, Pres. Morsi announced that he had usurped all the powers and that a new Islamist Constitution (that doesn't protect the rights of women and minorities) would be drafted and put to referendum, as per the law. He upheld his promise however he gave the world a very bad sign: the Muslim Brotherhood is not as democratic as most thought it was and it seeks autocracy. But the Egyptian people elected the MB and now must face the consequences of their democratic choice. 

6. The Palestinian UN Terror Movie. The world voted to upgrade the UN Status of a Hybrid Terrorist Organisation under the guise of a Palestinian State with borders that they know to be impossible to come into reality (N.B. although we understood what President Obama meant in his 19 May 2011 Middle-East Speech, he unwittingly legitimised the Arab Cliché). We are not even going to mention the Hate-Speech delivered by Mahmoud Abbas because Dissecting Society doesn't endorse hate speeches. Europe, in its short-sightedness, was bought out by the Gulf Nations because it is failing to see the future economic trend - Asia is the tendency not the Arab nations. 

7. The Nightmare in French Street. France elected a socialist government because François Hollande's demagogic promise of a 75% income tax for the rich showed that he was a true friend of the French people and, it seemed like a brilliant idea. We never thought he would actually go ahead with it but since he was trying to emulate President Obama (i.e. fulfilling campaign promises in the first term), he actually implemented the plan. Well, the rich of France are leaving the country and taking their baguettes, Camembert Cheese, wine and wealth with them. Still think this was a good idea, Monsieur le Président? 

In January we said "New Year, New Scalpel" and we upheld the pledge because it was quite a Blogging year: more incisive, more mordant, more challenging and intellectually sexier. 

To all our readers, from around the world, thank you for your fidelity. To those who commented in our posts: we really appreciate your thoughts for they remain our favourite book. See you in 2013!