We have been hearing a lot of questions and concerns about Europe lately. So, in this month’s Perspective we are wading into the muddy waters of geopolitics in Europe and the Middle East with ex-CIA agent George Friedman as our guide. George happens to be one of, if not the, preeminent geopolitical analyst in the world today. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to follow George as he draws on history to explain Why Syria Matters to You. As you’ll see, what is happening goes well beyond Syrian borders.
Fair warning: with so many national, secular and religious interests competing , trying to understand the details of the situation might feel like trying to organize a bowl of spaghetti. While we may not be able to identify and fully comprehend each ingredient in our metaphorical dish, we can sit back and understand the dish as a whole. That’s the point of this Perspective. When we know a region is both unstable and under pressure, eventual change should come as no surprise. And when we’re talking about a region that includes most of Europe, that change may be substantial.
While this all may be concerning, the most important thing we hope you take away is this:
The only perspective that jives with the last 200+ years of history is optimism about the future.
This has been true through terrible wars, depressions, systemic failures, and well, this chart pretty much says it all: http://stefancheplick.tumblr.com/image/111700672623
As you know, our approach is to make sure you’re invested appropriately so you can afford to stay disciplined, prudent and optimistic about the future!
We hope you enjoy this month’s Perspective: Mauldin Economics' "Why Syria Matters to You".
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