New Information on Barack Obama discussion

While I still believe that Barack Obama is a natural born US citizen, Philip Berg's campaign not withstanding, I have received some potentially disturbing information from a credible source about Barack Obama's possible programming and direction. I will present Tom Fife, a computer networking specialist and physicist on my internet radio program next Tuesday night who will share with us a disturbing conversation he had with a Russian lady in Moscow in 1991. The woman boasted of a man named "Barak" who was half African, half American who was being groomed for eventually taking the USA President. John W. Spring has talked to me about this many times and I was extremely reluctant to add any credence to what I believed was a shaky story. However, I have now had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Fife. He revealed names and details that I was able to locate and verify on the internet regarding the Professor and his wife, a physician, who hosted Mr. Fife at a Moscow dinner party in 1991.

I don't know if I fully believe yet, but I do believe you have the right to know and assist you in sorting out these facts for yourself.

Tomorrow night, I will finish my current series on basics of the New Age Movement and its doctrines. Tune in to http://www.themicroeffect.com/, join us in the chatroom there as well as listen live, and stay tuned!

Constance

Birth Certificate Information

Here is valuable information I received via email this morning from readers interested in the truth.  I hope it will put an end to some of the hysteria over Barack Obama's birth certificat

Dear Mrs. Cumbey,

 

Since you are a practicing attorney, I know you are interested in the legal fine points and accuracy.  In responding to your note on Barack Obama’s birth certificate, as a point of interest, I include the following, emphasis mine:

 

U.S. Birth Certificates and Certificates of Live Birth

Long forms

Long forms, also known as certified photocopies, book copies, and Photostat copies, are exact photocopies of the original birth record that was prepared by the hospital or attending physician at the time of the child's birth. The long form usually includes parents' information (address of residence, race, birth place, date of birth, etc.), additional information on the child's birthplace, and information on the doctors that assisted in the birth of the child. The long form also usually includes the signature of the doctor involved and at least one of the parents.

Long forms may become obsolete in years to come, as many states have begun to use Electronic Birth Registration systems. The use of these systems will enable information typically seen on certified copies (long forms) to be available in computer databases that typically issue short form certificates, thus eliminating the need for "hard copy" long form certificates and having all birth information stored in computer databases only. This benefits parents in many ways; registration can be completed via computer at the hospital, meaning that parents can stop by their Vital Statistics office on the way home from the hospital to purchase the birth certificate instantly. It also means that the extra cost for long form certificates will no longer be a factor.

Short forms

Short forms, known sometimes as computer certifications, are not universally available, but are cheaper than photocopies and much more easily accessible.Limited information is taken from the original birth record (the long form) and stored in a database that can be accessed quickly when birth certificates are needed in a short amount of time. Whereas the long form is a copy of the actual birth certificate, a short form is a document that certifies the existence of such certificate, and is usually titled a "Certification of Birth" or "Certificate of Live Birth". The short form typically includes the child's name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth, although some also include the names of the child's parents. When the certification does include the names of the parents, it can be used in lieu of a long form birth certificate in almost all circumstances. Nearly all states in the U.S. issue short forms certifications, on both state and local levels.

 

Edd

 "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord." - Micah 7:7

Constance

Invitation to Speaking Event January 30, 2009

FURTHER UPDATE: Here's the Barack Obama birth certificate. Looks legally good to me! The certificate number is what we call in the legal profession "redacted" -- something done to protect privacy. When I needed my own birth certificate which I hadn't seen in years and my parents are dead, I had to go the Indiana Department of Health. Looks very similar! Constance


Update to my readers: As most know, I am also a columnist for NewswithViews.com and appreciate it as a forum. I owe them part VI of my series on "THE HI-JACKING OF EVANGELICALISM" and would love to submit more on global governance. Because of not wanting to hurt Godly and innocent people in the Evangelical world whose careers have sometimes become intermeshed with those with occult agendas, it is taking me longer than I anticipated to do part VI on Abraham Vereide, the Twelve, "Faith with Action" etc. HOWEVER, I am looking at Devvy Kidd's article claiming we do not have a new president, questioning the legitimacy of the offices held by every last United States Senator. I must respectfully and emphatically disassociate myself from her views and expressed commentary which in my opinion comes very close to bordering on inflammatory hate literature. Those views are not my views. While I obviously have strong differences with SOME (not all) aspects of the Barack Obama agenda, most pointedly on right to life issues, I do not question the legitimacy of his election, his inauguration, and his Constitutional right to hold the office to which he was elected.

I have radio programs twice weekly on www.themicroeffect.com. I understand that one of my programs, at least, is now followed by Devvy Kidd. Please realize that her views are not my views. Further, I do not think our legitimate views are advanced in any way by the type of rhetoric used by Devvy Kidd, at least in her latest column. I confess I have not read her closely -- I probably should start doing so as we write for the same source and broadcast on the same internet station.

Thank you for understanding!

Constance

To: Those in Detroit area or can get there on January 30, 2009

"Hello Friends: On January 30 at 6:30 PM we will be proud to sponsor a discussion with Constance Cumbey, a lawyer, author, and radio personality, concerning the New Age Movement, Globalization, and the coming One World Governance. You are invited to attend, the cost is free. Attached is a flyer with a description of the event and a map. Please RSVP to rohmbj@aol.com, or by telephone to Alison Lorkowski at (313) 215-1167 [signed:] Ray Monsanto"

If you would like to be included in this event which has no charge and I understand refreshments and a light buffet will be served, please email me at cumbey@gmail.com, or call me at 248-253-0333 or my SKYPEIN line of 248-686-1409 and I will pass it on for you to receive your own invitation as long as space permits. Ray Monsanto and Benita Rohm are both brilliant attorneys and long, loyal friends of my work. I am happy they are in Michigan, not all that far from me.

Constance

Hope to hear from you!

While waiting for USA inauguration, Who's in charge in Europe?

Tomorrow, the guard changes in Washington, D.C., USA. Europe has been relatively quiet. It does not appear that Javier Solana will be present at the inauguration. His itinerary shows he has a busy day, instead, in Brussels. It is clear to me that his present low profile is being maintained; but that his powers are far from diminished. The European "chain of command" is shown in this Western European Union article. In the event it predictably disappears, take cheer, I have multiple archived it. For now, you may read it by clicking here. For the benefit of the "uninitiated" Javier Solana controls the Western European Union as its Secretary General. SG/HR which you will read in numerous "chain of command" paragraphs is Javier Solana's position with the European Union.

With the changing of the guard, we have an already friendly to Javier Solana Washington, even friendlier. Solana has already expressed high hopes about working mutally with the Obama adminstration, as has Mikhail Gorbachev. Joe Biden reportedly once said he wished he could vote for Javier Solana as President of the United States. Joe Biden, come tomorrow, is Vice President of the United States. President-Elect Obama once served under Joe Biden's Chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State-Designee. Javier Solana has held meetings with her in the past two years in Washington, D.C. It was her husband, Bill Clinton, as President of the United States who boosted Solana to the all-powerful NATO headship on November 30, 1995.

It looks to me like it is a heady time coming up for Javier Solana who given his Middle East roles and anti-Piracy patrol is likely to become much higher profile in the days to come.

Stay tuned!

Constance

EU and ISRAEL -- Heading toward 2010 outs??

This just in with my attention called to it courtesy of email correspondent Darrell Trees, an excellent watcher. As most of my readers and Herb Peters fans (Fulfilledprophecy.com) know, Israel and the European Union confirmed their existing Barcelona Process treaties with the European Union. That went into effect for a 7 year period on January 1, 2007. It is up for midterm review in mid 2010. Javier Solana's spokeswoman, Cristina Gallach, has now made the not so surprising announcement that "the issue of upgrading of ties with Israel is not a priority for the moment." Interesting and prophetically foretold times appear to be upon us. Stay tuned!

Tonight on MY PERSPECTIVE internet radio, 8 to 9 eastern time, 5 to 6 Pacific time, 4 to 5 Alaskan time, we shall discuss together with THE CRYSTAL PAPERS, documents I archived on floppy disks 25 years ago, in 1986, and found yesterday while transferring archived floppies to hard drive. Jose Arguelles discussed then the 25 year "Campaign for the Earth" that would end on December 21, 2012. The "Campaign for the Earth," has subsequently incorporated many global events, included but not limited to "Earth Run," "World Instant of Cooperation," "Earth Charter," etc.

(Jose Arguelles): This belief comes from a study of the Mayan Calendarwhich I
discoverd actually describes the passage of earth and our solar system through a
beam 5125 years in diameter. We entered this beam in 3113 BC andleave the
Beam in 2012 AD. August 16/17 1987 marks the point in the beam whenthere is a
break in the wave harmonic that this beam represents. The datealso
corresponds to prophecies concerning the return of the god/heroQuetzalcoatl/Kukulkan as well as various other intertribal prophecies
callingfor 144,000 awakened sundancers to dance the new age into being.

Well,are they or are they not "on the beam?" I wryly note that these folks, believing this, have a lot of nerve poking fun at our Judeo-Christian beliefs!

CONSTANCE

MY RADIO GUEST TOMORROW: Our very own "OLDMANOFTHESKI"

An amazing testimony was shared with us in our forum section some time ago. I asked its author, our beloved "oldmanoftheski" to tell me more. He graciously sent me same which languished on my desk until a refresher and "cleanup" last week (cleaning up my desk, not the excellent submission, that is!). To refresh your memory on what "OLDMANOFTHESKI" first told us, here it is as it first appeared in MY PERSPECTIVE's comments section:

"Thank you Constance, the power grab by JS [Javier Solana] is indeed becoming more alarming at every turn. And thank you Dorothy for the head's up on Rich of Medford’s latest post. Forgive me for being long winded again, but I have to share some thoughts regarding the amazing quote Rich excerpts from The Armageddon Script, Peter Lemesurier’s blueprint for bringing forth Maitreya…"For the wisdoms of all ages and cultures will be called upon to surrender their most precious secrets...”That line struck me like a lightening bolt! I’ve been watching this very thing unfold from my own personal experience for a long time. Twenty-seven years ago I lived with a Native American shaman ["Sun Bear" born Vincent LaDuke] was criticized by his own people for sharing the most precious secrets of his brand of traditional wisdom with the world. He considered it to be a prophetic and critical task in this time of “global transformation”.

"When Hopi elder Thomas Banyacya gave his speech surrendering the
Hopi Life Plan to the United Nations, he felt his life's mission had been
fulfilled. He had tried unsuccessfully for decades to bring Hopi elders and the
Hopi message to the United Nations (the "house of mica" predicted by the Hopi
prophecies). This task was finally accomplished in 1992 and again in1993. The
decade immediately following Banyacya’s speeches, 1995-2004 was the UN’s
International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, which was designed to
glean their “most precious secrets”, with the obvious goal of using all this
“spiritual” information to mold a one world religious philosophy.

"I have great respect for much of traditional indigenous people’s beliefs. In almost all of what we might consider to be “primitive” traditions, there exists a narrow door within the tradition itself that facilitates acceptance of what I consider truth, the gospel of Christ. This is not by coincidence. Many missionaries to indigenous peoples have discovered this fact and have used it to successfully introduce the Gospel truth. (Read “Eternity in their Hearts” by Don Richardson.) Those missionaries who did not see this doorway have most often failed in their endeavor. That said, there is an even larger doorway which facilitates movement in the opposite direction. Along this line Thomas W.
Jackson, the Executive Secretary for the World Conference of Masonic Grand
Lodges has promised to reveal later this year, “The significance that Freemasonry has made in the erection of this great city [Washington, DC] and the development of our democratic society.” Jackson goes on to say, “My brothers, Freemasons imbued with the philosophical beliefs of our craft have been in the forefront, leading the way for the development of worldwide civilization for centuries. It has survived ongoing changes in societal structure while remaining relevant when most other organizations, many modeled after our craft, have become extinct. We have remained because our philosophical purpose remained relevant to all societies and to all generations. [Therefore] Several themes have been selected for this conference, which notes the need for the philosophy of the craft to expose its relevancy in today's society.” http://glworldconference.org/en/welcome.php#
posted by oldmanoftheski : 2:19 PM
P.S. The Border Interfaith organization has an alliance with Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) which has multiple listings of interfaith organizations across the
U.S. http://www.industrialareasfoundation.org/iafaffiliates/iafaffiliatesnat

"Oldmanoftheski" has graciously responded to my online invitation to do Tuesday's live internet radio show. In fact, he is going to actually go to Joe McNeil's Kamiya, Idaho studio to do it live. I am looking forward to this tomorrow night. You can listen live by tuning to www.themicroeffect.com with your speakers and/or earphones intact. You can join us in the chatroom by clicking that box on the www.microsoft.com chatroom button. You can call in by phoning 888-747-1968.

Is the unthinkable becoming acceptable in depression economies?

I came down today to the IHOP (International House of Pancakes) in my law office neighborhood. As I write these words I am still here. The party of which I write walked out the door a few minutes ago. At the large booth just ahead of me sat three management looking types discussing the woes of the economy in general and the automotive industry in particular. The waitress told me they come in often. I could not help but overhear significant parts of their conversation which concerned union contracts and industry financial sacrifices.

But then one volunteered that what really harmed them were the retirees and those near retirement with their pensions and health benefits. They laughed and said they and their doctors are sucking everything out of the system. The oldest of their number didn't laugh as loud as the other two who appeared to be late 30s, early 40s. One gentleman then said and he could be heard plainly, "What we really need is more Kevorkian* . . . that would solve the problem!" They laughingly agreed, the oldest gentleman without the apparent enthusiasm of the two others.

My manners suffered. I couldn't help it. I blurted out "SCARY." At that point, they all looked nervous and the topic immediately changed."

It was depression type pressures that led Germany to embrace Hitler's measures to euthanize the aged and the ill. It looks like similar dynamics are in place and it could well be that we are no less vulnerable than were the Germans of the 1930s.

Frightening times lie ahead and are already here for many. Stay tuned!

Constance

* "Kevorkian" refers to Dr. Jack Kevorkian who championed assisted suicide. Germans expanded on similar themes in the 1930s expanding the concept to those who if they could would choose suicide but since they were not competent to make the decision, others could and should make it for them. The nation of Holland / Netherlands has already moved forward on physician decisions that are not those of the patient for euthanasia, a euphemism for doctor murder of the patient.

Update on Solana's Peace Plan for Middle East per Reuters

According to Reuter's News Service this is the shape that a proposed Gaza solution will take:

FACTBOX-Emerging Gaza ceasefire plan
08 Jan 2009 15:33:52 GMT
Source:
Reuters
Jan 8 (Reuters) - Israel, Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have entered talks with Egypt to try to iron out the terms of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Western diplomats predicted a difficult negotiation ahead. Israel is seeking international and regional security guarantees to ensure Hamas cannot rearm.
The Palestinians, in turn, want Israel to end its crippling blockade of the aid-dependent coastal enclave.

You need to find a carrot for both sides. That's the only way it will work," said a senior European diplomat. Hamas officials in Gaza said the group was still considering the plan, denying reports that they had rejected it. Based on interviews with diplomatic and political sources, here are the main components of the emerging ceasefire plan:

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES
Once agreement is reached, Israel would unilaterally end its military operation, though it is unclear how quickly. Before stopping, it may opt to widen its ground offensive. Israel will not enter into any formal ceasefire with Hamas because, it believes, doing so would only bolster the Islamist group's standing, both at home and abroad. As Israel pulls out, Egypt and other Arab states would get Hamas to stop firing rockets. The Islamist group said the rockets would stop if Israel would
lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip and halt cross-border raids.

ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATIONS:

This is the important issue for Israel. Talks have centred on a proposed international deployment along the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt to help prevent the Islamist group from bringing in more rockets and funds. Israel wants the deployment to include both armed forces and experts that can search out and destroy tunnels along the narrow Philadelphi corridor, which separates the two sides. Israeli aircraft have dropped bunker-buster bombs along the corridor, and large numbers of nearby Palestinian homes have been destroyed. Israel's stated goal is to destroy as many of the underground passages as possible. The unstated aim may be to widen the no-man's land between Gaza and Egypt for future border fortifications, both above and below ground. Israel and Western powers are also discussing a naval contingent to prevent smuggling by sea. But differences remain.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said hunting for tunnels would "be done probably with technology, not with people". Israeli officials say advanced sonar can detect some tunnels but they were sceptical technology alone would prevent Palestinians from rebuilding them.

Unwilling to compromise on its sovereignty, Egypt has raised objections to armed international forces on its side of the border but would accept teams of technical advisers that would oversee the hunt for tunnels. Formal consent for any deployment on the Palestinian side of the border would come from President Mahmoud Abbas, who is bitterly at odds with Hamas. But Hamas objections could make their work impossible.

BORDER CROSSINGS

This is the most important issue for the Palestinians. The negotiations centre on reopening Rafah, Gaza's only border crossing with Egypt, under the auspices of Abbas's security forces and European monitors. Rafah has been largely closed since Hamas routed Abbas's secular Fatah forces and took full control of Gaza in June 2007. Unarmed European monitors have not returned to the border terminal since then. Reopening Rafah to passengers and some limited humanitarian supplies would give Abbas a foothold in Gaza. It would also meet a long-standing Hamas demand, though the group could object to being denied any role in border operations.

Abbas, the European Union and the United Nations want Gaza's main crossings with Israel -- Karni, Kerem Shalom, Sufa, Nahal Oz and Erez -- to be reopened to humanitarian goods. Abbas has long sought to retake control of the Palestinian side of the crossings. But it is unclear how much power Israel would be prepared to cede to Abbas or groups like the United Nations.

A senior European Union diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bloc was not satisfied with merely combating the tunnels and was pushing for a broader monitoring and verification mission that would ensure both sides meet their obligations. The diplomat said this would include having monitors verify that Israel opens border crossings with the Gaza Strip to humanitarian and other goods. Israel has been cool to this idea. (Reporting by Adam Entous; Editing by Samia Nakhoul)

That "senior diplomat" clearly works for Javier Solana and is speaking for him words that Javier Solana has so far not chosen to publicly say. If the plan works, Javier Solana is likely to come out of this smelling like a rose. As I have said before, I sure wish Herb Peters were here to talk with me about it!

Stay tuned!

Constance

Israel leader Ehud Barak tells Solana he won't back down on Gaza plan!

Meanwhile, back on the long neglected Javier Solana front, it appears that Israel has told Javier Solana a word he does not like to hear: "NO." Quoting from the Jerusalem Post in the diplomatic language used by Barak, we read:

Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Barak and Solana discussed the latest events, as well as the expected developments in the Gaza Strip, the Defense Ministry said.

"Our intentions are that the operation will create a safer reality for our residents in the South. We will not renounce this goal. In order to reach it we will make every political effort and every military action," Barak told Solana.

Javier Solana previously told Ariel Sharon that like it or not, the EU is involved with his region.

Javier Solana is building and equipping his military machinery for 2010. The Alliance of Civilizations is prepping for 2010.

The 7 year Neighbourhood Action Plan of the European Union which incorporates Solana's 1995 Barcelona Process is up for midterm review in 2010?

Just wondering what its chances are for continuation should Israel continue on its present path? I wish Herb Peters was still around to discuss this, but he is not.

Stay tuned!

Constance

A Nice Word of Encouragement I received that might also encourage you!

(CLICK TO EXPAND PICTURE)

TODAY'S RADIO (TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009) - GO TO POINTOFVIEW.COM FOR LISTENING INFORMATION! SORRY I DIDN'T POST THIS SOONER!

I will confess I have been extremely depressed over recent developments in our active forum on my blogspot. I almost felt significant numbers of demons in hell were suddenly hanging out here. Today I discovered a piece of unopened mail from a gentleman, "Albert" in Ireland. I shared it with a local friend Carole Stevens, a regular reader who had called me to read a letter from a former friend she lost because her friend "went New Age." I called Carole and said, "please let me read you my letter." Carole insists I didn't open it until today because the Lord knew I needed this encouragement today. The letter is close to prophetic in tone considering on line activity as of late. Here is the copy:

To Constance Cumbey, Michigan, USA

Dear Constance,

I just want to say thank you for all your good work!

I recently left a New Age religion after many years because I discovered, very late in the day, that it has a cleverly hidden occult agenda.

Now that I have woken up and returned to Jesus Christ, I am a new man.

The war is in full swing. As I see it, the date it entered this new and demonic phase was 1 September 2008.

Please don't lose heart. It is people like you, who saw clearly for many years, just how dangerous and devious these people really are. And you spoke out fearlessly! For this, we thank you.

I think anyone who takes a stand at this time against the dark forces of the new world order will be subject to severe psychic attack. I was nearly wiped out a few weeks ago. This was the shocking event that woke me up. I survived because Jesus protected me.

You may need to remind people on your website that such all occult attacks will become more common and that Christians will need to be vigilant. Covens of witches are working in concert around the world to lend greater force to these attacks. They cleverly invite their intended victims to innocent events and surround them with dark forces. Christians will need to be mindful of this.

I am praying to Jesus to send you support!

With love in Jesus Christ

Albert

[A new Christian in Ireland]
6 October 2008

Thank you, Albert, and God bless you! You don't know how much I needed that -- TODAY. Forgive me for not opening it sooner!

I am on internet radio within an hour of writing this. We will conclude our series on Communitarism - take the wheat and leave the chaff! Stay tuned!

CONSTANCE

WiserEarth.org -- Where much of the current New Age action resides

Still wondering "where in the world is Donald Keys," I found something very interesting. I went to the UNITED NATIONS' NGO data base and looked up "Planetary." I came up with a AnaFlores.org address at 322 Chestnut Street, Mt. Shasta, California. I almost dismissed all I found there, but I noticed that Planetary Citizens came up on a WiserEarth data base. WiserEarth is Paul Hawkens. I went to that and BINGO, most is there, including but certainly not limited to David Spangler's Lorian Association, Gordon Davison and Corrine McLaughlin, the Global Marshall Plan, OPERATION BLESSING of MEXICO with its Virginia Beach address. Yes, folks, that is a Pat Robertson operation. Surprise to some of you, but not to me.

Check it out. Of course, that may force the New Agers to buy new letterhead once again as they play their lovely game of now you see us, now you don't. I also saw an included organization dealing with "internet governance." I wonder what they had in mind on that?

Stay tuned!

Constance

Gorbachev's latest call for a New World Order

According to Wayne Peterson, a former State Department employee/"diplomat" and Fulbright Scholarship administrator, Mikhail Gorbachev is an avowed and open follower of "Maitreya the Christ" better known to readers of my blogspot as "Betraya" -- whoever and whatever he/she/it turns out to be.  Most of you know my strong suspicions, but as I have always said, until its finally out of the bag, your guess is as good as mine.

I am hearing more and more rumblings that they are on the move.  Yesterday I received an email from a HIDDEN DANGERS OF THE RAINBOW reader that he saw an ad for an expected Maitreya soon appearance on the Larry King show.  I missed that one, but I noticed and reprinted the Wall Street Journal online story in a recent blogspot.  I have noticed from time to time advertising space from the Share International crowd in Mother Jones Magazine.  

If these moves are being made and are serious and if Wayne Peterson is accurate about Gorbachev, then Gorbachev's New Year's Day message to the world as published in the International Herald Tribune today is significant and disturbing.  Here is the text and I thank Chris Bieber for passing it on to me.

A new international agenda 

"By Mikhail Gorbachev

"Thursday, January 1, 2009

"The year 2008 has been indelibly marked by the global financial crisis. No one predicted its outbreak or its scale; I don't think anyone knows when and how it might end.

"It is already clear that initial reassuring statements about it were irresponsible. In the coming months, the world, and world politics, will be severely tested.

"Searching for ways out of the crisis will be a difficult, agonizing process. Not all early efforts were effective. This first failure in the functioning of our fully globalized world caught us by surprise, largely unprepared.

"As I read the reports from the July Group of 8 summit meeting in Japan, it is amazing that just a couple months before the crisis erupted, world leaders seemed unaware of warning tremors. The summit was a routine gathering. Its very format - the way it was prepared and conducted - seems outdated. We need a new vision of global political leadership, a new willingness to work together in this globalized world. Politicians are lagging behind the events.

"The crisis in the Caucasus in early August was a bolt from the blue. Any war, even a short one, is always a failure of politics and policy. The Georgian leadership's military misadventure spelled disaster for thousands of Ossetians, Georgians and Russians; it also highlighted the absence of an effective security system in Europe for preventing and resolving conflicts.

"Trouble hovers over other continents, too. Civil strife in Congo, Sudan and elsewhere in Africa has cost thousands of lives. The terrorist attacks on Mumbai were more than just a tragic reminder of the threat posed by terrorism: They also raised the issue of the responsibility of the state on whose territory this large-scale attack had been prepared. The situation in Afghanistan seems dismal. The Middle East remains a tinderbox. On top of it all, piracy has made a comeback, straight out of the dark ages.

"The flows of migrants, social unrest in many countries (including some that are far from poor), the recent problems with contaminated food supplies, massive human rights violations - the list of the world's ills can go on and on.

"There is an increasing sense of a world in turmoil, further aggravated by the crisis of the world economy.

"Talking to people in different countries, again and again I hear these questions: What is happening? What is in store? Why have the world's political leaders failed to address effectively the old and new threats?

"These are legitimate questions. To answer them, we must look at the underlying causes of recent events.I am convinced that the root cause of the current widespread upheaval is the inability and even unwillingness of political leaders to correctly evaluate the situation after the end of the Cold War and jointly chart a new course.

"The "winner's complex" - the fanfare of triumph sounded by the West after the Soviet Union left the international arena - obscured the fact that the end of the Cold War was not a victory for one side or one ideology. It was instead a common achievement and a common challenge, a call for major change.

"But why change if, as Western politicians believed, all was fine? They would continue to lead the rest of the world with their unfailing doctrine of free markets and alliances like NATO, which were ready and eager to assume responsibility for peace in Europe and beyond.

"Payback came in 2008.

"We will likely continue to pay for misguided thinking in the years to come, unless we have the courage to look at things honestly and rethink our approach to world affairs.

"Throughout the world, there is a clamor for change. That desire was evident in November, in an event that could become both a symbol of this need for change and a real catalyst for that change. Given the special role the United States continues to play in the world, the election of Barack Obama could have consequences that go far beyond that country.The American people have had their say; now all will depend on whether the new president and his team measure up to the challenge.

"The U.S. presidential election was followed by another consequential event: The G-20 summit meeting in Washington foreshadowed a new format of global leadership, bringing together the countries responsible for the future of the world economy. And more than just the economy is at stake.

"In and of itself, the fact that the G-8 leaders were joined as equal partners by the leaders of China, India and Brazil and almost a dozen other countries was a recognition, perhaps a reluctant one, that the economic and political balance in the world had changed. It is now a given that a world with a single power center, in any shape or guise, is no longer possible. The global challenge of a financial and economic tsunami can only be met by working together.

"A new concept is emerging for addressing the crisis at the national and international levels. The steps now being contemplated seem better suited to the needs of a global world than the previous approach, based on the hope that the market will eventually take care of itself.

"If current ideas for reforming the world's financial and economic institutions are consistently implemented, that would suggest we are finally beginning to understand the importance of global governance. Such governance would render the economy more rational and more humane.

"This is a daunting challenge, not only to the world's economy. Yet it can be met. We need to encourage equitable dialogue, democratize relations among nations and push back militaristic tendencies in politics and thinking. This amounts to a new agenda for international politics.

"Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, is president of the International Foundation for Socio-Economic and Political Studies in Moscow.

The times are serious indeed.  Stay tuned!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Constance